Masquerade Murder: A Victoria Town Mystery Novella (Victoria Town Mysteries Book 2) by Mollie Cox Bryan

Author:Mollie Cox Bryan [Cox Bryan, Mollie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mollie Bryan
Published: 2020-09-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Day two of no job because Irene was otherwise engaged—with the police. Viv opened her eyes from a fitful night’s rest. She’d update the B & B’s blog and try to help Aunt Libby as much as possible. Viv flung the quilt off and reached for her robe. She needed coffee—and fast.

When she arrived in the kitchen, her aunt was flitting around, listening to the radio. “They’ve arrested Irene. She’s in jail. I can’t imagine what’s she’s facing. So hard to sleep last night thinking about her. Worrying.”

Viv’s heart pounded. “In jail?”

“Yes, they took her in last night.”

Viv breathed in and out, trying to calm herself. Surely they’d let Irene out on bail today. She latched onto that thought, not wanting to brew more anxiety. “Good morning, Aunt Libby.” She moved toward the coffeepot.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Good morning, love.” She sighed a deep sigh and sat down.

Viv stirred cream in her coffee and watched as the milky clouds turned the coffee caramel. She sat, with her coffee, next to her aunt. “How well do you know Irene?”

“Not well at all. You know, she lives outside of town. We didn’t even know Stu had a wife. He kept her quite to himself, remember.”

Viv remembered. Too vividly.

“But I’ve gotten to know her,” Libby went on. “Well enough to know she didn’t kill anybody even Father Chadworth.”

Viv reached for a lemon poppy-seed muffin, which was still warm. “She’s a great boss.”

Aunt Libby started to rise from her chair. “Need butter? I just put it away.”

“Nah, this is fine.” She took a bite and relished in the flavor. “And she’s an interesting person. Ex-nun. Fashion designer. I mean, come on, it doesn’t get more interesting than that.”

Aunt Libby tittered. “I suppose you’re right.” She reached for a muffin. “What did you find yesterday?”

“Two women have ties to the church and the mansion. Both of them are thin enough to wear the dress.”

“Names?” Her eyebrows shot up.

“Beth Flannagan and Anna Shimer.”

“Humph. Not my favorite people.”

It was unlike her aunt to put-down other women so Viv prodded. “What do you mean?”

“She’s the one I had a run-in with a few weeks back over what kind of flowers would be appropriate for the masquerade. She just wouldn’t drop it.”

Viv remembered that day and how aggravated Aunt Libby was for the rest of the evening. She was surprised to hear the story. Even now, Viv still couldn’t imagine Aunt Libby fighting over flowers.

“Finally, I just gave in to her. I didn’t care enough. I had other things to worry about.” She bit into the golden muffin.

“What about Beth Flannagan?”

Aunt Libby’s round face darkened. “She comes from money, you know. Yet I saw her taking money, years ago, at a charity function.”

“What?”

“Well, I confronted her, but she denied it, even as the money was in her bag. I couldn’t grab her bag from her, now could I?” She paused. “I called the police, but by the time they found her, she didn’t have the money. In fact, I think she put it back.

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