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Authors: Elizabeth Spann Craig
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heartstrings never hurt.
Red was opening his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut again. Probably remembering her gnomes. She hid a smile at the thought of the barefoot, inanely grinning, accordion-playing gnome that she liked to position nearest to Red’s house. “We’re really just focusing on what happened in the days leading up to Tammy’s death. Who she upset, what she did. Actually, they’re probably going to want to talk to you, Mama, since you were getting beautified that day.”
Myrtle frowned.
“No, you’re not a suspect. Anyone who was at the Beauty Box Tuesday will have to be questioned. They know Tammy didn’t talk dirt about you, but you witnessed her scene in the shop.”
“So they’re not really interviewing any of her other clients?”
“It looks like a crime committed in the heat of the moment. Like Tammy made somebody mad on Tuesday and they came back and killed her with the closest weapon on hand. The only weird thing is that the weapon was a brand-new pair of hair shears with no fingerprints on them and no evidence they were wiped down. The killer must have worn gloves, which doesn’t jive with the spontaneity of the murder. But, yes, to answer your question, chances are it was someone she knew. She trusted the murderer enough to turn her back on him or her to go down the stairs to the laundry room.”
Myrtle said slowly, “So y’all are probably talking to Bootsie Davenport, Prissy Daniels, and maybe Agnes Walker, too.”
Red put Jack back into the stroller. “According to the witnesses, Tammy didn’t really say anything negative about Mrs. Walker, but since Mrs. Walker was known to be upset that Tammy was dating her son, she’s a suspect, too Although I can’t imagine she had anything at all to do with this murder. I’d be shocked. In my mind, I’ve ruled her out.”
“I guess you’re also interviewing the girls she worked with. Tammy was goading Kat while I was there and was being snide to Dina, too. Plus, she said something about cutting Kat and Dina out of her will. Were they really in her will?”
Red shook his head. “We haven’t gotten that far yet. Who knows? Dina is still saying how Tammy helped her out when she had nowhere to go. But that still doesn’t mean she couldn’t have gotten mad at Tammy. Everybody else was mad at her and they were only with her for short periods of time. Dina actually lived with Tammy.”
Myrtle said, “And maybe Dina was in Tammy’s will and Dina decided she needed some money.”
“It’ll all come out in the interviews, I’m sure.” Red frowned at his mother. “You’re not trying to get involved in my case are you? Sticking your nose in everywhere and bungling up the police work? You’re no Miss Marple.”
“Oh, no, Red. I’m way too young to be Miss Marple. I’d be Nancy Drew.” Red didn’t laugh. Myrtle said, “It’s just that I’m planning on writing an article for the paper about the case. Sloan Jones loves my investigative pieces.”
Red still squinted suspiciously at her. Jack tired of the keys and discovered his father’s nose, yanking it with both fists, and causing tears to well up in Red’s eyes until he pulled free.
“Just a reminder, Mama, someone in Bradley has killed once and could do it again. Checking your bingo cards for B-5 is safer than asking questions and trying to do my job for me.” He let out a deep breath, then said in a seemingly careless way, “Find out if you’re on Jink’s Heating and Air’s schedule, yet?” Myrtle glared at him and Red shrugged. “Just asking,” he said.
When Myrtle and Jack walked in, a showered, dressed and made-up Elaine was busily cooking enough food to feed everyone on the street. She looked a lot more refreshed. The short break must have done her good. “There you are!” she smiled at Myrtle. She put down the spatula and pulled Jack into her arms for a hug. “Did you have a big adventure, Jack?” Elaine squeezed Myrtle’s hand. “Thanks for
Red was opening his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut again. Probably remembering her gnomes. She hid a smile at the thought of the barefoot, inanely grinning, accordion-playing gnome that she liked to position nearest to Red’s house. “We’re really just focusing on what happened in the days leading up to Tammy’s death. Who she upset, what she did. Actually, they’re probably going to want to talk to you, Mama, since you were getting beautified that day.”
Myrtle frowned.
“No, you’re not a suspect. Anyone who was at the Beauty Box Tuesday will have to be questioned. They know Tammy didn’t talk dirt about you, but you witnessed her scene in the shop.”
“So they’re not really interviewing any of her other clients?”
“It looks like a crime committed in the heat of the moment. Like Tammy made somebody mad on Tuesday and they came back and killed her with the closest weapon on hand. The only weird thing is that the weapon was a brand-new pair of hair shears with no fingerprints on them and no evidence they were wiped down. The killer must have worn gloves, which doesn’t jive with the spontaneity of the murder. But, yes, to answer your question, chances are it was someone she knew. She trusted the murderer enough to turn her back on him or her to go down the stairs to the laundry room.”
Myrtle said slowly, “So y’all are probably talking to Bootsie Davenport, Prissy Daniels, and maybe Agnes Walker, too.”
Red put Jack back into the stroller. “According to the witnesses, Tammy didn’t really say anything negative about Mrs. Walker, but since Mrs. Walker was known to be upset that Tammy was dating her son, she’s a suspect, too Although I can’t imagine she had anything at all to do with this murder. I’d be shocked. In my mind, I’ve ruled her out.”
“I guess you’re also interviewing the girls she worked with. Tammy was goading Kat while I was there and was being snide to Dina, too. Plus, she said something about cutting Kat and Dina out of her will. Were they really in her will?”
Red shook his head. “We haven’t gotten that far yet. Who knows? Dina is still saying how Tammy helped her out when she had nowhere to go. But that still doesn’t mean she couldn’t have gotten mad at Tammy. Everybody else was mad at her and they were only with her for short periods of time. Dina actually lived with Tammy.”
Myrtle said, “And maybe Dina was in Tammy’s will and Dina decided she needed some money.”
“It’ll all come out in the interviews, I’m sure.” Red frowned at his mother. “You’re not trying to get involved in my case are you? Sticking your nose in everywhere and bungling up the police work? You’re no Miss Marple.”
“Oh, no, Red. I’m way too young to be Miss Marple. I’d be Nancy Drew.” Red didn’t laugh. Myrtle said, “It’s just that I’m planning on writing an article for the paper about the case. Sloan Jones loves my investigative pieces.”
Red still squinted suspiciously at her. Jack tired of the keys and discovered his father’s nose, yanking it with both fists, and causing tears to well up in Red’s eyes until he pulled free.
“Just a reminder, Mama, someone in Bradley has killed once and could do it again. Checking your bingo cards for B-5 is safer than asking questions and trying to do my job for me.” He let out a deep breath, then said in a seemingly careless way, “Find out if you’re on Jink’s Heating and Air’s schedule, yet?” Myrtle glared at him and Red shrugged. “Just asking,” he said.
When Myrtle and Jack walked in, a showered, dressed and made-up Elaine was busily cooking enough food to feed everyone on the street. She looked a lot more refreshed. The short break must have done her good. “There you are!” she smiled at Myrtle. She put down the spatula and pulled Jack into her arms for a hug. “Did you have a big adventure, Jack?” Elaine squeezed Myrtle’s hand. “Thanks for
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