Murder in a Basket (An India Hayes Mystery) by Flower Amanda

Author:Flower, Amanda [Flower, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Five Star Mystery/Gale/Cengage Learning
Published: 2012-01-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

I said my goodbyes to Ansel and Carrington, discreetly deposited my full punch cup in a wastebasket, and went in search of Ina. It was getting late, and I was ready to go home and stew over everything I’d learned. I found Ina with a half-empty punch cup in hand, standing in the middle of the three beaders near the barn’s main entrance.

“Your pal here can really drink,” Jendy said with reverence. “I hope I can toss them back like that when I’m her age.” Jendy straightened her dress. I noted she’d traded her pioneer frock and buckle shoes for a sweater dress and calf-high leather boots.

Beth wrinkled her nose.

“Jendy, really,” Celeste said. I looked at Celeste closely. It was the first time I’d seen her, or any of the beaders for that matter, outside of the pioneer garb and in normal street clothes. Celeste wore elastic waist jeans and an oversized pullover sweater. Her hair was pulled back from her face by a bead-covered barrette, and a long beaded necklace hung from her neck. She looked normal enough, but her gaze flicked around the room as if she were looking for someone.

Ina grabbed my arm. “We’re having the loveliest time, India. Celeste told me she and Jerry were engaged.”

I was glad I’d already thrown out my drink because if it had been in my hand I’d have dropped it. “Engaged?” I squeaked.

Celeste blushed. “It was a long time ago. A lifetime really.”

Ina peered at her. Her look was sharp. I suspected she was not nearly as drunk as the beaders thought. As Ina says, every Irish woman should be able to drink her weight in Irish whiskey without falling down. She takes a nip, as she says, of whiskey every night before bed. “How interesting you ended up working at the same co-op. Did you start together when you were engaged?”

Celeste cleared her throat. “No, I joined long before Jerry did.”

Ina cocked her head. “Oh, well, you must have parted on good terms if you can work so closely together.”

Beth pointed at the buffet table. “Oooh, look at that cheesecake, Celeste. It looks delicious. You like cheesecake, don’t you? Let’s get a piece.”

“I’m not hungry,” Celeste snapped.

Ina cocked her head the other way. “Did Jerry and Tess join at the same time?”

“No. Tess has been a member from the start along with David and me.”

“Hmmm . . .” Ina said.

I was afraid Ina was playing her part a little too dumb, but I decided to let her finish.

“So Tess married Jerry after the co-op started.”

Celeste nodded.

To herself, Beth was muttering about the cheesecake, as if Celeste might change her mind and eat it. I suspected Beth wanted to get Celeste out of Ina’s clutches. Beth was nobody’s fool.

“That must have been awkward,” Ina said.

Beth stepped on Jendy’s foot. “Ouch,” the younger woman yelped. Apparently those boots weren’t as thick as they appeared. She shot daggers at Beth with her eyes. Beth raised her eyebrows back.

“Celeste,” Jendy said. “You promised to show us those new beads you flamed this week before we left.

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