Read Online 86 Avenue du Goulet (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 3) by Peggy A. Edelheit - Free Book Online Page A

staircase and came to a halt at the door. I hit the videophone and only got a bunch of static. “It’s acting up again. The speaker, too.”
    Martha looked at me. “Look, just hit the outdoor lights and I’ll walk down to the gates with you. If we don’t like what’s on the other side, we won’t open it. Here, grab the gate remote and let’s see who this is, once and for all.”
    We walked down toward the gates. As we rounded the hibiscus hedge, we stopped. A smile crossed my lips.
    “Well, what do you know!” I said.
    Martha whispered, “Double damn. Senior competition!”
    “Now behave. They’re friends, who obviously traveled all the way here from Highlands, North Carolina to spend time with us. I told them to come on over because I’ve got plenty of room at the villa I’m renting.”
    I had blind-copied Clay on their email invite. It worked.
    Martha tossed back the last of her wine.
    I turned back to face the gate and hit the remote. “Well, Hazel and Betty, I’m so glad you two could make it.” I said, while subtly poking Martha in the ribs to join in.
    She nudged me away. “Yeah, ditto. I’m surprised you were able to get away from your job at the bookstore. The Book Worm will not be the same without you two oldies.”
    “Very funny!” said Betty. “We were forced to take a ‘much needed’ vacation. Some boss Clay turned out to be. I personally think that new female manager was behind it.”
    “Clay flew the coop, without explaining a thing,” said an indignant Hazel. “He just left a note saying, au revoir !”

 
     
     
    Chapter 32
    Another Day & Another Chapter
     
     
    The next morning the four of us were gathered around the kitchen farm table, catching up with the latest gossip and leisurely sipping our coffee. I reluctantly opened the French doors to the side gardens for air, knowing what was bound to happen on that particular day.
    Martha knew, too, and was a tad edgy.
    And, before long, there he was.
    Betty and Hazel stopped talking.
    After deftly smoothing strays from her tight bun and looking outside, Betty said, “Where did he come from?”
    Hazel plucked at her short curly gray hair, straining for a better view. “Who exactly is that gentleman in the garden, Samantha?”
    “He’s the villa’s French gardener, Luc.”
    Martha jumped up, glaring at the two other women. “Don’t bother. He’s not interested in stuffy, old ladies!”
    I turned to her. “Now Martha, come on, play nice here. Betty and Hazel are my guests.”
    Martha turned and scowled at me. “So am I, and as of this moment, I’m declaring finders keepers!”
    She looked back at Hazel and Betty. “From our iffy shared history, need I remind you two about the rules?”
    Betty waved her off. “What rules? You always cheat.”
    Hazel joined in. “I distinctly recall you hightailing it out of town instead of waiting for us for a certain beach trip.”
    Martha glared. “Are you accusing me of plotting?”
    Betty tsked, tsked her. “I guess you sneaking off in the wee hours is considered normal? I heard you hired a taxi, and wasted time eating breakfast out, until the bus finally showed up in another town so you wouldn’t be seen.”
    “Those town gossips have tentacles everywhere!”
    Hazel gave Martha a steely look. “Plus, you promised you would wait for us and you didn’t!”
    Enough was enough. “Ladies! That’s ancient history.”
    There was a tap, tap on the opened glass door. We all turned to look.
    It was Luc, winking at me. “Excusez-moi, Madame. I did not know you had company.”
    He would have had to be deaf, not to hear all the noise.
    I smiled, winking back at him, and then made all the necessary intros with Betty and Hazel. He made a gallant show of pleasure in meeting them and welcoming them to his country of France.
    He then turned to me. “Madame, if I could have a word with you outside, regarding the gardens?”
    My antenna went up. Why was he asking me about the gardens? This was