Behind the Seams by Elizabeth Craig

Author:Elizabeth Craig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: easy mystery books, cozy mystery old ladies, southern mysteries, humorous mysteries, small town killers, light mysteries
Publisher: Elizabeth Spann Craig
Published: 2023-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Moving as quickly as she could, she rushed in the direction of the scream. When she got outside the cabin, she saw Cora bolt out, her face white and her eyes huge.

“What’s wrong?” asked Beatrice tersely.

Starr apparently heard the scream too and came rapidly out of the dining hall. “What’s going on?” she demanded.

Cora’s mouth trembled. “It’s Olive. She’s dead.”

Starr and Beatrice hurried into the cabin as Cora sank down on the porch of the small building as if not trusting her legs to hold her up.

“Let’s not touch anything but Olive,” said Beatrice quietly. “Just in case.”

Olive was in the bed, eyes open and staring sightlessly into space. A pillow lay partially on her chest.

“Oh no,” grated Starr.

Beatrice felt for a pulse, but knew it was futile. Olive was clearly gone.

“What happened?” asked Starr quietly. “She was just fine earlier. You saw her, too.”

Beatrice said, “Let’s leave the cabin. Can you lock it up behind you?”

“But her roommate won’t be able to get in.”

Beatrice shook her head. “Her roommate was Aspen, remember? We should block off the area to preserve it for the cops whenever they get here.”

Starr muttered, “If they can get here. The weather has gotten even worse.”

As they were moving away, Beatrice glanced around them. Everything seemed to be in order. But she wondered about the pillow that had been lying partially on top of Olive’s chest. Had someone smothered Olive?”

Once outside, Cora looked at them fearfully. “Could you wake her up?”

Beatrice shook her head. “She was gone.”

Cora gave a sob, then seemed to try to pull herself together.

There was yelling again, this time coming from the dining hall.

Starr hissed, “What’s going on?”

Maggie stepped out of the building and, spotting Starr, glared at her. “Now the power is out! What are we supposed to do with no power?”

It was just as Beatrice had feared. It didn’t take much ice to bring power lines down and they’d certainly had a lot of it.

Starr waved her hand at her. “I’ve got other problems right now.” She turned and, fishing in her pocket, pulled out a set of keys. She carefully locked the cabin door behind her and looked at Beatrice. In a low voice she said, “We’ve got to figure out what’s going on. Who knows how long it will take the police to get here?”

Beatrice nodded. “Should we talk with the Sew and Sews individually?” She glanced over at Cora, but the woman was still staring blankly out into the storm. “An office, maybe? Perhaps one with plenty of natural light, since we don’t have power now, apparently?”

Starr nodded. “My office. There are windows there and no one can listen in.” She paused. “I understand you have some experience doing this. However, I’m in charge of the conference center. I’ll allow you to take the lead on asking questions, but I must be involved in the process as a representative of the retreat.”

Considering Starr at first was even reluctant to allow Meadow to cook food for the group, it seemed like quite a concession.

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