Fatal Solutions by Becky Clark

Author:Becky Clark [Clark, Becky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2021-06-17T16:27:24+00:00

Chapter 16

On her next day off, Quinn took a chance and drove to Arvada to see if she could talk to Chief Chestnut’s mother. Passing the Regal Pig, which looked like a complete dive, exactly Jake’s favorite kind of place, she took the next right turn, then a quick left, and found herself on the street in front of Victorian House, a sprawling two-story facility designed with gingerbread trim in ice cream colors, gables, and wide, inviting bay windows, the hallmarks, Quinn thought, of Victorian architecture. Or perhaps she just assumed they were hallmarks, based on the name of the care center.

The landscape was lush with many areas of seating. Several residents were outdoors, enjoying the grounds and the weather.

Quinn parked in the small lot and made her way up the sidewalk to the huge wraparound porch. Friendly residents on the porch waved and called out greetings to her, which she returned.

The automatic doors whooshed open, and Quinn found herself standing in a room that looked like the lobby of the fanciest hotel she’d ever been allowed in. Her grandfather’s place was nice, but this was gorgeous. Probably had a fully staffed ice cream parlor tucked away instead of just a two-flavor soft-serve machine.

A woman stood and moved toward her from behind a cherrywood table. They both had graceful legs, but only one wore suede ankle boots. She held out her hand to Quinn. “Hello. May I help you?”

“I’m here to see Beany Chestnut.”

“Very good. I believe she’s outside.” Alarm flashed across her carefully made-up face. “You didn’t see her when you came in?” The woman hurried out the automatic doors to the porch and let out a breath. “Oh, there she is.” She pointed to a small grotto, where a birdlike, delicate-boned woman sat knitting.

“I’m sorry I worried you. I didn’t see her when I came in. Too busy admiring this place, I guess.” Quinn felt it prudent not to mention she had no idea what Beany looked like, since they didn’t even know each other.

“Have a nice visit.” The woman clicked her way across the porch and returned inside.

While she walked toward the grotto, Quinn studied Beany, who was oblivious to her, intent as she was on her knitting. Beany looked somewhat out of place here. Whereas most of the women on the porch wore lots of jewelry and obviously didn’t skimp on trips to the beauty parlor, Beany wore no jewelry and wore her hair in a simple bun at the nape of her neck. Her wire-rimmed granny glasses had slid halfway down her nose.

In an effort not to startle an elderly woman, Quinn quietly cleared her throat when she was about four feet away.

Beany looked up from her knitting. “Who are you?” She asked it in the way a child might, unguarded, not judging, not scared, simply looking for facts.

Quinn had already decided on, and practiced, her greeting. Enough facts, but not too many that Chief Chestnut might learn she had been here. “I know your son, Chief, er, Myron.

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