Read Online A Fright to the Death by Dawn Eastman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dawn Eastman
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no hot water for showers, no electricity for curling irons or hair dryers, and a distinct chill in the air, it looked like we were in for a very long weekend. I noticed, however, that every one of them was wearing a warm, cozy-looking sweater or shawl. Fortunately, René had managed to create a lovely breakfast without electricity. At least the gas stove allowed for a hot meal. He told us he and Emmett had moved all of the perishables out into the snow until the power came back on for the refrigerator.
The gang piled their plates with eggs, toast, potatoes, and fresh fruit. Only orange juice and tea were offered since the coffeemaker was electric. I saw Mac approach Isabel across the room. She wore a different stunning scarf and apparently needed no electricity to make her hair look perfect. Her smile was dazzling until he spoke and gestured in my direction. She nodded and followed him to our table.
“Hello again, Clyde.” She touched my shoulder as she passed to sit across the small table from me.
“Isabel.” I sipped my tea. I was still annoyed at the way she kept looking at Mac.
“We’re asking everyone about their movements last night during dinner and after the power went out,” Mac began.
“I feel like I need an alibi,” she said and laughed.
“It’s just routine in a case like this,” I said.
Isabel pursed her lips. “Routine to question people in an accidental death?”
I let out a gust of air and glanced at Mac. He nodded and tilted his head toward Isabel. There was no way we were going to be able to keep this a secret.
“We think that Clarissa was killed,” I said quietly.
Isabel sat back in her chair and held my gaze. “I’m surprised it’s taken this long.”
“We heard you had a history . . .”
Isabel made a hissing noise that sounded like an irritated cat. “That’s an understatement—but before you jump to any conclusions, Clarissa plowed through her life leaving decimation in her wake. It would be harder to find someone who
didn’t
want to kill her.”
“We’ve heard that as well,” Mac said. “So, last night?”
She sat up straight and clasped her hands on the table. “I went to my room with a headache just after dinner started. I wanted to be sure everyone was settled and then I went to take some medicine and lie down for a few minutes.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “The next thing I knew, I woke up and the lights were out in my room. I felt a bit disoriented, but was sure I’d left the lights on after I took the medicine and lay down.”
“What time was it when you woke up?” Mac asked.
“I don’t know.” She pointed to her wrist. “It was so dark I couldn’t make out the hands on my watch. But I went out into the hall and sort of stumbled along until I found the stairs. I heard voices coming from the lounge and saw lights at the end of the hallway, so I went there.” She shrugged. “It must have been just after everyone had arrived, because Wally was explaining that the power would be back on soon. I waited with everyone else until Jessica entered with the candles and then we heard Linda screaming and went upstairs to see what was wrong.”
“Did you see anyone in the hallway on your way to your room?” I asked.
She thought for a moment and then slowly shook her head. She didn’t look at either of us. “I don’t think so. Only the maid. She was finishing in my room just as I arrived.”
“Did you see where she went after your room?” Mac asked.
Isabel shook her head and her earrings swung gently. “I was so focused on getting to my medicine, I didn’t pay any attention.”
Mac thanked her and she walked to the group of workshoppers that had gathered by the door.
Isabel led the knitters into the lounge where the fire was lit, and we stopped Mavis on her way out of the dining room.
Mac explained what we needed and her face lit up.
“Oh, I’d be honored to help you, Detective McKenzie. Your mother has told us all about
The gang piled their plates with eggs, toast, potatoes, and fresh fruit. Only orange juice and tea were offered since the coffeemaker was electric. I saw Mac approach Isabel across the room. She wore a different stunning scarf and apparently needed no electricity to make her hair look perfect. Her smile was dazzling until he spoke and gestured in my direction. She nodded and followed him to our table.
“Hello again, Clyde.” She touched my shoulder as she passed to sit across the small table from me.
“Isabel.” I sipped my tea. I was still annoyed at the way she kept looking at Mac.
“We’re asking everyone about their movements last night during dinner and after the power went out,” Mac began.
“I feel like I need an alibi,” she said and laughed.
“It’s just routine in a case like this,” I said.
Isabel pursed her lips. “Routine to question people in an accidental death?”
I let out a gust of air and glanced at Mac. He nodded and tilted his head toward Isabel. There was no way we were going to be able to keep this a secret.
“We think that Clarissa was killed,” I said quietly.
Isabel sat back in her chair and held my gaze. “I’m surprised it’s taken this long.”
“We heard you had a history . . .”
Isabel made a hissing noise that sounded like an irritated cat. “That’s an understatement—but before you jump to any conclusions, Clarissa plowed through her life leaving decimation in her wake. It would be harder to find someone who
didn’t
want to kill her.”
“We’ve heard that as well,” Mac said. “So, last night?”
She sat up straight and clasped her hands on the table. “I went to my room with a headache just after dinner started. I wanted to be sure everyone was settled and then I went to take some medicine and lie down for a few minutes.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “The next thing I knew, I woke up and the lights were out in my room. I felt a bit disoriented, but was sure I’d left the lights on after I took the medicine and lay down.”
“What time was it when you woke up?” Mac asked.
“I don’t know.” She pointed to her wrist. “It was so dark I couldn’t make out the hands on my watch. But I went out into the hall and sort of stumbled along until I found the stairs. I heard voices coming from the lounge and saw lights at the end of the hallway, so I went there.” She shrugged. “It must have been just after everyone had arrived, because Wally was explaining that the power would be back on soon. I waited with everyone else until Jessica entered with the candles and then we heard Linda screaming and went upstairs to see what was wrong.”
“Did you see anyone in the hallway on your way to your room?” I asked.
She thought for a moment and then slowly shook her head. She didn’t look at either of us. “I don’t think so. Only the maid. She was finishing in my room just as I arrived.”
“Did you see where she went after your room?” Mac asked.
Isabel shook her head and her earrings swung gently. “I was so focused on getting to my medicine, I didn’t pay any attention.”
Mac thanked her and she walked to the group of workshoppers that had gathered by the door.
Isabel led the knitters into the lounge where the fire was lit, and we stopped Mavis on her way out of the dining room.
Mac explained what we needed and her face lit up.
“Oh, I’d be honored to help you, Detective McKenzie. Your mother has told us all about
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