BODY IN THE ATTIC, A by CRAIG ELIZABETH SPANN

Author:CRAIG, ELIZABETH SPANN [CRAIG, ELIZABETH SPANN]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Elizabeth Spann Craig
Published: 2020-05-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The waitress came right up to join them. Myrtle said, “A pimento cheese dog and an iced tea, please.”

Miles ordered the chicken salad plate.

Myrtle smiled at Liam. “You are so kind to let us sit here. I’m sure you have other, very important business matters to attend to. Notes to look through. Phone calls to make.” Myrtle made a vague gesture with her hands meant to encompass the daily tasks of the entire law profession.

Liam said in a light tone, “Oh, nothing that can’t be put off for a little while. Especially for the town matriarch.”

Myrtle wasn’t altogether sure she liked that particular designation, but she gave a pleased cluck just the same. Miles gave a snorting chuckle and Myrtle gave him a kick under the table.

Myrtle twinkled her eyes at Liam and said, “You know, I’ve always been so interested in language and dialect. I think of myself as something of a local expert. At any rate, I can usually tell when someone grew up very close to Bradley or when someone spent most of their life in a different place, like Miles. But I just can’t seem to place your accent. Where are you originally from?”

Liam seemed to wish they were back talking about town matriarchs instead of this alarming offshoot of the conversation.

“Oh, I’m a New York guy. Born and bred there,” he said with a quick smile.

“Are you? I’m certainly less-confident about my dialect-gauging talents for other parts of the country, but I could have sworn you have a Bostonian accent,” said Myrtle sweetly. “Don’t you agree, Miles?”

Miles bobbed his head. “I sure do.”

Liam’s eyes grew a bit colder. He said stiffly, “My father was from Boston. Perhaps that’s why I carry traces of the accent.”

“You’ve never been there?” asked Miles.

“No.” Liam took out his wallet pointedly and gathered up his phone as if preparing to leave.

Miles said, “I had a friend who spent time in Boston. Did you know Darren Powell at all?”

Liam rested his phone back down on the table. “I’m not from Boston.”

Myrtle said, “But you knew Darren.”

“Of course I did,” he said, his genial demeanor now becoming irritated. “We live in a tiny town. I know nearly everyone.”

“Was Darren a client of yours?” asked Myrtle.

“Attorney-client privilege,” said Liam with a sniff.

Miles said thoughtfully, “Which you couldn’t claim unless Darren was a client and you were his lawyer.”

Liam leaned over the table and hissed at them, “What’s this about, then?” His tone was icy and he glanced around the room to see if anyone was listening in.

Myrtle used her very own icy voice. “I’m simply asking an innocent question. However, now it’s apparent that there is something there. Did you and Darren not get along? Was there a problem between the two of you? Would you care to comment?”

“On what authority are you asking questions?” he asked, a pompous expression on his face. “You’re just a nosy old woman.”

“And the crime desk reporter for the Bradley Bugle,” growled Myrtle. She decided she might as well go whole-hog.

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