Before Liz and Terri came, Harry ran the vacuum cleaner, then
warmed up shepherds pie that shed made the day before. When the two ladies arrived, the pleasing aroma pervaded the kitchen.
Terri, never one to eschew emotional display, hugged Inez. Inez, you must be so distressed. I know I am, and I didnt even know Flo as you did.
Its unfathomable, Inez replied.
Liz also hugged Inez. What can I do to help?
Think, came the wise reply.
Ladies, come sit. Its bitter cold. A little shepherds pie ought to help. Heres some water crackers to get started.
Harry propelled them to the kitchen table, filled their glasses, then sat down to join them.
Pewter eagerly circled the table. Tucker and Mrs. Murphy sat on the floor but were less obvious in their intentions.
Tucker said,
Fear.
Liz.
Mrs. Murphy sniffed.
Terri, too,
Pewter added.
Funny, Inez isnt afraid.
Tucker thought the lamb in the pie smelled fabulous.
Maybe because shes lived her life. The other two are young. Inez knows death cant be very far away,
Mrs. Murphy wisely noted.
Does anyone know how Dick is? It seemed to be a good marriage, Liz asked as she enjoyed the food.
Inez responded, Kenda said his brother and sister-in-law are with him. According to Kenda, Dick is alternating between rage and tears.
Poor man. Terris hand shook slightly as she raised the fork to her mouth.
Flo was very, very good to me. Liz misted up.
She was good to everyone but Mariah. Inez found the crackers unusual and delicious.
Any more tea? Waters boiling, Harry asked.
I can always drink a second cup. Terri watched as Harry rose to fill the large teapot with a horse painted on it.
Give it a minute or two. Harry put a small silver strainer on Terris saucer, for the tea inside the pot was loose.
Terri, always one for dramatization, squeaked, Im scared. I dont
mind admitting it. How do I know whats out there or whos out there?
Liz said drily, Terri, Im sure youre quite safe.
Terri glared at Liz for a second, then softened her gaze. Youre probably right, but until this is resolved and Mariah is apprehended, Im scared.
How do you know Mariah killed Flo? Inez didnt bother to ask why Terri came to that conclusion. It was obvious Liz had filled her in on the watch scam.
Who else? Terris eyes widened. If she were dead, youd think someone would have found the body. Her voice rose. I mean Flo threatened her. Mariah had to know an ugly arrest and court case would follow. She disappeared. Flo should never have opened her mouth. She should have gone directly to the police. For a smart woman, Flo was stupid.
Emotions cloud judgment, Harry simply said.
It does seem that Terri has hit on the most likely chain of events. Liz sighed, pushing back her saucer and cup.
Inez answered, Things are rarely what they seem, Liz.
Isnt that the truth? Harry nodded grimly.
I
hate it when mud gets between my toes.
Mrs. Murphy sidestepped a large slush puddle.
Better than ice. Cuts my pads to ribbons,
Tucker replied.
The tiger cat stopped and lifted her head. Overhead, the great horned owl flew back to the barn. She dipped her wing slightly in acknowledgment.
Must have been a good night. Shes happy,
the cat noted.
Between Flatface,
she named the owl,
Matilda,
the blacksnake,
Pewter, and myself, we keep the varmint population low.
What about the mice in the wall behind the tack trunk?
Tucker leapt over a log.
Doesnt count. We made a deal with them.
They reached the creek, which ran deep and strong between Harrys property and Blair Bainbridges. Blair, having married Little Mim, now rented his land to Deputy Cynthia Cooper.
Pewter, loathing the cold and hating wet paws even more, refused to accompany her friends. She was sound asleep on the sofa in front of the fireplace.
Know what? We arent getting over this.
Tucker, brave but not foolhardy, studied the rushing water.
We could try the beaver dam,
Mrs. Murphy, more nimble than the corgi, suggested.
Worth a look.
The mighty little dog trotted northward toward the large beaver complex.
When Harrys animals arrived, a slap of a tail on the churning water alerted the rest of the beavers, who dove under the water up into the huge lodge.
The waters about at the top of the dam.
Mrs. Murphy knew if she made one mistake, shed fall into the flying waters.
If we get any more rain or snow, there will be flooding for sure.
So much for that idea. Lets head home.
The dog, although a strong swimmer, didnt want to land in the drink, either.
I really wanted to check up on Coops.
Cooper was in Atlanta. Shed be home tomorrow, Friday, April 3. Given her high performance, shed been selected along with other law-enforcement officers for a special one-week training session focusing on community relations. One of the rewards was, during the weekend, the officers were given a special tour of the vibrant city. Officer Doak, a young fellow from the Albemarle sheriffs department, had accompanied her. He had been chosen to study cybersecurity. Albemarle, a county of about ninety thousand souls all told, happened to be quite richdisgustingly rich, really. Still, Sheriff Rick Shaw had to fight for money for his force from the county. He did manage to get the funds to send Cooper and Doak off to Atlanta, though.
Apart from being a fine officer, Deputy Cooper was a good friend to Harry, and vice versa. Harrys best friend, Susan Tucker, was in DeLand, Florida, tending to an ailing aunt. Harry felt alone without her two stalwarts. To make matters worse, Miranda Hogendobber, a surrogate mother to Harry, was in Greenville, South Carolina, because her sister was recuperating from surgery for breast cancer. This, too, was described as ailing, to acquaintances. To close friends, only, the word cancer was used. The doctors said they got it all, but Miranda was taking no chances. Her sister, Didee, had told her to stay in Crozet, but Miranda would have none of it. Secretly, Didee was glad.
Harry depended on her friends for their insights. She wished they were home.
Smell that perfume Terri was wearing?
Tucker asked.
A heavy musk,
Mrs. Murphy answered the dog.
A distaste underlaid it. Im not sure, but somethings not right. Whether she didnt want to come out to us, doesnt like Harry or Inez or Liz, I dont know, but it was noticeable.
I halfway noticed, Tucker, but I didnt think too much about it.
They approached the barn.
There certainly seems to be a lot of drama among this group of women. Well, any group, I reckon.
Why is that?
I dont know. Men arent as complicated, thats all I can figure. They might be devious, lie, or undermine others in a group, but its about pecking order. At least, I think it is. The weaker the man, the more sneaky. But womenits just too complicated for me.