Down, Aunt Tally said grimly.
Yes. Liz tapped the eraser end of the pencil on the page. But only
twelve percent. The market lost thirty-five percent in value. Youre way ahead of the game. You, too, Inez.
Inez, good at things like this, mentioned, Liz, a twelve percent loss in value is still twelve percent. While I applaud you running a better race than the market, I do have some suggestions.
A frown crossed Lizs face but was quickly replaced by a neutral facade. What could a ninety-eight-year-old vet teach her?
Plenty.
Tell me. Liz tried to inject eagerness in her voice.
I suggest you sell my Delta Petroleum stocks and, with the proceeds, buy the short-term notes offered by the state of California.
Aunt Tally exploded, California cant even pay its state workers, and you want to buy municipal bonds?
Inez held up her hands, palms toward Aunt Tally. Debt issue makes sense, Blossom. I dont trust for a shining minute the stock-market rebound.
Liz piped up. Money-market funds
Before she could finish, Inez crisply replied, I dont trust that, either. California is an ungodly mess, but the tax advantages to shifting money to the notes remains attractive.
Aunt Tally rapped the floor with her cane. You have no idea what youre talking about.
Ordinary stock earningssay, like those for Georgia-Pacificare taxed at a higher rate than municipal bonds. Any form of government note carries tax advantages. It offers high earnings in other areas like stocks and real estate.
But dont I want what will earn me the most income? Aunt Tally, listening to Inez at this moment, wished she hadnt been so passive about her money.
You have to mix it up, Inez explained patiently. Or youll lose most of your gains to taxes.
Thats unfair!
Indeed. Thats why for years Ive urged you to ride herd on your brokers. Liz has what you call your play money. Scott and Stringfellow has the real money.
Liz, clever, knew not to cast aspersions at Scott & Stringfellow.
It would look as though she was trying to get all of Aunt Tallys money into her small firm.
They are very good, Liz demurred.
The meeting wore on for another hour. Mostly it was productive.
As Liz gathered up her papers, she said, This was better than wasting time on the murders. Weve said all there is to say to one another about that. Its time to get back to business.
It is, Inez agreed.
Its still hard to put it out of ones mind. Aunt Tally leaned on her cane to rise.
I wish wed hear some results from the forensics lab, Liz grumbled. Our state has such a great lab.
Im sure Missouri cant be far behind, Inez said. Its April thirteenth. Mariah was only found on Friday, April tenth, and it
was
a holiday weekend.
Why does it seem longer? Liz sighed.
Because its so awful. You lose focus and track of time, Aunt Tally said, then spoke to Inez. You dont need to tidy up my papers. Ill do it later.
Okay.
Aunt Tally met up with Liz in the center hall and said, Im glad we had this time together.
Me, too. Inez chimed in as she joined them.
Are you sure I cant feed you something? Aunt Tally offered.
Oh, no, thank you. Ive got to get down to Ivy. Liz named a small community just west of Charlottesville on Route 250. I promised Terri Id go over her portfolio, too. Naturally she doesnt have the resources you two have, but given her age, shes been a steadfast saver and investor. She should wind up quite well off in her later years. Actually, I need to babysit her, sort of. Shes rattled over Mariah and over the fact that she broke up with her boyfriend.
Better you than me. Aunt Tally laughed.
L
ow-pressure systems made Harry sleepy. The baffling weather continued, with light drizzle and a temperature in the high forties. As Harry walked back from the barn, the rain picked up tempo and the water poured from the front of her oilskin outback hat. No one could do rain quite like the English or the Australians. With her hat, her old re-waxed Barbour coat, and her worn Wellies, she kept dry. The chill crept into her bones, though.
Inez was with Fair. Mondays were always busy, regardless of profession, so hed asked her to help out after her meeting with Tally and Liz. She loved going on calls with him. Like many people who were successful in their careers, she hated being away from the action. She kept her knowledge up and she sometimes strayed to Blancas clinic, but it wasnt the same as being a full-time vet.
Harry hoped that the day with Fair would take Inezs mind off things. Like all medical people, Inez was a problem-solver. Methodical, calm, with a touch of imagination, Inez, like Harry, was a good person to have on your team. Both were drawn into the two murders more than they cared to admit. Inez had a connection to both of the deceased, whereas Harrys drive came from curiosity and the desire for an answer.
Harry hung her coat up on one of the pegs on the porch. Better for it to drip there than in the kitchen, but the dampness and cold made
her teeth chatter. She hung the hat up, too, pulled off her boots with the help of a bootjack, then opened the door into the kitchen and jumped in, skidding a little in her socks on the polished random-width pine.
The warmth felt glorious.
Near the door was a carved blanket chest in which household boots, sneakers, and slippers were kept. She pulled on an old pair of slippers. Ah. Above this was a long bar of wood with pegs. More coats, an old shirt, and hats hung on these.
Harry put up tea, but she couldnt shake the cold, so she took an old L.L.Bean Buffalo plaid wool shirt off a peg and put it on.
Looking at the animals curled up in their fleece beds, she said, You all are smarter than I am.
You noticed,
Pewter observed drily.
Once the tea had warmed her from the inside out a bit, Harry called Susan. She missed her friend. Once she caught up on the progress of Susans aunt and the odds and ends of daily life, she told her best friend about the strange events and meeting Ralston Peaveys granddaughter.
Small world, Susan said.
Isnt it funny how something that happened back when Christ lost His sandals still bugs you? Harry used the old expression meaning a long, long time ago.
Well, the reason you love your cats is that youre like them. Curious. Curious. Curious. Susan laughed. And you know what curiosity did to the cat.
Yeah, I know. Harry laughed, too.
Susan then said, You have a gift for getting in the middle of things.
I know, and I dont have you to get me out of trouble. She hastened to add, When are you coming home? I hate it when youre gone.
Next week. Susan sucked in some air. I have been gone too long. Im beginning to forget what my husband looks like.
Are you smoking a cigarette?
A telling pause followed. Well
Susan, you said you would stop.
I mean to, but you know how I get when Im stressed. Shes recovering, but the chemo is dreadful. I swear to you, if I get cancer, Im not doing it, and Im not doing radiation, either. Makes you sick as a dog. And I suppose most times it works, but then again, sometimes it doesnt, so instead of having three or five good months, the end of your life is hell.
I cant disagree, but I can still chew you out for smoking.
All right. All right. Susan stubbed out the cigarette, but she knew shed light up another later.