Silencing the Pen by M. Lee Prescott

Author:M. Lee Prescott [Prescott, M. Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780998218434
Publisher: Mount Hope Press

Chapter 18

Beck Bailey fielded the last of his audience’s questions, then Nancy stood and thanked him and everyone for “a lively exchange of ideas.” As the group dispersed, Bess spied Matt Crowley, one of the waitstaff, chatting with a couple of his buddies. Of medium height, with brown eyes, dark curly, longish Heathcliff hair, he was a handsome young man, and he knew it. Sporting a T-shirt with a voluptuous blonde depicted below the message “Party till she’s cute,” he leaned back again the windowsill, grinning.

“Let’s go chat with Matt,” she whispered to Jane, who looked at her in surprise before shrugging and falling in by her side.

“You’re going to be in big trouble if you-know-who finds out,” Jane said as they neared the group.

“Hi, guys,” Bess said, adopting a cheery “I’m cool” tone. It had no effect, and the three young men stared at her as if she were an alien. “Matt, right? Have you got a minute to talk with my friend Jane and me?”

“About what?”

His scowl was not reassuring, but Bess plunged ahead. “We just wondered how all the staff is doing after Daisy’s death.”

His companions drifted off, no doubt wanting to avoid being interrogated next. Matt looked ready to follow them, but Jane stepped to the side, blocking his escape. “Nice T-shirt.”

He shrugged, giving her an insouciant grin that probably worked well on younger women, but irritated Bess. “Where were you last night? Did you hear or see anything odd?”

“I told your husband everything I know, which is squat, so why don’t you ask him?”

“Humor us,” Jane said, hands on hips, giving him the evil eye. “Did you know Daisy very well?”

“I knew her through Scott, that’s it. Didn’t see anything last night. A couple of us were drinking beers down on the beach.”

Bess asked, “Who was with you?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but Henry and Gus. We invited Georgia, but she crapped out. Said she had stuff to do.”

“Not Angie?”

“We told her about it, but she said she was hanging with Clara.”

“So, Clara and Angie are friends?”

“What do I know? They hang out sometimes ’cause neither of them drinks and the rest of us like to party on our off hours. Listen, I gotta go. This is the only break we get all day. By the way, Henry and Gus’ll tell you the same story. Angie and Georgia too.”

“Sorry to hold you up.”

“No prob. See ya.”

As Matt disappeared through the kitchen door, Pete came up behind them. “Hey, Bess, Jane. You ladies aren’t questioning people, are you?”

“No, just chatting about what’s for dinner.”

He raised an eyebrow, gazing from one to the other. “Better not be, or there’ll be hell to pay from the boss.”

“No worries!” Jane said, taking hold of Bess’s hand.

“Are you finished interviewing for the day, then?” Bess asked.

“Nope. Coming for the Capuano kid. Have you seen her?”

“I think she’s in the kitchen,” Jane said.

As he gave them one last look, Pete said, “And don’t forget. It’ll be your turn soon.”

Jane saluted him.

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