The Case of the Poached Peridot by B. I. Skinner

Author:B. I. Skinner [Skinner, B. I.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Felix the Cat Rocks
Published: 2022-12-30T23:00:00+00:00

16

Wendy, Juliet, and I file somberly into the nursing home for the memorial service for Chaplain Palmer the following morning. It’s a bitter cold morning with gray skies and spitting snow. Appropriate funeral weather.

I've been to my share of funerals but never for a murder victim. There's an especially dark aura surrounding the building right now. It's a nursing home, so there's also a lot of ghosts lurking about. And even they seem melancholy right now.

The crowd is too big to fit into the tiny chapel, so they moved the service to the cafeteria. The staff pushed the round dining tables against the wall and into corners while the plastic chairs, all a charming shade of harvest gold, sit in neat rows. Flowers from well-wishers line the walls. The smell of that many flowers packed into one room is sickeningly sweet. The whole thing is especially depressing.

I barely remember Ben's funeral. The Honor Guard was there, of course, to present me with a flag. The three-volley salute had everyone around me jumping in their seats. I barely noticed it. There were so many of Ben's battle buddies in attendance it was almost overwhelming. Yet I was grateful for their company.

George is sitting alone across the room. When he waves to us, we wave back. I haven't entirely written him off as a suspect. I make a mental note to follow up on his alibi. Sheriff Mack once told me that he always attends the funeral because the killer often shows up as well.

I didn't believe him at first, but he claims that sometimes they're worried they may have left something behind and are about to be caught. Still others regret what they did and attend the funeral out of guilt. If that's the case, maybe I'll get lucky, and we'll catch the killer today.

The pastor from a local church is conducting the service. It's a traditional service with prayers and some hymns. At the end, he invites anyone who would like to share a memory to approach the lectern.

Numerous people tell stories about how the chaplain changed their lives. Many comment on how he was there for them in their greatest time of need. More than one former gambler tells the story of how the chaplain saved their families and their lives by convincing them to get help for their addiction. Everyone loved this guy. George nods enthusiastically for all of them.

When it appears the sharing is complete, the pastor asks one last time if there's anyone else who wants to share. If not, there's a luncheon reception in the rec room.

Thank goodness. I'm getting hungry and could really go for a sandwich. This was a nice way to honor the chaplain. While there were plenty of tears there was a lot of laughter and smiles as well.

But just when we think we're all ready to head to the reception, a man stumbles to the front. Murmurs ripple through the crowd. The guy is obviously drunk.

"This should be good," Wendy whispers.

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