Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates Books 4-6 by Emily Queen

Author:Emily Queen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Willow Hill Books

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THAT EVENING, ROSEMARY required much gin to turn the afternoon with her mother into a distant memory, and Vera needed even more after the grueling dress rehearsal she’d endured. Frederick had spent the day attending to business dealings, and appeared somewhat worse for wear, and when Max arrived it looked as though he’d been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. The first round went down like water, and by the time the second had been handed out everyone’s mood had risen to a much more pleasant level.

“Perhaps another holiday is what we all need,” Frederick suggested as he drained his glass.

“No!” Both Rosemary and Vera objected, both remembering the group’s recent trip to Cyprus where they’d become involved in another murder investigation. Frederick threw up his hands in surrender and didn’t press the matter.

The mention brought Rosemary’s thoughts back to the present, and she turned to Max apologetically. “By the way, we saw Reno Riley on the high street today. It was the oddest thing. He convinced the Parsons’ counter girl to extend his line of credit for a gold and diamond necklace, then turned in the piece for cash at the pawnbroker shop around the corner.”

Max sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. “It’s not so surprising, actually. I did some digging after his little scene at the gallery. Reno Riley is in way over his head. He’s owed money to every loan shark in the city at one point or another. Always manages to get himself out of hot water just in the nick of time. His criminal record is clean, so there isn’t much I can do.”

“Maybe he did steal the money from the gallery,” Vera suggested. “If he’s so hard up.”

Rosemary shook her head. “No, I think Aurora is right on that count. Reno wouldn’t have come back to the gallery and demanded Sadie pay him had he been the one to steal it in the first place.”

“Oh.” Vera’s face fell. “That’s true.”

“I’ll put a tail on him, see if anything shakes up,” Max said.

“Inspector Whittington, sir,” Wadsworth said, entering the parlor with a stern expression on his face. “I’m terribly sorry to interrupt, but I’ve just received a call from Mrs. Whittington. She said your presence was required and then disconnected the line.”

“Oh, bollocks,” Max said, his words slurring together slightly. “I’ve become too comfortable and I suppose now I’ll have to ask for a lift, Wadsworth. Do you mind?”

“Of course not, sir. I’ll just pull the car around. She did request the presence of the mistress as well.” At that, Max’s eyes narrowed.

“More of this business with her neighbor, I suspect,” he said, shaking his head and resigning himself to the task. “Well, Rose, what do you say?”

Rosemary had already begun to collect herself, resisting the urge to down the dregs of her glass. “I’m in,” she said, glancing at Vera and Frederick.

“You’re welcome to come along as well,” Max said, noting Frederick’s eager expression. “Though I suspect you’ll be bored nearly to death.

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