We Wish You a Merry Murder by Valerie Wolzien

Author:Valerie Wolzien [Wolzien, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2019-12-02T22:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

“Susan, it’s …” Kathleen parked the car at the top of the driveway and looked back toward the middle of the lawn.

“Oh, no!” Susan was halfway out the door before she recognized them. “I don’t believe it. They’re cutouts of some kind. Photographs.”

“I guess they’re supposed to be decorations.” Kathleen got out, and together they walked over to examine the life-size photographic cutouts of Evan and Rebecca standing in the middle of the front lawn.

“We had them made last fall. Evan thought they would make an interesting greeting for the holidays.” Rebecca appeared in her open doorway. She joined the women who were now examining the figures. “They’re a little bit larger than life. Evan thought that was important, as they were to be seen from such a distance. What do you think?”

Susan looked up at Evan Knowlson, towering over her head. “They’re covered with some sort of plastic coating, aren’t they?”

“Completely waterproof,” Rebecca assured her, studying the image of herself. “I think I should have worn more eyeliner. From the street, it looks like I’m squinting.”

“They’re so unusual. How did you ever get the idea?” Kathleen asked.

“Evan thought of it. He wanted something different for this house and for our first Christmas together. Look, why don’t we go inside? Even with this coat, I’m cold. I just made coffee, if you want some.”

“I’d love it.”

“Me, too,” Susan agreed. “Rebecca,” she started as they made their way to the house, “were these here for your party?”

“Yes, but the lighting wasn’t working so no one saw them, I’m afraid. The electrician got all that fixed and they’re lit up at night now. They seem to be making quite an impression; I’ve had a lot of people call about them.”

Susan, whose heart was still slamming against the walls of her chest, wondered if anyone else could possibly be as shocked at seeing Evan in the middle of his yard, seemingly alive and smiling, when her last image of him had been dominated by the hole in his head. Anyone who had seen Evan dead would feel the same way. Maybe …

“Who called?” she asked. After all, the murderer would be more surprised than she had been.

“Almost all the neighbors. I think some of them were a little startled the first night the illumination was working. Why don’t we have our coffee in the kitchen?” she suggested.

“Fine. Who else?” Susan asked, dropping her coat across the banister of the large open stairway in the living room.

“Who else? A lot of people. Why are you asking?”

Rebecca sounded irritated, so Susan dropped the subject. “Just interested. Maybe you’ll be copied all over town, and next year we’ll see the Stevensons in front of their house, and Jerry and Kathleen in front of theirs—”

“There certainly are a lot of interesting decorations in town,” Kathleen interrupted. “Jerry and I just hung a wreath on the front door. I feel as if we’re not quite keeping up the town’s image.” She hoped that Susan hadn’t put Rebecca off by her talk about the figures on the lawn.

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