The Turquoise Shop by The Turquoise Shop (retail) (epub)

Author:The Turquoise Shop (retail) (epub)
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Epub3
Publisher: Penzler Publishers

CHAPTER 31

THE SHERIFF drove an old-fashioned car, which had lots of clearance and used six-ply tires made for rocky desert roads. I sat in the narrow front seat with Mr. Trask, Patrick Abbott in the back. It was a gorgeous afternoon. I noticed Mona’s car parked in front of the hospital as we passed. The hospital was a short way off the road but Mona’s yellow car was conspicuous. I asked Mr. Trask if he’d had any special news from the bus patients, and he said that most of them would be leaving tomorrow, but that the driver continued in a state of coma. “We won’t know exactly what all happened until he comes out of it, ma’am,” he said.

Four miles south, we turned left to Julia’s. She was at home, dressed in blue jeans and reading a novel in a hammock in the flowery patio. She was delighted to see us and wanted to make it a party.

“We won’t have time to stay, thank you, ma’am,” Mr. Trask said. “Can you tell me, please, where Miss Payne could have gone to?”

“Gone? Daisy?” Julia’s big eyes opened. “Oh, I expect she’s in Santa Fe.”

“Do you know where she might stay there, Mrs. Price?”

“Yes, at La Fonda. Shall I phone for you?”

“If you will, please, ma’am.”

We sat down on the veranda which surrounded the patio while Julia made her call. But Daisy wasn’t at the hotel. She wasn’t at any of three or four other places in Santa Fe where Julia then inquired.

“She was awfully upset about the Arkwright murder,” Julia said, rejoining us.

I saw the sheriff’s eyes narrow. “But why, ma’am?”

Julia grinned. “You know yourself how she is about justice, Mr. Trask.”

The sheriff reddened. “Well, don’t let it worry you none, ma’am. I wanted to ask Miss Payne some questions about that calf she bought.”

I said, “Perhaps she’s gone to England.”

“Oh, no,” said Julia. “She’s not on good terms with her family.”

“Why not?” Patrick Abbott asked.

Julia said, “They resented her becoming an American.”

“It does seem rather unusual,” Patrick said. “For one of her class.”

“Not if you hate parting with money as bad as Miss Payne does,” the sheriff said dryly, referring to the English income tax. “The reason I think she has really gone away for some time is that her car is on jacks, ma’am. I put my eye to a crack and saw that the car looked as if jacked up for the winter. I wonder who would have done that for her.”

Julia’s eyes sparkled. “She’d do it herself. Daisy is very proud of her strength, you know. Well, I’ll go to her house this afternoon and see what she has done about that calf. Somebody will have to feed and water the poor little thing.”

We stood up to go. I asked Julia if she’d like to come along with me this afternoon to the hospital. She said she would and would pick me up about four o’clock.

The sheriff drove on to the Arkwright house over the trail, instead of going back along the road.

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