Killer Sudoku by Kaye Morgan

Author:Kaye Morgan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.

12

Liza didn’t know what to say to that. Luckily, she didn’t have to. Mrs. H. appeared on the patio, looking around. Liza waved and took the opportunity to introduce her friend and neighbor to Gemma and Roy.

“You’re up late,” Liza said.

“That’s because I was up later than usual last night,” Mrs. Halvorsen replied. “I guess I’m not used to going out gallivanting in the evening,”

“I’m sure you noticed the breakfast buffet in the lobby,” Roy said. “Although I don’t know if there’s much left by now.”

The older woman smiled. “I’m not one for loading my plate. A cup of tea and a piece of fruit will do. Then, I’ve got my book and my sun hat.” The light straw brim gave a flutter as she spoke. “All I need is a pleasant place to sit while you do your puzzle, dear. Forgive me for not waiting for word with the others, but all that standing yesterday began to get to me.”

“No problem, Mrs. H.,” Liza said. “I brought you here so you could enjoy yourself. Take a rest.”

“While the rest of us get ready to strain our brains,” Gemma said, looking at her wristwatch. “I don’t know if you have any last-minute things to take care of, but I do.”

She rose, as did Roy, reminded of his own preparations. “I took a peek on the way here,” he said. “We’ll have two rooms for this round. And remember, the solving time is five minutes less.”

“How could we forget?” Gemma asked as she walked back into the building. Liza trailed along while Mrs. Halvorsen chose the makings of a light breakfast, then Liza left as her neighbor went back out to the patio.

Heading back to her suite, Liza took care of the results of the two cups of coffee she’d drunk. She had no intention of trying competitive sudoku on a full bladder.

Then Liza washed up, ran a cool cloth across her face and behind her neck, toweled off, and went to the suite’s sitting room. She could still enjoy a few minutes of quiet time, but she didn’t quite trust herself to lie in bed.

Just my luck to drop off and snore through the competition, she thought, trying out the springs in the cushions on the large armchair. To quote Mrs. Halvorsen, it was not too “mooshy.”

Liza settled herself and tried to blank her mind for a few minutes before getting up and preparing for battle. When she heard the door open, she turned with a little bit of irritation. Hell of a time for the cleaning crew to show up, she silently complained.

But she didn’t see the housekeeper standing in the doorway. Instead, she saw Mrs. Halvorsen.

“Oh!” Mrs. H. said, flustered. “I didn’t expect to find you here, dear. I thought you’d be downstairs already.”

“I’m leaving in a minute,” Liza replied. “And what about you? I thought you were going out to enjoy the California sunshine.”

“To tell you the truth, that may be a bit too much of a good thing.

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