Murder On the Colorado by Bruce Hammack

Author:Bruce Hammack [Hammack, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781958252253
Publisher: Jubilee Publishing LLC

Chapter Nineteen

The weather was still cooperating with the class schedule for painting, but rain was in the forecast for the next day. Fen glanced out the window and saw nothing but a tiny portion of a small, sleepy town. He showered, shaved, and dressed for the day.

As expected, Thelma was already banging and clanging in the kitchen. He whistled a jaunty tune as he entered the dining room.

“Keep that racket down,” said Thelma, even though the noise she generated surpassed his.

He ignored her command and spoke in a normal voice. “Is the coffee ready, or do I need to use the single-serve?”

She came out of the kitchen with a full carafe. “This is real coffee. Those girls are bound to need a jolt of something to get them awake. Are you going to wake them and that boy from Georgetown?”

“He’s not a boy, and I hadn’t planned on it. Did they get in late?”

“How should I know?”

Fen put a serious tone in his voice. “What time?”

“It was almost eleven.”

He put another layer of strength to his words. “What time?”

She huffed a quick reply. “Five after ten.”

“Any sign of a new, red pickup truck driving slowly past the property?”

“Not that I remember, but there were plenty of others. That road stays busy until the bars close. Between the cars, trucks, and those blasted trains, it’s a wonder this town isn’t the insomnia capital of Texas.”

Lou breezed into the dining room, fully dressed and with a spring in her step. “What a great mattress and pillow. I can’t remember the last time I had such a good night’s sleep.”

Thelma released a huff of air through her nose. “You’ll have to wait a while for breakfast. I wasn’t expecting you up so early.”

“Only coffee for me this morning. I’ll stop in Elgin. There’s a donut shop on this side of town and a food trailer on the other side that sells breakfast tacos. I may get both.”

Thelma pointed at the single serve. “If you’re going to poison yourself, you might as well go all the way.” She spun around and went into the kitchen.

Lou whispered. “What's wrong with her?”

Fen rose and whispered for Lou to follow him. He picked up the overnight bag that she’d left by the stairs and carried it out the front door before explaining Thelma’s short fuse. “She’s going through a combination of sleep deprivation and sensory overload. This is unfamiliar territory, and she doesn’t have enough eyes, ears, or energy to keep up with all that’s going on. Maybe one less person to care for will help Thelma settle down. Plus it’s important we verify Riley’s alibi, and you’ll avoid the inevitable confrontation I’ll need to have.”

“With whom?”

“We won’t know until you report your findings.”

“That’s an interesting response. Evasive, but interesting. What did you learn from Audrey last night?”

“She’s very protective of her son—afraid he and Ren might be up to something that would torpedo his future.”

Lou had a nose for news, which meant she had a sixth sense concerning trouble, or lack of it.

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