Nightshade on Elm Street: A Flower Shop Mystery by Kate Collins

Author:Kate Collins [Collins, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Obsidian
Published: 2012-11-05T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“His mother isn’t a young woman,” I reminded my cousin.

“Then there’s only one other person that I know of who’d get that kind of reaction from Pryce,” Jillian said, then suddenly brightened. “Claymore!”

“It can’t be Claymore,” I said, then realized she was talking to her husband.

“I’m right here, my darling,” Claymore replied, stepping out of the cottage.

She hurried toward the sliding glass door to hug him, then straightened the collar of his polo shirt. “I was beginning to worry about you. What took you so long?”

“I couldn’t get off the phone with my mother,” he said, kissing her forehead.

At least now I knew for certain that the body wasn’t Evelyn Osborne.

“You know how she goes on,” Claymore continued, as Jillian led him toward me. “Then I had to park all the way down the road and hike here. It was grueling.” He gave a shudder. “Does anyone know where Pryce is?”

“On the beach,” Melissa said.

Claymore spotted Melissa and his eyes widened. He immediately went over to give her a hug. “I’m so glad you’re safe. We were all worried about your well-being. Where were you?”

“In recovery,” Melissa said, holding up her glass.

“She said she stayed at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island,” Jillian said with an eye roll. “I’ll tell you about that later.”

Melissa gave Jillian a furious glare. “I stayed there, Jillian.”

“I don’t believe her,” Jillian whispered to me.

“Look down on the beach, Claymore,” Orabell said. “There’s your brother. If you asked me, Pryce shouldn’t have gone down there. Going to make those detectives think he’s guilty as sin, isn’t he?”

“Claymore, don’t worry,” I said, as Pryce’s younger brother rushed to the railing. “Marco’s with him.”

“Why did Pryce go down there?” Claymore asked Jillian. “You told me on the phone he’d been advised against it.”

“Wanted to find out who drowned,” Orabell said. “The detectives are grilling Pryce about it now.” She lifted her eyebrows to emphasize the importance of her statement.

“How do you know what they’re doing?” Melissa snapped.

“What do you suppose they’re doing?” Orabell retorted. “Having punch and cookies? Of course they’re grilling him. That’s what cops do. See if they can force a confession out of him is what they’ll try.”

“For what?” Jillian asked. “What do you think Pryce could confess to, Orabell?”

“Don’t get your panties in a twist,” Orabell replied. “I call them like I see them.”

Before Jillian could retort, Halston held up the bottle of rum. “Want some, Mummy?”

“No.” Orabell shrugged unhappily. “It’s not fun over here anymore, Halston. Let’s go home.”

“Jake, have you tried calling Lily’s cell phone?” Jillian asked, a worry wrinkle forming between her eyebrows.

“She hates it when I interrupt her while she’s busy,” Jake muttered, not looking at her.

“Fine. I’ll call her,” Jillian said.

“Never mind, I’ll do it,” Jake grumbled. He hit a speed dial number, then put the phone against his ear and waited. After a minute, he said, “Hey, Lil, it’s me. Call me back, okay?”

Ending the connection, Jake said tensely, “It went to her voice mail. You know how calls get dropped around here.

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