Murder at the Luther by Kathleen Kaska

Author:Kathleen Kaska
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Salvo Press
Published: 2014-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

After cleaning up the spilled drink and broken glass, Ruth walked Wilson back to his bunk at the Baptist Encampment so he could collect his luggage and move back to his room at the Luther. As soon as she returned, I’d planned to have that little talk with her about keeping her mouth shut.

Irma was sorting the mail when I walked into the lobby. She pretended not to see me.

“Thanks for the list, Irma,” I said.

“Took me two hours to copy the damn thing,” she hissed over her shoulder. “Hope you’re happy.”

“Getting there. I need more information.”

“I’m not telling you another thing.” She turned to face me, and slammed a stack of mail on the counter. “Understand?”

“No, I don’t. You’re going to tell me what else was in that envelope.”

“I don’t know what you’re taking about.”

“How much did Trent Langley pay you to steam open that envelope? Was it enough to tide you over until you could find another job? It better have been, because when Mr. Luther finds out, you’re history.”

“You don’t scare me.”

“I know someone who can. I could get the word out that you know all about what’s been going on in this hotel. The two men who’ve been tailing me might just pick up your trail, as well. I’m not playing games, Irma. Someone’s framing me for two murders. I get really mean when that happens.”

Irma’s jeweled framed glasses slipped down to the edge of her short nose, giving me a clear shot at her pale gray eyes. She looked like a snake deciding if a strike was worth the trouble.

“I get off in five minutes. I’ll knock on your door.” She turned her back and continued sorting the mail.

By the time the percolator finished perking, Irma was seated across the table from me. Her highbrow attitude hadn’t diminished one iota.

“Coffee?” I asked.

“No. This isn’t a social call.”

“You’re right. Let’s get down to business. What was in the envelope?”

“That letter to you from Mr. Buckner.”

“What else?”

“I don’t know. Langley didn’t show me.”

“So, he saw Sam give the envelope to Millie?”

“I don’t know what he saw. He just came to the front desk and told me he had to have the envelope with your name on it. He said he was the one who left it, but he forgot to put something in it. Well, I wasn’t born yesterday. Millie told me that Mr. Buckner was the one who dropped it off.”

“When did this take place?”

“After dinner on New Year’s Eve.”

“Then what happened?”

“The man was very insistent.”

“How very?”

“That’s none of your business. Anyway, I brought the envelope up to his room. He was ready to rip it open, but I stopped him. I told him I had to put the envelope back or I’d get in trouble. So, I put on the kettle and steamed it open. He jerked it from my hands and took out a sheet of paper. He smiled and handed the envelope back.”

“He didn’t replace the paper?”

“No. I looked inside and there was another sheet of paper, the letter.

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