Read Online A House to Die For (A Darby Farr Mystery) by Vicki Doudera - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Vicki Doudera
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wasn't a fixer-upper, going to the hardware
store a few times isn't exactly strange behavior."
Tina sniffed. "There were other things, too. She was distracted,
you know? Forgetful. And that was never, never, your aunt. Not for
as long as I knew her."
"Forgetfulness could have been caused by the tumor, Tina.
Maybe even the trips to the hardware store had something to do
with the pressure on her brain."
Tina looked doubtful. "Maybe" She rifled through a stack of
documents on an adjoining occasional table. "I don't think there
are any other Fairview files. Hopefully the one you've got has all
the relevant docs... " She stopped. "Speaking of forgetfulness,
I nearly forgot to tell you that Mark Trimble called. He said he's
looking forward to seeing you at the meeting."
"Thanks." Darby stood and glanced at Tina's worried face. "Forget about that other file. I'm sure you're right-it's no big deal."
Tina nodded and hurried to answer the ringing phone. A moment later, she was back.
"Laura Gefferelli is on the phone."
Darby looked puzzled and Tina whispered, "The minister."
Darby picked up her line and said hello. The voice on the other
end was gentle.
"I know you have a lot on your mind today, Darby, but I was
hoping we could meet and discuss Jane's service."
Inwardly, Darby groaned. She wasn't looking forward to dealing with the details of her aunt's death, but as personal representative, those details were now her responsibility, however uncomfortable she felt. "How about this afternoon? I have a meeting this
morning, and I'm not sure how long it will take."
"Planning board, right?" Laura Gefferelli chuckled. "No telling
how long those guys can talk. I have to be there, too. We can touch
base then."
"Is it part of your ministry to attend town committee meetings?"
Again Laura laughed, a light, musical sound that Darby welcomed. "It should be! God knows I go to enough of them." She
paused. "I'm attending today on behalf of a woman's shelter we're setting up on the other side of the island. The church bought a
small raised ranch over there, and we just found out that the septic system is partly on the neighbor's yard. Luckily the neighbor
is being very understanding, but we need to get permission from
the board to continue renovating the structure." She sighed. "You
know how it goes, I'm sure."
"I do. I'll keep my fingers crossed. If I can help you while I'm
here... "
"You have enough on your plate," Laura said quietly. "We're the
ones who are here to help you."
Darby felt a knot in her throat at the other woman's kind tone.
"Thanks," she said quickly, fighting to regain her composure. "I'll
see you shortly."
Tina Ames was standing in the doorway, touching up her manicure with practiced dexterity. She blew on her nails, sending the
scent of polish wafting toward Darby, and gave her a knowing look.
"Awful lot of folks are gonna miss that Jane Farr." She shook her
head sadly, then glanced at her watch. In a flash, her mood changed
from melancholy to anger. "Where the hell is that Donny Pease?" she
fumed, striding to the window. "I'll have his hide if he forgot to pick
me up.
Forty minutes later, Darby scooped up the only file on Fairview
and walked two blocks from Jane Farr's office to the town hall. A
brick building constructed in the late 1800s, the hall held the island's few administrative offices, including those of the police department, as well as a tiny library and the town meeting room.
Darby pulled open the heavy door. Inside, the meeting room
was set up theatre style with a few long tables across the front
where the planning board members sat. Although the meeting
wouldn't start for another fifteen minutes, already several people
were milling about, claiming their seats, and greeting fellow islanders.
Darby glanced at the others and spotted a tall man dressed in a
polo shirt and khakis. He turned around and she locked eyes with
Mark Trimble.
She would have recognized
store a few times isn't exactly strange behavior."
Tina sniffed. "There were other things, too. She was distracted,
you know? Forgetful. And that was never, never, your aunt. Not for
as long as I knew her."
"Forgetfulness could have been caused by the tumor, Tina.
Maybe even the trips to the hardware store had something to do
with the pressure on her brain."
Tina looked doubtful. "Maybe" She rifled through a stack of
documents on an adjoining occasional table. "I don't think there
are any other Fairview files. Hopefully the one you've got has all
the relevant docs... " She stopped. "Speaking of forgetfulness,
I nearly forgot to tell you that Mark Trimble called. He said he's
looking forward to seeing you at the meeting."
"Thanks." Darby stood and glanced at Tina's worried face. "Forget about that other file. I'm sure you're right-it's no big deal."
Tina nodded and hurried to answer the ringing phone. A moment later, she was back.
"Laura Gefferelli is on the phone."
Darby looked puzzled and Tina whispered, "The minister."
Darby picked up her line and said hello. The voice on the other
end was gentle.
"I know you have a lot on your mind today, Darby, but I was
hoping we could meet and discuss Jane's service."
Inwardly, Darby groaned. She wasn't looking forward to dealing with the details of her aunt's death, but as personal representative, those details were now her responsibility, however uncomfortable she felt. "How about this afternoon? I have a meeting this
morning, and I'm not sure how long it will take."
"Planning board, right?" Laura Gefferelli chuckled. "No telling
how long those guys can talk. I have to be there, too. We can touch
base then."
"Is it part of your ministry to attend town committee meetings?"
Again Laura laughed, a light, musical sound that Darby welcomed. "It should be! God knows I go to enough of them." She
paused. "I'm attending today on behalf of a woman's shelter we're setting up on the other side of the island. The church bought a
small raised ranch over there, and we just found out that the septic system is partly on the neighbor's yard. Luckily the neighbor
is being very understanding, but we need to get permission from
the board to continue renovating the structure." She sighed. "You
know how it goes, I'm sure."
"I do. I'll keep my fingers crossed. If I can help you while I'm
here... "
"You have enough on your plate," Laura said quietly. "We're the
ones who are here to help you."
Darby felt a knot in her throat at the other woman's kind tone.
"Thanks," she said quickly, fighting to regain her composure. "I'll
see you shortly."
Tina Ames was standing in the doorway, touching up her manicure with practiced dexterity. She blew on her nails, sending the
scent of polish wafting toward Darby, and gave her a knowing look.
"Awful lot of folks are gonna miss that Jane Farr." She shook her
head sadly, then glanced at her watch. In a flash, her mood changed
from melancholy to anger. "Where the hell is that Donny Pease?" she
fumed, striding to the window. "I'll have his hide if he forgot to pick
me up.
Forty minutes later, Darby scooped up the only file on Fairview
and walked two blocks from Jane Farr's office to the town hall. A
brick building constructed in the late 1800s, the hall held the island's few administrative offices, including those of the police department, as well as a tiny library and the town meeting room.
Darby pulled open the heavy door. Inside, the meeting room
was set up theatre style with a few long tables across the front
where the planning board members sat. Although the meeting
wouldn't start for another fifteen minutes, already several people
were milling about, claiming their seats, and greeting fellow islanders.
Darby glanced at the others and spotted a tall man dressed in a
polo shirt and khakis. He turned around and she locked eyes with
Mark Trimble.
She would have recognized
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