The Odd Job: A Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn Mystery by Charlotte MacLeod

Author:Charlotte MacLeod [MacLeod, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, cookie429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 9781453277324
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2012-10-02T22:11:14+00:00

Chapter 14

SARAH COULD HAVE SWORN she hadn’t been dozing for more than a few minutes, but it was three and a half minutes after five when the telephone woke her. She knew by instinct who was on the other end; she could picture Cousin Anne doing a countdown until five o’clock had struck and the cheap rate was on. Anne would have given herself an extra couple of minutes’ waiting time just in case her own clock happened to be running a trifle fast. Not that it ever had, but one never knew when it might, and an ounce of prevention was greatly to be recommended. Sarah picked up the phone and braced herself for a half hour of horticulture.

“Hello, Anne.”

“Sarah, how clever of you to know it was me. I hope this isn’t a bad time to call, but Percy isn’t home yet and I thought you’d like to know that Mr. Lomax and I have the terraced beds for the chrysanthemums dug up and he’s going to bring a load of fish tummies from the packing plant tomorrow morning.”

Anne allowed herself the frivolity of a giggle. “That’s not what Mr. Lomax calls them. He really is funny, isn’t he. Anyway, we’re going to fork them in along with the peat moss while we’re fresh and rested, then have a bite of lunch and drive over to the nursery in his truck. I’ve alerted Mr. Greengage to set aside plenty of the right colors but of course it will take time to check them over one by one to be sure they’re in top condition and just the right blending of shades. I know he hates to see me come because I’m such a pest about insisting on the best, but it does save fuss and money in the long run.”

“I’m sure Mr. Greengage wishes he had more customers like you,” Sarah lied politely, trying not to yawn as she spoke. “You’re a dear to go to all this trouble.”

“And you’re a sweetheart to let me,” Anne bubbled. “I haven’t had so much fun in ages. I can’t wait to get at all that lovely free fertilizer. I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d ever have a whole virgin hillside to landscape. Perhaps ‘virgin’ isn’t quite the proper word, because there’s not much virginity around these days, but you know what I mean.”

Anne was in a merry mood, all right. “Honestly, Sarah, I can feel myself just spreading my petals and opening out like a night-blooming cereus. A gardener does need a new challenge every so often, but you know Percy. Every time I suggest making a truly meaningful alteration at home, he gives me his old soft-soap routine about how proud he is of what we’ve created together. Which is a lot of fish tummies because Percy never lifts a finger if he can help it. I’m learning a lot from Mr. Lomax, I can tell you that.”

This was pretty wild talk from Anne Kelling; it prompted Sarah to bring up a topic that was even more organic.

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