Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany

Author:Vicki Delany
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2020-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

“Jack Ford’s address isn’t on 411.com,” I said into the phone. “Can you find out where he lived?”

“I already know it,” Bernie said. “Why do you want it?”

I pulled a clean pair of capris out of my closet with one hand and held the phone to my ear with the other. “Rose wants to make a condolence call on Mrs. Ford.”

“Why would she do that? She barely knew Mr. Ford, and their only meeting wasn’t exactly friendly.”

“Who knows why Rose wants to do what Rose wants to do?”

“You can’t fool me. You’re investigating. I’ll pick you up.”

I danced around the room, trying to put on my pants while talking into the phone. “Bernie, we can’t all go.”

“Sure we can. I’ll pick you up.”

“I don’t—”

“If I don’t drive, how are you going to get there? You don’t know the address.” She hung up.

I sighed. Éclair watched me, her head cocked to one side. “Between Bernie and Rose,” I said to her, “I haven’t got a chance.”

I finished changing, splashed water on my face and gave my hair a quick brush, told Éclair to guard the cottage, and went outside.

I found Rose sitting on one of the white wicker chairs on the wide verandah that runs the length of the house. The sun was sinking in a pink and gray sky, casting long shadows across the gardens toward us. A middle-aged couple stood next to Rose, chatting. Her hands were clasped together, resting on top of her new cane.

“Beautiful home,” they said as I walked up.

“Thank you,” Rose said. “It’s because I love it so much, I enjoy having the chance to let others appreciate it, as well.” That was a total and complete lie. Rose hated having to turn her home into a B & B.

“Do you have any idea when we can use the stairs to the beach again?” the man said. “It’s a long way to the next easy access point.”

“The police will be removing the tape tomorrow.”

“That’s great. Thanks.”

“Good night,” the woman said.

“I’m looking forward to another one of those fabulous breakfasts tomorrow,” the man chuckled. “Makes it mighty hard to go back to a bowl of cold cereal at home.”

The woman poked him playfully in the ribs. “You are so hard done by.” They walked away, their light laughter drifting on the wind.

“Bernie’s picking us up,” I told my grandmother.

“Good.”

“I forgot to ask. Any more cancellations?”

“No. The news cycle moves on to the next lurid item, and outside of North Augusta, no one’s paying us any more attention. As soon as the rooms were marked available on the web site, they were scooped up. I do love modern technology. Almost as much as I love the simple fact that if people wanted to cancel with us, they’d be hard-pressed to find anything else available on such short notice. Although technology does have its drawbacks. The server that hosts our page and the one for the tearoom, was down for a few hours this afternoon.

“Whilst we’re waiting, love, call the police and tell them to take that ridiculous tape down.

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