Summer Walsh Mystery Collection (Boxed Set) (Omnibus): Murder Under the Mistletoe, Gun in the Garden, and Offed at the office (Summer Walsh Mysteries) by Tisdale Deborah

Author:Tisdale, Deborah [Tisdale, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2015-02-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

After I told her the details of how I'd found Ms. McClure in the garden, Mom's expression became more pensive, especially when I mentioned the meticulous garden. I started talking about the gun, but she held up her hand.

"I want to hear more about the garden," she said.

"I thought—"

"Something you said has me thinking that the clue might be right there in the flowers."

"Yes, there was a gun."

"I think that's just the tip of the iceberg," she said. "Some people are serious about their gardens, and they mean business." Then she started talking about her own flower garden and eventually transitioned to some vegetable garden facts. I'd heard all of this before, so my mind started wandering.

Mom had been the one who nurtured my love of puzzles when I was little. Every time a new one came out and showed up on the shelves of our local Target, she brought it home, and we worked it together. There were many nights when we lost track of time and didn't go to bed until long past midnight. Of course we were always exhausted the next day, but that was fine. Those were some of the best memories of my childhood.

"Summer?" I glanced up my mom and smiled. "Did you even hear a single word I just said?"

"Well …" I gave her what I hoped she took as an apologetic look. "Not exactly."

"I didn't think so, but I understand. You have a ton of stuff on your mind. What can I help you with?"

"Would you mind letting me leave most of my stuff in the apartment for a few months?" I asked. "At least until I know for sure if I'll stay in that job?"

"That's fine."

"If you decide to rent it out, just let me know, and I'll come back and clean out my stuff."

Mom leveled me with one of her loving looks. "Summer, you know that until we're sure you don't need a place to stay we wouldn't even consider renting it to someone else."

"Thanks." I shoved one more cookie into my mouth as I stood and headed for the door. "I'll come back over before I leave tomorrow morning."

"What time do you think you'll be leaving?" she asked.

"Around eight. I want to get an early start."

"I probably won't be here," she said. "I promised to bring some of the donations to the hospital first thing in the morning." Mom did quite a bit of charity work for the children's hospital. "Mostly stuffed animals, but that's what the kids seem to enjoy most."

"Did you talk to the police department about holding a toy drive?"

She nodded. "Yes, in fact they're the ones who managed to get the lion's share of the donations. I think they're trying to do extra stuff for me because they think I'll talk you into going back to work there."

"That's not how things work," I said as a warm, familiar feeling passed through me. Memories of all the law enforcement officers putting in extra, unpaid time for the community flooded my mind.

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