Murder in the Stacks (A DAFFODILS Mystery) by Mary Clay

Author:Mary Clay
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: cozy, florida, amateur sleuth, daffodils, new smyrna beach, cosy
Publisher: Mary Clay
Published: 2010-11-09T11:58:39.709038+00:00

Chapter 10

Ruthie and Penny Sue were carrying their clothes and other necessities next door, when I arrived home from the meeting with Heather and Kydd.

"George can install the alarm system in your place tomorrow," Ruthie called over her shoulder. "It will only take one day. Go get the stuff you'll need for the evening. Guthrie's gone to Publix for fried chicken."

Loaded down with enough paraphernalia for a month, including all her vitamins, Penny Sue huffed, "Please hurry. Guthrie and Alice are about to bust to tell us what they found out at the Medical Examiner's. And they have to go back tonight."

"Did the Judge find a lawyer for Kevin?" I asked as the screen door closed, hitting Penny Sue on the butt.

"Yeah, the attorney is checking on Kevin at this moment. Now scoot, we're on a tight schedule," Penny Sue said.

I scooped up a nightgown, robe, work clothes, a few toiletries, and hurried to the guestroom at Penny Sue's place. Ruthie was already changing the sheets on Kevin's bed.

"Do you know what Guthrie found out?" I asked Ruthie.

"No. They wouldn't talk until you got back. I think Alice is mad that you didn't wait to hear the story."

"You know I couldn't wait."

Ruthie tucked the sheets under the mattress. "I explained it to them, but Alice still seemed peeved. Penny Sue told them all about Leonard Kydd, but they still wouldn't talk. Guthrie has to go back to the Examiner's office tonight to finish the job, and Alice said they didn't have time to tell the story twice."

"The old my-way-or-the-highway, huh?" I said.

Ruthie smiled. "I'd say that sums it up." She fluffed a pillow and tossed it to the head of the bed. "Alice is a very strong-willed woman."

I moved my toiletries to the bathroom and placed the open suitcase on the floor against the wall. "Keep that in mind if you and Kevin ever get really serious."

"I've done some thinking since we last spoke. I think one marriage is enough for me. Living together would be okay, but no legal stuff, especially now that I have the inheritance. I don't want to jeopardize Jo Ruth's future legacy."

Boy, that was a switch! I couldn't help but wonder if the thought of Alice for a mother-in-law had something to do with Ruthie's change of heart.

Jo Ruth was Ruthie Jo's one and only daughter, who had almost finished her residency in psychiatry at Duke Medical School. With Ruthie's wispy good looks, her cardiologist father's brain, and a looming huge inheritance, Jo Ruth was a catch for anyone. We all joked that it was good we had a shrink in the fold to guide us through old age. In fact, Penny Sue could probably use a little counseling now. Yet, was Jo Ruth's inheritance truly the reason Ruthie had suddenly soured on remarriage? Maybe, maybe not. At our age, living together was as good as being married and a lot less messy if things didn't work out.

My marriage musings were interrupted by the unmistakable screech of the rusty screen door spring and a few familiar grunts.

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