The Beastly Island Murder. Carol W. HazelwoodЧитать онлайн книгу.
upholstered chairs by the cash register, reading. Her marmalade-colored longhaired cats, Crabapple and Maxie, lolled on top of the counter. There wasn’t a customer in the place.
Emma Mae turned and waved to acknowledge Jennifer’s approach. “You’re home early. Glad you’re back. Your mother’s been in a tizzy.”
“So I heard from Clarence and Miss Burns.” Jennifer stood at the counter and stroked Crabapple, who looked at her momentarily, then laid her head down and purred.
“Well, you know Eleanor can’t stand Beastly.” Emma Mae’s gray hair hung in strands on either side of her pale, handsome face. “I’d suggest you sell just to have some peace with my sister, but I know how you feel about the island.”
“You’ve been a rock, staying out of the fight.” Jennifer turned toward the bookcase behind her and scanned the books waiting to be picked up by patrons. “I see Peter still hasn’t picked up the three books he ordered.”
“I called him. Said he’d come in soon.” Emma Mae rolled her eyes. “You know what that means. Time doesn’t seem to mean anything to old Pete. At least they’re paid for. Except for today, the store’s been busy since you’ve been away. This is the first day I’ve been able to relax. When it rains people like to burrow in at home and read by a fire.” She let out a soft chuckle. “Maybe it’s a good thing we’re up here in the northwest. Rains all the time, so people are forced to read unless they veg out in front of the TV, a nauseating thought.”
“Sometimes I could use a little more sunshine,” Jennifer said.
“We got another shipment from Random House.” Emma Mae continued to bring Jennifer up to date on the store’s business. “David Dowden has been asking about that book on insects you promised you’d find.”
“Actually, I did find it on the Internet. Should’ve come in by now.”
“Might have. There’s a package on the desk in the office for you.”
“If that’s it, maybe you’d call him tomorrow for me and let him know,” Jennifer said, giving Crabapple an extra rub. “I have to go out to the Wedgeworths for the appraisal.”
“I noticed the appointment on the calendar. Should be interesting. Almost wish I could go with you to see the place.” Emma Mae shook her head. “Amazing what you do on your computer. I’m too old to learn that new fangled technology.”
“No you’re not.” Jennifer stood at the register glancing over the sales sheet. “You just don’t want to bother. You’d rather crawl into a good book instead.”
They both knew that the store couldn’t survive without Jennifer’s commissions as a rare book dealer. Her newly acquired skill had paid off for the store’s bottom line, but had not helped in finding Carla’s missing book. The Internet was a boon, but she’d learned to be careful. Book thieves and unscrupulous dealers abounded. EBay, although a wonderful source, was sometimes referred to as the largest legalized fence of stolen property.
Emma Mae rose and stretched. “Maybe keeping hours on Sunday afternoon isn’t such a good idea. What do you think?”
“You’re the one who insisted we open on Sunday afternoon. Have you checked how many Sunday sales we do?”
“I knew you’d ask me that.” Emma Mae rose and walked stiffly over to the magazine rack and re-stacked them. “So how was your stay at Beastly?”
“Lovely. Cabin repairs had to be made, but the kayaking was great. Lydia loved it.” Jennifer walked back to the office and checked the package and personal mail that Emma Mae had left for her. She and her aunt shared the desire for independence and privacy, which is why they worked so well together and why both had trouble getting along with her mother, Eleanor. Emma Mae and Eleanor were as different as Carla and Jennifer had been. Loving one’s sister doesn’t mean one thinks or behaves like her.
Looking out the office door to the front of the store, Jennifer saw Maxie jump off the counter, follow Emma Mae toward the bookshelves and swat at her mistress’s long wool skirt.
“Where’s Lydia?” Emma Mae called out. “The cats miss her. Maxie has nobody to pester but me.”
Jennifer came out of the office holding a few letters. “Dropped her off at Shu Lee’s. Her fur was a briar patch.”
Emma Mae frowned and studied her niece. “Well, have you looked in the mirror lately? You could do with a groomer, too.” She swished her skirt away from Maxie. “By the way, a fellow came in asking about you last week. Didn’t leave a name, but said he’d be back when you were in town. A good looker, on the thin side, nice manners, smooth talker.” She grinned at Jennifer. “Have you been holding out on me?”
“Hardly. What did he want?” Jennifer scanned through the mail.
“Didn’t say, just asked a lot of questions.”
Jennifer stopped and stared at her aunt. “What kinds of questions?”
“Where you were, when you’d be back. Those kinds of things.”
Jennifer stilled, a sense of unease rode her. “Was he soft spoken, wiry, about my height, short hair, graying at the temple?”
“You do know him.” Emma Mae grinned and with raised eyebrows walked over to Jennifer. “You’re a sly one, keeping a new beau a secret.” She poked Jennifer in the side. “Maybe Joe will get jealous and ask you out.”
Jennifer ignored the jab about Joe. At least there was one part of her life that her aunt knew nothing about and she liked it that way. “The mystery man is a new acquaintance,” she said, but didn’t add that he was also someone she needed to learn more about.
Emma Mae pointed to a calendar on the wall. “You won’t have much time to spruce up. Your due to do the appraisal at nine in the morning.”
“Right. Sorry to leave you to do my shift again. I’ll make it up next week.”
“Don’t be sorry. The income from your outside book activities more than makes up for my doing extra duty in the store.” Emma Mae picked up a stack of books to shelve. “Go home. You need to dress like you were in civilization, instead of in the boonies.”
“Right. I just wanted to check in.” After Jennifer left the store, she picked up groceries, then went home to her cold, damp, rented house nestled in the hills on the outskirts of town. A long gravel driveway led to the one-story bungalow. It wasn’t much to look at, but it suited her needs. She entered through the back door, placed her groceries on the kitchen counter, and turned on the heat. Having no garage meant going into the rain each time she retrieved something from her car. She dropped her duffle bag off in the back room by the washing machine, wrestled her kayak off the roof of her Jeep onto a dolly, and stowed it in the backyard shed. Knowing it would be a while before she’d go kayaking, she gave the craft a long wistful look, sighed and shut the door.
After stowing gear and starting a load of laundry, she took a long hot shower and donned a pair of black slacks and a red turtleneck jersey. At her desk in the living room she phoned her mother. It wasn’t a call she wanted to make, but knew if she didn’t, her mother’s wrath would be worse. Better to get it over with. After only two rings, her mother’s strident voice snapped into her ear. “Jennifer?”
“Hi, Mom. I’m home. The island was wonderful, and the cabin is in good shape.”
“I’m glad you’re back. Going out there alone is foolish.” In her usual flow of consciousness speak, her mother continued without listening to anything Jennifer had to say. “I have a real estate agent who can get you a great price for the island. Then you can buy a house here in town. I’m sure you’ll be much happier.”
Jennifer’s body went rigid. “Mother, I am not selling!” It was like talking into a vortex. Her mother rattled on, and finally Jennifer interjected, “I have to pick up Lydia before the groomer closes. I’ll be in touch. Give my love to Dad.