Mystery Loves Company by Elizabeth Spann Craig

Author:Elizabeth Spann Craig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: small town cozy, cozy mystery humorous, cozy mystery humor, southern cozy, cozy mystery short, cozy mystery with cats, senior sleuths cozy, senior sleuth cozy mysteries, senior sleuth mysteries
Publisher: Elizabeth Spann Craig
Published: 2024-09-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Just a couple of hours later, Myrtle and Miles were parking in front of the community center. It was a modest venue with outdated décor and limited facilities. Because it was so generic, it could accommodate lots of different events. This was the first time Myrtle had attended a memorial service there.

Miles’s thoughts were running along the same course. “I’ve never been to a memorial service here. I’ve been to a town meeting here. And a farmers market.”

“Right. And I’ve been to a couple of bingo nights, a craft fair, and community theater. This is a first.”

They walked inside the community center. The service was apparently taking place in the main room of the building, a theater which had a stage and chairs. There was a memorial table by the door on the way into the theater, showcasing snapshots from Teddy’s childhood, a few dried flowers, and a candle that appeared to be on the verge of toppling. Zoey had printed some simple programs on her home printer, which seemed to have uneven ink distribution. The font varied wildly from Arial to Comic Sans.

Myrtle and Miles found seats in the theater. Miles murmured, “You’d think there would be lots of flowers at a florist’s memorial service.”

“Maybe not. After all, the guy who’d formerly created them all is gone.”

Miles considered this. “No one thought of Ollie?”

Myrtle shrugged. “This is why Ollie needs a plug in the newspaper. People don’t automatically think of him when it’s time to come up with an arrangement.”

“I’m curious to see what the reception is going to be like,” said Miles. “Is it here?”

“Yes. In one of the other rooms.” Myrtle sighed. “I’ll miss the church ladies doling out their Southern masterpieces.”

“My cholesterol level won’t miss it,” said Miles. “Maybe Zoey will serve something lighter.”

“Since Zoey is in such dire straits, I’m imagining there might only be iced tea and lemonade at the reception.”

Myrtle was correct. The reception area was adjacent to the theater, separated by a few makeshift partitions. There were only beverages there.

Miles murmured, “The woman over there. She’s the one Teddy was dating. She came to some of the chess tournaments with him.”

“Ah. Linda Lambert.”

Linda was a striking woman in her late-thirties with auburn hair, a flowy black dress, and vintage jewelry.

“We should say hello and give her our condolences. Perhaps I should bake her a loaf of bread. I’ll ask Elaine for more bread starter.”

Miles shuddered. He appeared to be about to launch into a litany of reasons they shouldn’t approach Linda, talk to Linda, or give Linda bread. But Myrtle had already set off in the woman’s direction with great determination. Miles grimly followed.

Linda gave them both a tight smile. “Hello there.”

Miles introduced himself, and Linda brightened. “Of course. I knew you looked familiar. How are you?”

Miles shook his head. “Well, Teddy’s death has been a terrible thing. Are you holding up all right?”

Miles and Linda continued talking like this for a few minutes. Myrtle reached over with her foot and tapped the top of Miles’s.

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