Read Online A Season for Killing Blondes by Joanne Guidoccio - Free Book Online
Authors: Joanne Guidoccio
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what time were you up and about this morning, Gilda?”
“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but the Godfrey women verbally attacked me.” I paused to take several breaths and then continued, “I don’t remember what time I got out of bed, but I left around five-thirty, and I arrived at the cottage two hours later.”
He persisted. “Did you call up your mother or see Sofia? You must have phoned Karen and picked up the key before you left.”
“No, I got the key when I visited her office the day Carrie Ann died. There were several older couples walking on the boardwalk, but I didn’t have conversations with any of them. You’re the first person I’ve spoken to—”
“I’m going to terminate this conversation right now. For your own protection, I suggest you find yourself a lawyer and come downtown as soon as possible.” He hung up.
I sank into the leather couch and held my head in both hands. The telephone rang. This time I checked call display. I breathed a sigh of relief as I picked up the phone.
“Where have you been?” Sofia asked in an exasperated tone.
“I guess no one says hello anymore.”
“So you know. Who told you?”
“I just finished speaking with Carlo.”
“How was it?”
“Terrible. He advised me to get a lawyer.”
She swore under her breath. “I wish I had talked to you first. Then you would have been prepared.”
“I told him the truth. I have nothing to hide.”
“Then why would he say you need a lawyer? And you still haven’t told me where you’ve been.”
“I’ll answer your second question first. I couldn’t sleep. I got out of bed and decided to get out of town. I drove out to Manitoulin Island and spent the day alone at Karen Anderson’s cottage. I’ve been gone the whole day, and there’s no one who can vouch for me. And that’s why Carlo thinks I need a lawyer.”
“This is beyond damage control,” Sofia muttered.
“This is murder. And I think someone is trying to set me up.”
Sofia spoke briskly. “First things first. Tomorrow morning call Henry Keenan. He’s the best criminal lawyer in town and, thank God, you can afford it.”
“Isn’t it wonderful how handy a lottery win can be.” I bit down on my lower lip.
“You sound strange.” Sofia lowered her voice. “Go ahead and cry. Let it all out. You’ll feel better.”
I stopped biting my lip and sobbed uncontrollably for a few minutes. I sniffed and blew my nose. “Thanks.”
“Do you want me to come over?”
“No, I have a splitting headache, and I plan to go to bed very soon. I’ll check my messages tomorrow, but I think I’ll call my mother now. I wonder if she knows.”
“Everyone knows. They reported Melly Grace’s murder this afternoon, and word has spread like wildfire.”
“Who told her? And what did they tell her?”
“My parents gave her an edited version, and Maria and Rosa gave her all the details about last night at Olympia. Rosa’s son and girlfriend were sitting a few tables away from us, and they heard and saw everything. She has been listening to the radio, and I’m sure she’s called you a number of times.”
Would it ever end, I wondered. “I’ll call her right now.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Sofia said. “My parents and I took supper over there, and before we left, she took a sedative and went to bed. Tomorrow morning, we’ll all come over and have a family powwow at your place.”
“I’m willing to bet you’ve even baked something for the occasion.”
“Well, you know how I like to bake in crisis situations. This afternoon I baked double batches of blueberry and banana muffins. What we don’t eat, you can freeze.” Sofia cleared her throat. “We’ll be there around ten. Good night and sleep tight.”
I felt a bit ashamed about my earlier thoughts. I was fortunate to have family and relatives who would drop everything to help me through this nightmare. And what a nightmare it was turning out to be.
Chapter
“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but the Godfrey women verbally attacked me.” I paused to take several breaths and then continued, “I don’t remember what time I got out of bed, but I left around five-thirty, and I arrived at the cottage two hours later.”
He persisted. “Did you call up your mother or see Sofia? You must have phoned Karen and picked up the key before you left.”
“No, I got the key when I visited her office the day Carrie Ann died. There were several older couples walking on the boardwalk, but I didn’t have conversations with any of them. You’re the first person I’ve spoken to—”
“I’m going to terminate this conversation right now. For your own protection, I suggest you find yourself a lawyer and come downtown as soon as possible.” He hung up.
I sank into the leather couch and held my head in both hands. The telephone rang. This time I checked call display. I breathed a sigh of relief as I picked up the phone.
“Where have you been?” Sofia asked in an exasperated tone.
“I guess no one says hello anymore.”
“So you know. Who told you?”
“I just finished speaking with Carlo.”
“How was it?”
“Terrible. He advised me to get a lawyer.”
She swore under her breath. “I wish I had talked to you first. Then you would have been prepared.”
“I told him the truth. I have nothing to hide.”
“Then why would he say you need a lawyer? And you still haven’t told me where you’ve been.”
“I’ll answer your second question first. I couldn’t sleep. I got out of bed and decided to get out of town. I drove out to Manitoulin Island and spent the day alone at Karen Anderson’s cottage. I’ve been gone the whole day, and there’s no one who can vouch for me. And that’s why Carlo thinks I need a lawyer.”
“This is beyond damage control,” Sofia muttered.
“This is murder. And I think someone is trying to set me up.”
Sofia spoke briskly. “First things first. Tomorrow morning call Henry Keenan. He’s the best criminal lawyer in town and, thank God, you can afford it.”
“Isn’t it wonderful how handy a lottery win can be.” I bit down on my lower lip.
“You sound strange.” Sofia lowered her voice. “Go ahead and cry. Let it all out. You’ll feel better.”
I stopped biting my lip and sobbed uncontrollably for a few minutes. I sniffed and blew my nose. “Thanks.”
“Do you want me to come over?”
“No, I have a splitting headache, and I plan to go to bed very soon. I’ll check my messages tomorrow, but I think I’ll call my mother now. I wonder if she knows.”
“Everyone knows. They reported Melly Grace’s murder this afternoon, and word has spread like wildfire.”
“Who told her? And what did they tell her?”
“My parents gave her an edited version, and Maria and Rosa gave her all the details about last night at Olympia. Rosa’s son and girlfriend were sitting a few tables away from us, and they heard and saw everything. She has been listening to the radio, and I’m sure she’s called you a number of times.”
Would it ever end, I wondered. “I’ll call her right now.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Sofia said. “My parents and I took supper over there, and before we left, she took a sedative and went to bed. Tomorrow morning, we’ll all come over and have a family powwow at your place.”
“I’m willing to bet you’ve even baked something for the occasion.”
“Well, you know how I like to bake in crisis situations. This afternoon I baked double batches of blueberry and banana muffins. What we don’t eat, you can freeze.” Sofia cleared her throat. “We’ll be there around ten. Good night and sleep tight.”
I felt a bit ashamed about my earlier thoughts. I was fortunate to have family and relatives who would drop everything to help me through this nightmare. And what a nightmare it was turning out to be.
Chapter
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