Let There Be Suspects by Richards Emilie

Author:Richards, Emilie [Richards, Emilie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.
Published: 2010-02-28T13:00:00+00:00

11

The explanation for my absence—that I had left the church to comfort an acquaintance of Ginger’s—seemed to satisfy nearly everyone, and after I’d made my apologies, I chatted with the kind souls who had turned out and thanked them for coming. In the kitchen I helped the Women’s Society committee wash coffeepots and the trays that had housed bakery sandwiches and cookies. Mabyn hadn’t attended the service, nor had any of the Booths, but this seemed for the best. I couldn’t very well accuse her of murder just because once upon a time Ginger had been responsible for firing somebody with the same first name. At least, not yet.

I needed more information, and Rand was the man to get it for me. I knew he would be thrilled to learn his first tip had already paid off.

By the time the clean up was finished, I realized my family was gone or going. I caught Vel just as she was walking out the back door.

“Lucy took Junie for a drive,” Vel said.

I’d asked Lucy to watch over Junie at the open house, and apparently she was still doing it. I bet she had taken my mother somewhere to get her mind off her troubles. Maybe a stop at the Victorian to see our new project. Or the button museum in an old house in Weezeltown, one of the not so desirable sections of Emerald Springs.

Vel was perfectly dressed for the service wearing her dark suit, an icy pink blouse, attractive but sensible shoes. No Jimmy Choos for Vel. Like the prudent CPA she is, she doesn’t want management to think the vast sums they’ve entrusted to her have plummeted straight to her tootsies.

“Tomorrow I have to get to Cincinnati by three,” Vel said. “I couldn’t get a flight out of Columbus on such short notice. And Cleveland is booked up, too.”

“I’ll take you down.” I looked around and lowered my voice. “What about Sid?”

“She cancelled her flight. She hasn’t rescheduled.”

“How will that play at work?” Since the country club had one event after another over the holidays, she’d had to talk fast to get time off. Now with New Year’s Eve looming, they must be frantic.

“It’s not playing well,” Vel confirmed. “And they weren’t impressed that she’s been asked to stay in town while the cops investigate a murder.”

“Poor kid.” Sid is so good at what she does, I hoped her boss would remember that and cut her some slack.

“I’m afraid you’ll have your hands full for a while. Junie’s planning to stay until Sid’s cleared. I hear Cliff isn’t in any hurry to leave town, not until he knows something about Ginger’s murder. And Sid? She’s going to be a basket case unless you can keep her busy.”

“I would ask her to plan another party, but we’re still reeling from the last one.”

“You’ll need to think of something.”

“Maybe she can help me at the Victorian. She can steam wallpaper. Anybody can steam wallpaper.”

“I visited Signor DiBenedetto this morning and stocked your cabinets.

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