The Body in the Bookmobile by Connie B Dowell

Author:Connie B Dowell [Dowell, Connie B]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Book Echoes Media
Published: 2020-03-26T04:00:00+00:00

10

Chapter 10

Millie and Peter arrived at the library with plenty of time before Pauline’s talk began. A few people were already taking their seats and a large meeting room. Millie and Peter followed suit.

They spotted Abby at the front of the room, alongside Flor and a red-haired woman at the podium whom Millie assumed must be Pauline.

“I wonder if the rest of the hiking club is here,” said Peter.

“I think you’re right,” said Millie. She pointed out Ricky, who was milling about with some others near the front of the room. “Maybe we should go talk to them while we have a chance.”

But someone else passed them in the aisle. “Detective Allen!” Once again, Millie was too loud in her surprise.

Detective Allen turned around. “Nice to see you, Millie.”

“You too.” She fumbled with her satchel.

“I just spoke to Adam on the phone. Thank you for asking him to call me,” she said with the tone that Millie thought was genuine gratefulness, “but…”

Yeah, there was bound to be a but.

“It’s official now. This is a murder investigation, and that means this is dangerous. If you think of anything I need to know, even if it’s someone you think needs to talk to me, please call me first. Don’t go asking questions on your own.”

Millie nodded. “I understand. So, what are you—are you here to talk to Flor again?”

Detective Allen smiled. “No. And please don’t worry about Flor. It’s nothing you need to be concerned about.” She proceeded down the aisle toward the podium.

Easy for her to say. She didn’t throw her boss under the bus.

Millie and Peter watched as Detective Allen approached Pauline and then led her aside to a corner of the room to talk, Pauline with an annoyed frown on her face. There were questions for Pauline, were there? Pauline’s book, Millie had noticed, did not provide an index of plants that were poisonous. That was not its purpose after all. However, Pauline was careful to note similarities between edible plants and poisonous ones so that foragers could easily distinguish between the two and not accidentally poison themselves. Millie knew better than to ask Detective Allen, but she desperately wondered what exactly it was that had poisoned Martin.

If only she could get a little closer…

Detective Allen flashed a warning look in her direction. Millie merely smiled, waved and pivoted toward the group of the hiking club members, Peter trailing after her.

“Let’s sit a row or two back,” she whispered to Peter. “Just close enough to listen.”

But too late. Ricky turned and waved upon seeing her. “May I join you?”

Millie nodded. “Of course.” Rats. Spotted.

Ricky slid into the seat next to Millie near the end of the row of chairs. Millie introduced him to Peter, who sat on her other side.

“Having a snoop, are you?” asked Ricky in a low voice.

“No… I am just…” Millie fiddled with her red braid hanging over her shoulder.

“I don’t blame you,” said Ricky. “It’s awfully exciting. Just watch your step after what happened to Martin.

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