Read Online A Singular and Whimsical Problem by Rachel McMillan - Free Book Online

more than shipping. When the Abernathy position became available it was a seamless transition for Melanie. She did it happily.”
    â€œBut Judge Abernathy knew that she knew too much.”
    â€œAnd he was in my husband’s pocket.”
    â€œYou’re a brave woman, Mrs. Walters,” I said. “You and Melanie both. Brave, brave women.”
    â€œA brave woman would have seen her husband of forty years for the man he truly was.”
    â€œYou did,” said Merinda. “I could see that from the start. You were never truly at ease around him. I could see that from the start.”
    Mrs. Walters stared at Merinda, flabbergasted.
    â€œThe locket,” Merinda said impatiently. “A woman in a happy marriage would have her husband’s picture tucked in there. That you kept a picture of your cat was… telling.”
    â€œExtraordinary, Miss Herringford. I knew I needed to find the right people—people who would find my cat and uncover a much larger problem. Thank heaven I found you.”
    Try as she might to subdue it, Merinda was powerless over the smile that tickled the corner of her lips. “You believe in us.”
    â€œI follow your adventures in the Hog . Most women do, Miss Herringford. You would be surprised. You are on the tips of everyone’s tongues. Our husbands don’t take you seriously. But I know all of the ladies of my acquaintance want to see you succeed. A woman has a special glimpse into the human heart. That discretion could never be secured in exactly the same way by a man in your profession.”
    Merinda and I exchanged a smile. I brought Pepper’s tiny, fluffy head to my lips and kissed it. “Goodbye, Pepper. You hero of a cat.”
    â€œDon’t get too sniffy, Jem. If Ray DeLuca is taking him we’ll certainly see him again! Such a smart fellow. I might even use him in a case!”

Epilogue
    Mrs. Malone returned in time to click her tongue and set to making our bower festive. She hung holly, ivy, and sprigs of cranberry across our mantel. Merinda and I coaxed Jasper into helping us find a tree and carry it across the city and into our sitting room. Merinda rang the Hog just as I was beginning to loop popcorn onto string for the fresh branches.
    Jasper and I listened from the kitchen. “DeLuca! Finish up over there and come straight over. No… no, it’s not an emergency. We’re decorating our Christmas tree. DeLuca, I don’t care if the Hog is burning down around you. There is nothing more important than… ”
    I grinned at Jasper as Merinda’s voice rose. He chuckled.
    Merinda returned and draped a sparkly garland over the boughs of the tree as Jasper used his height to plop the star atop with ease. Just as Mrs. Malone was bringing in gingerbread and spice cookies, we heard a knock on the door. Ray appeared, bundled up warmly against the cold.
    â€œIs this a party?” he said.
    â€œDon’t you think Jem and I know how to throw a party?” said Merinda, hands on hips.
    â€œDorothea Fairfax says that a party is only as… ”
    â€œOh shush, Jemima. Jasper, get Ray a glass of cider.”
    Once settled, we partook of our regular tradition, a reading of The Blue Carbuncle. In the story, Holmes and Watson are commissioned to solve the disappearance of a priceless jewel and discover it in the crop of a Christmas goose. Jasper had the perfect voice and presence for it and Ray, the only one of us unfamiliar with the ending, was visibly impressed with the great detective’s technique.
    Jasper snapped the well-thumbed volume shut. The clock tolled midnight and Mrs. Malone retired. The waning candles cast shadows over our faces as the fire crackled and popped. The chimes commemorated the hallowed day even as the shadows of our story and the evening spun.
    â€œLook!”
    Snow was falling swiftly, silently outside the window.
    â€œI can never get used to this white stuff falling