The Alpine Xanadu: An Emma Lord Mystery by Mary Daheim

Author:Mary Daheim [Daheim, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780345535313
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 2013-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

SHORTLY AFTER FIVE, KIP AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES LEFT IN the office. He was still in the back shop, where he’d spend the evening finishing his part of the job. Unless he ran into problems or there was late-breaking news, my on-site responsibilities were complete. But I would stay by the phone until he put the paper to bed around eleven.

I was gathering up my belongings when Jennifer Hood stepped into the newsroom. “Ms. Lord?” she called, seeing me standing by my desk. “Have you got a minute?”

“Sure,” I said. “Come in. And please call me Emma.”

She gave me a tentative smile as I offered her a visitor’s chair. “I’m not sure I should be doing this,” she said. “I feel awkward, but I need your advice. I know we just met, but you seem very levelheaded.”

“Thanks,” I said, trying not to hide my surprise. “What’s wrong?”

Jennifer brushed at her curly auburn hair. “I had the radio on when I left work just now. The news on the local station mentioned that a woman from Alpine was reported missing. Tiffany something. I didn’t catch the full name. Do you know about this?”

I nodded. “Yes. She’s the daughter of the PUD man who was killed near RestHaven last week.”

Jennifer gasped. “No! Really?”

“I’m afraid so.” Briefly I explained Tiffany’s background, including Tim Rafferty’s tragic death. I kept my tone neutral, the same way I reported straight news in the Advocate.

“That poor woman must be half crazed,” Jennifer said. “No wonder she came to RestHaven this afternoon.”

I couldn’t conceal my shock. “You mean she asked for help?”

“I don’t know,” Jennifer admitted. “She went to see Kay Burns. I assumed at the time that she had some sort of P.R. business. But I saw her go into Kay’s office and overheard just enough before the door was closed to know who she was. Of course she fit the description on the news except for the hair color, and Kay called her by name.”

My brain was going around in circles. Kay, who had been married to Jack Blackwell. Tiffany, who had moved in with him. Was that all they had in common? I certainly didn’t know. And why wasn’t Tiffany spotted in town? “What color was Tiffany’s hair?” I asked.

“Black.”

“Tiffany’s fair-haired,” I said. “She must be wearing a wig, or perhaps she dyed her hair. You have to report this to the sheriff. Shall I call for you?”

Jennifer seemed conflicted, fingering the edge of my desk as if she were playing the piano. “Will it get her in trouble?”

“She may be in trouble already.” I picked up the phone. “I have to do this, but if you want to remain anonymous, that’s fine.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t give my name,” she said. “It is a new job. I don’t want to jeopardize my position.”

To my relief, Milo answered. “Don’t nag,” he barked. “I’m going to the damned deli as soon as I finish up here.”

“Never mind that,” I said, hoping Jennifer couldn’t hear him.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.