Read Online A Fit of Tempera by Mary Daheim - Free Book Online Page A

that the Grover family’s presence for half a century would make a favorable impression, she was dead wrong. Costello scowled under the brim of his hat. “Summer people. A home in the city, a place in the mountains, a beach house, a ski lodge, an island getaway. Yachts, helicopters, limos, private jets—there’s no end toit.” He pulled out a rumpled handkerchief and wiped his nose.
    â€œUh…actually, in 1938, these lots went for less than four hundred dollars…”
    â€œThe Leisure Class. The Rich are different.” Costello trampled Judith’s explanation, then turned to Dabney Plummer. “Take that down, it’s a good quote. We can use it somewhere.”
    Judith decided it would be best not to tell the undersheriff that his quote had already been used. Often. She waited for him to continue with his questions.
    â€œSo you went over to party with Tobias this afternoon?” The scowl had been replaced by a mere frown.
    Renie chose to field that one. “We went to get water. From Riley’s well. We always do that. He asked us to have a beer. We did. We left. With our water.”
    Costello was looking skeptical. “How long were you there drinking?”
    Judith and Renie exchanged questioning glances. “Half an hour?” ventured Judith. “We went over around one o’clock. We didn’t want to stay too long because we’d just built a fire in the stove. I know we were back here shortly after one-thirty, because I looked at my watch when I started cleaning out the cupboards.”
    Dabney Plummer was writing assiduously. Costello fingered his blunt chin. “What was his mood?”
    Judith considered. Riley Tobias had seemed much the same as always: gregarious, open, a bit mercurial. Or was there something else? She couldn’t put a finger on it. Maybe she was mistaken. She and Renie hadn’t seen Riley for a long time.
    â€œWas he drunk when you left?” queried Costello.
    The question made Judith think of Clive Silvanus. She refrained from glancing in the direction of the bedroom. Fortunately, she could no longer hear him snoring. “Drunk?” Judith repeated. “Heavens, no. He had one beer. No, he took a second. We didn’t.”
    The undersheriff waited for his deputy to finish writing. “You went back, though. How come?”
    Judith gave a nod. “Iris—Ms. Takisaki—asked us to help her look for a prowler over at the neighbor’s on the other side of Riley’s property. Mrs. Lablatt?” Judith raised her even, dark eyebrows in a question.
    â€œOld lady Lablatt?” Costello spoke in a disrespectfull tone. “Probably a new boyfriend. She’s a corker.”
    Judith ignored the comment. “Mrs. Lablatt’s out of town. Iris thought someone was lurking around the icehouse. But when we got there, whoever it was had disappeared.”
    Costello snorted. “Handy. So the three of you trooped back to the studio and found Tobias zapped, huh?” He didn’t wait for Judith or Renie to respond, but instead smirked at Dabney Plummer and went right on talking. “How about this? You three broads crash into the studio, wrestle this poor guy to the floor, and strangle him.” He glowered at Renie. “I figure you for the one who sat on him while the two bigger dames did him in. Whose idea was it? The Dragon Lady’s?”
    Judith gnashed her teeth. Abbott N. Costello struck her as a character out of an old B-movie. “That’s idiotic,” she declared. “Why on earth would we kill Riley? We hadn’t even seen him—or Iris—in ages!”
    â€œA likely story,” Costello muttered, unembarrassed by the cliché. “How come you didn’t stick around over there with your Japanese ally?”
    Renie passed a hand over her forehead. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! Iris was born right here in the Pacific Northwest! So were her parents,