Murder Between the Pages by Linda Hope Lee

Author:Linda Hope Lee [Lee, Linda Hope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, Amateur Sleuth; Romance; Author Events; Cozy; Crime; Heroine in Jeopardy; Librarians; Library Mysteries; Small Town; Washington State
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2018-10-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

All afternoon, Nina worried about her discovery. After dinner, without phoning Zelma first, she drove to her house. She wanted to give Zelma the opportunity to explain herself but without advance warning. She rang the doorbell and waited, her gaze fixed on a jagged hole in the screen.

Footsteps sounded inside the house. The steps came closer and then stopped on the other side of the door. But the door still didn’t open.

Nina assumed Zelma scrutinized her through the peephole. She had the urge to press her face close to the little circle and stick out her tongue. She imagined the grotesque picture from the other side. However, she resisted and kept her expression one of polite patience.

Finally, Zelma opened the door. “Nina! What are you doing here? Have you discovered the murderer? Oh, I know, you brought the book. Love’s Eternal Triumph.” Her lips curved into a smile. “How considerate. I could’ve waited until tomorrow. No hurry, really.”

“Zelma, we need to talk.” Nina kept her tone stern.

“Well, uh, sure. Come on in.” Zelma opened the door wider and stood aside.

Dreading the conversation they were about to have, Nina stepped into the house. The odor of cooked cabbage assailed her nostrils.

“I just finished dinner.” Zelma closed the door. “I’ve plenty left over, if you’re hungry.”

“I’ve eaten, thank you.”

“Tea?”

“No, thanks.”

Zelma pushed strands of hair from her forehead. “You’ll have to excuse my appearance. I wasn’t expecting company.”

In addition to her bedraggled hair, a sleeveless smock exposed upper arms with wrinkled skin, indicating she’d lost weight. Not surprising, considering the circumstances. Despite her anger, Nina felt an apology was in order. “Sorry for the intrusion, but I needed to talk and didn’t want to take the time to phone.”

Zelma waved a hand. “We’re friends, and friends can drop in.”

Friends? Were they? Nina was beginning to wonder. In the living room, she sat in the same tweed-upholstered chair she chose on her last visit. The cave-like room appeared much the same, except messier. One corner of the My Restless Heart poster had come loose and curled down upon itself. The ceiling sported several spiders’ threads drifting in the air currents she and Zelma created when they entered.

“You’ll have to excuse the mess in here, too.” Zelma picked up a magazine from the floor and tossed it onto the redwood coffee table. “I’ve been busy working on my new book and haven’t taken time to straighten up.”

Nina looked through the arched doorway leading to the dining room. Sure enough, Zelma’s computer sat on the table, with rows of black letters against the white screen. Her stomach knotted. What book was she copying this time?

“So, where’s the book?” Hands on her hips, Zelma stood over Nina. “In your purse? You can give it to me now.” She held out a hand.

Nina met Zelma’s gaze. “I read the book,” she stated flatly.

Zelma flinched but then straightened and lifted her chin. “You read it? Well, you’re a fast reader.”

“I didn’t read all of the book, but I read enough.

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