Murder at Highfields: Berkshires Cozy Mystery by Andrea Kress

Author:Andrea Kress [Kress, Andrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ibanez Literary Group
Published: 2021-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

I arrived at Doctor Taylor’s office to find the waiting room blessedly empty since I did not feel like talking to anyone. There was the mail to open and sort, files to tidy, and several more invoices to deal with. The doctor came in shortly after I finished these tasks and immediately asked about Miss Manley.

“She seems fine today. So far.”

“Hmm. How odd these episodes only come on in the afternoon,” he said. “And how are you?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” I lied.

“You seem a little down in the mouth. I hope Stuart isn’t getting on your nerves.”

I had to smile at that. “He puts quite a strain on things from my point of view.”

Doctor Taylor let out a belly laugh. “How diplomatic you are!” Then after a pause, he added, “I thought I would stop in and see her a little later.”

“She won’t be there. She’s got some meeting at the church.”

“Well, please make sure to train your professional eyes on her when she returns and let me know if you think anything is amiss.”

“Certainly.” I went back to my busy work and he to his office for the remainder of the day.

I had developed a headache by the time I got home, which didn’t improve when I saw Stuart’s car was in the driveway, indicating his return from Pittsfield. I wondered how I could best avoid him, but it turned out to be impossible as both he and Glenda ambushed me as I walked into the yard.

“Good afternoon,” he said, full of good cheer. “We’re just about to have a cocktail. Won’t you join us?” He pointed to the table in front of the two lawn chairs and I saw a sizable bottle of clear liquid in an unmarked bottle, likely gin. Of course, people drank despite Prohibition, but I thought from a gossip standpoint it was ill-advised since his aunt’s yard was exposed to any number of people who might use the back path to the town center. Nonetheless, I agreed, as soon as I’d changed out of my uniform. Clothed in a more casual outfit, my face washed, hair combed, and two aspirin taken with a glass of water, I felt the tension of the day leave and looked forward to whatever concoction and conversation Stuart had in mind.

By the time I returned to the garden, another chair had materialized, along with a pitcher of lemonade, a bowl of ice, three glasses, and a plate of oyster crackers. The bottle of gin had been discretely placed beside Glenda’s chair, invisible to anyone strolling by on the path.

“Tom Collins, sort of,” Stuart said merrily. He was ahead of us already, and I preferred this good-humored version of him.

“How was your day?” I asked them both.

“Dull up until now,” Glenda said, raising her glass.

“Super,” Stuart said, giving a big grin. “And yours?”

“It was fine, thank you.” I took the glass offered to me and had a taste of a lot of gin and not much lemonade. I added several pieces of ice from the bowl to water it down.

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