When the Cookie Crumbles by Virginia Lowell

Author:Virginia Lowell [Lowell, Virginia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mystery
ISBN: 9781410454317
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Struggling to catch her breath, Hermione Chatterley opened the heavy front door of Chatterley Mansion after five rings. “Oh how…how lovely,” Hermione said when she saw Olivia and Maddie on the front stoop. “And your little dog, too!”

Maddie giggled at Hermione’s repetition of a line from The Wizard of Oz. Olivia tried to envision Hermione Chatterley as a wicked witch. The best image she could come up with was a plump version of the gingerbread house witch in the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, “Hansel and Gretel.”

“Do come in and visit,” Hermione said, holding the door wide. “Oh, and you’ve brought cookies, how lovely. I’m so glad your friend has come, too. Maddie, is it? My memory isn’t what it once was, I’m afraid, but I do remember we met in The Gingerbread House. My poor Paine so enjoyed your cookies.” Hermione kept up her prattle as she led her guests down the hallway and into the front parlor.

“I was just about to make tea,” Hermione said. “I’ll see if I can find a treat for the little one.” She gave Spunky a light pat on the head. Spunky perked his ears at the word “treat.”

“We’d be delighted to help,” Olivia said as Hermione paused for several deep breaths.

“Now you stay right here and make yourselves comfortable,” Hermione said. “I’ll put these cookies on a plate, and we can have a proper tea.” Her shoulders heaving, she plodded toward the kitchen. Olivia remembered her first visit, when Hermione’s gait had been brisk and lively. Either grief had weakened her condition or…“I wonder if she’s having as much trouble breathing as she seems to be,” Olivia murmured.

Maddie jumped up and peeked into the hallway.

“What are you doing?” Olivia said, louder than she’d intended.

“It’s okay, she’s out of earshot,” Maddie said in a low voice. “Aren’t you planning to search the room or something? Come on, let’s get cracking.”

“Honestly, I can’t take you anywhere.” Spunky yipped and leaped onto a velvet sofa. “Or you, either.” Olivia picked him up and stroked his head to quiet him. “Sit down, Maddie. When am I ever without some semblance of a plan?”

“Hold that thought,” Maddie said. “I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the hallway.

Olivia buried her face in her little Yorkie’s fur. “So much for planning.” She lifted her head and took a centering breath, the way her mother did when life threatened her inner peace. In a few seconds, Olivia came up with a reasonable explanation to give Hermione if she returned first. She’d say that Maddie needed the loo, information that didn’t invite follow-up questions.

To Olivia’s relief, Maddie reappeared a few minutes later. “I wanted a peek into the back parlor, where Binnie took the photo Del sent us,” Maddie said.

“But that’s right near—”

“Yes, Livie, I know it’s near the kitchen, but that meant I could hear Hermione making tea. She kept huffing and puffing, by the way, so apparently that isn’t an act. Anyway, the back parlor door was closed, with crime scene tape hanging down one side.

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