Murder At First Light by L.L. Abbott

Author:L.L. Abbott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: L.L. Abbott

18

Kerry awoke to the serene sound of the water gently lapping against the rocky shore that was less than twenty feet from her window. Morning songbirds of mixed varieties bounced from one tree branch to another as they warmed their wings under the rising sun. Kerry was the only guest at Fox Lodge and Mrs. Kemp, the chef-slash-housekeeper, was the only other person on the island. Simon had messaged Mrs. Kemp that the canoe trip had been extended due to the warm weather and the eagerness of the crew to venture further north, which left Mrs. Kemp and Kerry the only two remaining inhabitants at the lodge. At least for one more week, which is when planned to leave for Vancouver.

The cool morning air, blended with the warmth under the duvet covers, made it difficult for Kerry to want to get out of bed. She had never slept as well or as deeply as she had since she arrived in Lake Pines, and she wondered if it was the surroundings or her time away from corpses. Her work helping Peter with Velma Whitney’s murder should be able to answer that question soon enough.

She flung the covers off her legs and slipped out of bed. After a quick shower, she dressed and joined Mrs. Kemp in the kitchen for the breakfast she prepared for them. It was the same menu every morning, however, Kerry never complained. In part, because it was so delicious but mostly because Mrs. Kemp took so much pride in doing it.

“Good morning, dear,” Mrs. Kemp’s voice mirrored the songbirds outside Kerry’s window more than that of a seventy-five-year-old retired teacher.

Mrs. Kemp insisted that Kerry call her by her first name, however, she could never get past her father’s voice and her years surrounded by older relatives that hammered in the tenents of respect throughout her youth and she refused to call her Margery.

Age was truly just a number for Mrs. Kemp. Every morning she easily traversed the wobbly dock when she jumped into the small tin boat and drove into town to shop for fresh ingredients for the kitchen, never waning or slowing down. Her career in teaching gave her the patience required to deal with troublesome guests and lodgers, and her years raising a family of five children made her an efficient and exemplary cook.

Standing five-foot-six, Mrs. Kemp was lithe and strong, not seeming to have gained the weight normally associated with retirement. Instead, she dove head-first into a second career when she retired and her husband died, leaving the energetic woman with time and vigor to spare. Her light brown hair was streaked with small strands of gray that highlighted and not dulled her appearance. Bright green eyes and a natural pink to her cheek revealed her approachable and kind demeanor and made her an easy morning companion.

“Good morning, Mrs. Kemp,” Kerry pulled out a chair and sat down at the table already set with coffee, eggs, and a fresh fruit salad. “As usual, this smells amazing.

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