The Corpse with the Turquoise Toes by Cathy Ace

Author:Cathy Ace [Ace, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Women sleuths, Canadian mystery, Welsh crime, International mystery and crime, Arizona mystery, armchair travel mystery, Traditional mystery, cozy mystery
Publisher: Four Tails Publishing Ltd.
Published: 2022-04-07T07:00:00+00:00

Deadly Kisses

I was panting by the time we reached KSue’s dig, so stopped at the door to catch my breath. “You go in,” was all I could manage to wheeze at Bud, so he did. I sucked in lungsful of dry, warm air, but my throat told me it was all dust, and I ended up choking. Eventually I felt almost normal, and entered KSue’s quarters, where the scene was chaotic.

I was greatly relieved to see KSue sitting upright in a chair, but was confused by why everyone else was acting so weirdly: Bud was tiptoeing about the place with a large candelabra in his hand; Serendipity was wrapping gauze around KSue’s calf; and Barbara was out in KSue’s little courtyard screaming “Elizabeth!” as loudly as she could.

Elizabeth appeared in the doorway behind me. “What now?” She sounded annoyed.

Serendipity looked up. “Careful – rattler somewhere about. Bit KSue. Can you and Norman take her into Flagstaff, as fast as possible, please? They’ve got antivenom at the medical center there, and that’s what she needs.”

I realized what Bud was up to, and wondered if I should leap onto a piece of furniture – then looked around for something I could wield as a weapon; the only thing that seemed remotely useful was an old bent fork I picked up from a little table.

Elizabeth sighed and said, “Sure. Can you lot get her as close to the entry arch as possible? We’ll bring the car there.”

“Will do,” said Serendipity, rising from her crouched position. “Now don’t move, KSue, we’ll carry you. It’s important you move as little as possible, and when you’re in the car be sure to keep your leg below your heart at all times.”

KSue was crying, silently. “I’m going to die, I know I am. But I’m not ready, I haven’t prepared.”

Serendipity touched her shoulder gently. “You won’t die. Very few people die because of snakebites, not even if it really was a rattlesnake you saw. So just try to stay calm, okay? They’ll be able to work out what bit you in the hospital, and will treat you accordingly. Try to not panic – it might have just been a Sonoran gophersnake – they look quite similar to rattlers. I can see you have puncture wounds, but you did say you stepped on it, after all, and they will bite, but they’re not venomous.”

“I can feel the poison inside me.” KSue’s voice was plaintive. “It’s running around inside my leg. It’ll kill me before they get me to the hospital. Can’t you suck it out, or something?”

Serendipity shook her head. “No, that won’t help – you, or me. There isn’t a noticeable swelling around the wound, which is a good sign, but – like I said – try to stay calm, and as still as possible, and keep your leg down. Now, come on – let’s all work out how we can carry KSue to the car, so she can be on her way.”

Bud and Serendipity ended up

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