The Handyman Homicide by Howard Libby

Author:Howard, Libby [Howard, Libby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Debra Dunbar LLC
Published: 2022-01-09T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Austin was already at the campground when I pulled down the long drive. He’d somehow managed to find the riding mower and was halfway through mowing the areas where the tent campers set up. It already looked better having the weeds knocked down. He waved at me and I waved back, sending a silent “thank you” to Jake for bringing the boy over.

I quickly unloaded the groceries, putting the perishables in the fridge, emptying the ice from the coolers, then setting them out back to dry. Neither mom nor Elvis were in the house, so I drove the SUV around to the office, thinking I’d find them there.

My hound was tied to the porch post, snoozing in the early spring sun. He yawned when he saw me, getting up and giving himself a good shake before greeting me with a wagging tail.

“We’ll have a long walk tonight,” I promised him, ruffling his floppy ears and planting a kiss on his forehead before heading inside.

Mom was working on the ancient computer. She’d taken the travel-sized toiletries I’d pulled off the shelf and assembled them into kits, putting each set into ziplock bags. Little price tags were tied to each with brightly colored curly ribbon.

“This is cute,” I exclaimed, picking up one of the kits.

“There was a box of wrapping paper and ribbon in my bedroom closet.” She laughed. “If only I could have found a coffee machine in my closet. Or a set of pots and pans.”

I pulled the three pounds of coffee out of my shopping bag and set it on the counter. “I’ve got the coffee problem solved. We’ll just use the big machine here in the office until the movers get here. There are packets of filters in the storeroom. This should last us the week, unless we suddenly get a ton of unexpected guests.”

I told Mom about my successful day shopping and my trip to The Coffee Dog and the bait store. While I unloaded the SUV and set up the new printer, Mom got me caught up on her end of the business. She’d been busy not just putting together the little convenience packets, but in making calls. Two different roofing companies would be out Thursday and Friday to give us estimates on the cabin six repair as well as the porch roof on cabin three. Mom had stressed to both contractors that we needed the work done within the next week. She’d also ordered bulk supplies for the camp store, arranged for regular ice deliveries and for the beer and wine distributor to swing by in the next day or two.

Austin had arrived early, fixed the wobbly railing on cabin three’s porch, then let Mom know what lumber to order for both porch and dock repairs. After that, he’d turned his attention to getting the mower up and running.

I blew out a breath, thinking through my timeline as I sorted through the printer cables. Cabin six would be unrentable for another week or two,

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