Loco motive: a bed-and-breakfast mystery by Mary Daheim

Author:Mary Daheim [Mary Daheim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Policier
ISBN: 9780061351563
Published: 2010-09-15T06:09:02+00:00

Chapter Ten

Judith almost dropped the phone. “Could you repeat that?” Justin’s voice had grown faint. “Sorry—I’m losing you.”

The stepstool was by the opposite door. If she could set it outside and get off the train, the reception might be better. Cradling the cell with her chin, Judith tried to lift the stool, but it was heavier than it looked. “Hang on,” she shouted to Justin. “I’m going to see if I can…”

A harsh buzzing noise assaulted her ear. Judith cringed and moved the phone away. The buzz stopped. “Justin?” There was no response. “Justin?” she repeated louder. The line was dead. Judith redialed his number, but heard only silence. She was wondering what to do when Renie came out of the dining car.

“Any luck?” she asked.

“No.” Judith turned the phone off. “I mean, yes.”

Renie sighed. “Are you having another fit?”

“No. I need some answers. Let’s get out of here.”

“Okay,” Renie said, opening the dining-car door. “I ordered you some peach cobbler, too. While we eat dessert, you can tell me about your questions.”

“No,” Judith snapped. “I don’t have time for that. Let’s go.”

“Where?” Renie asked, annoyed. “You look like bird doo. Sit down until you pull yourself together.” She opened the door to usher her cousin inside. The dining car seemed back to normal except for Matt Chan, who was tending to a stout man by the other door. The Johnstons were ordering dessert. There was no sign of Jim and Sharon. Apparently, they’d given up on dinner.

“Well?” Renie said when they reached their vacant table. “Are you going to sit or stand there like a stuffed moose?”

Judith slid over to her previous place by the window. Renie sat down beside her. “Okay, what’s got you in such a tizzy?”

It took a moment for Judith to respond. Maybe she was mistaken; maybe she had misunderstood. But she had to confide in Renie. “Justin told me Wee Willie Weevil has been dead for five years.”

Renie was scowling at her leftover cobbler crumbs. “Why didn’t I ask for à la mode? Their ice cream…” She gaped at Judith. “What?”

“You heard me,” Judith snapped. “Dead Willie isn’t the real dead Willie. Justin wanted us to know that.”

Renie stared in disbelief. “But Justin called you this morning before Willie…I mean, the Willie we knew as Willie…” She tossed her napkin aside. “Never mind. You know what I mean.”

“I do,” Judith said, careful to keep her voice down. “But why did Justin apparently learn about his uncle’s actual death from his mother earlier today? Neither of them could’ve known that the bogus Willie was dying. Unless…”

Renie regarded her cousin with a perceptive gaze. “Are you implying that Germaine Weevil was involved in this mess?”

Judith grimaced. “No, but her timing is odd. Justin’s mother was so annoyed with her former in-laws that she left town for a few days to avoid seeing them.”

“Germaine and her ex weren’t close. Why would she stay in touch with his family?”

Judith tried to piece together what little she knew about the Weevil family’s relationships.

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