Silicon Valley Cozy Mystery Series Box Set: Books 1-3 (Silicon Valley Cozy Mysteries Box Set) by Marc Jedel

Author:Marc Jedel [Jedel, Marc]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC022100, FIC022070
Publisher: BGM Press
Published: 2021-12-01T23:00:00+00:00

7

Monday Evening

Shaking my head in disgust, I paused on the walkway leading to Carmela’s porch. On my ride from the airport, I had heard from Drew, the last member of my poker group, who called to tell me that he hadn’t been able to leave San Francisco in time for the service. Then, I’d babbled my way through a voicemail message to Mace.

An adult man shouldn’t have such difficulty leaving a voicemail. I had no problems talking to people in person. Mostly. Since my challenges in leaving coherent voicemails for Mace last month, I’d focused on this. In the same way that I’ve tackled many of my failings, I looked online for tips on how to leave the perfect voicemail. Over the last month, practice had improved my skills to the point where messages I left for coworkers had me sounding like the head of a Toastmasters club. Yet, leaving one for Mace proved … so much harder.

Per my training, I’d started off well by stating my name and number in a clear, firm voice. After that, things spiraled south in a hurry. I got a little excited explaining how I took pictures of Larry’s body in the forest, reminding him that Gloria might have taken him there, and explaining the emergency on the plane and what Nurse John had told me about Larry’s possible allergic reaction. My message didn’t truly get out of control until I’d started extolling the cool features of the tricorder app and recommended the San Jose Police Department buy it for officers.

Carmela’s screen door banged open, again startling me out of my introspection. “Do you always stand around on the sidewalk staring at houses? That can be mighty suspicious, sonny. Better watch out or somebody’ll call the police.”

“I’m sorry …”

“Well, come on up here already. Everyone’s here.”

After I climbed the few steps to her door, the woman gave a friendly laugh and patted my shoulder. “Oh, that’s all right. Come on in.”

I followed her inside. When the screen door shut behind me, a dog in the back of the house started barking, and I flinched.

Carmela said, “Just ignore him. It’s Larry’s dog. I locked him up in a back room so he wouldn’t go bothering nobody. I’ll introduce you to everyone.” With a slight limp, Carmela led me into her living room where a small group of people stood around, looking like they weren’t quite sure what to do while they waited. “Everyone, this is Marty. Marty, this is everyone.” She laughed again, the cackle of someone quite accustomed to amusing herself, and headed off to her kitchen, mumbling something about “more napkins.”

A thin, bleached-blonde woman turned around from her conversation with a heavyset, bearded man and squealed, “Marty!” She rushed over and hugged me.

“Hi …” I was at a loss.

She pulled back to study me. “Oh silly, it’s Lauren. Don’t you recognize me?”

No. “Oh, sure, sorry. I almost didn’t recognize you with the different hair.” And cosmetic surgeries.

No one else seemed to be talking as they stood around watching us, each alone and yet pretending to be part of the group.

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