Read Online A Zen For Murder (Mooseamuck Island Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Leighann Dobbs - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Leighann Dobbs
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won’t force you to rat out your neighbor, either.”
“I won’t?” Velma’s shoulders relaxed with relief.
Claire walked over to them and stood in front of Zambuco, her hands fisted on her hips. “No, Velma, you won’t have to because I saw the fight, too. And I’m sure someone else did as well, so eventually, Zambuco will find out who Zoila argued with.”
“For crying out loud, someone just tell me who it was before I throw the lot of you in jail!” Zambuco said.
Claire paused, then sighed. “Fine. I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough. The person Zoila had an argument with was Norma Hopper.”
Chapter Ten
Zambuco squinted up at Claire. “Norma Hopper? That mean old painter lady?”
Claire’s gut twisted. She hadn’t wanted to tell Zambuco it was Norma, but she couldn’t stand him threatening Velma. She didn’t want poor Velma to have to bear the burden of being the one who told him, so Claire had blurted it out. Anyway, he’d probably find out from someone else and this way, she could watch his reaction and try to temper the news.
“She’s not mean,” Claire said defensively.
“That’s true,” Hazel added. “She just acts that way. Once you get to know her, you realize she’s not that bad.”
Velma nodded. “That’s right. We’ve known her our whole lives. She’s crotchety, but she’s not a killer.”
“What did she and Zoila argue about?”
“I don’t know.” Velma pointed to her ear. “My hearing isn’t as good as it used to be.”
“Me, either. I could just tell they were yelling.” Hazel looked up at Claire. “Do you know what they were arguing about?”
Claire shook her head. “No, I saw them from my garden. I could hear voices but couldn’t make out the words.”
Zambuco narrowed his eyes. “You ladies wouldn’t be withholding information from me, would you? Because I’m pretty sure you had the opportunity to tell me this before Watson.”
Clair grimaced. “I didn’t think it was relevant, because Norma isn’t the killer.”
“Really?” Zambuco glared at her with sharp, dark eyes. “And what else haven’t you told me because you don’t think it’s relevant ?”
Claire held up her hands. “Nothing, I swear.”
Except the fact that Norma left the island early this morning.
“Well, it looks like I’ll be paying a visit to Norma Hopper.” Zambuco pushed up from the chair.
“You’re wasting your time,” Claire said.
“Maybe.”
“Do you have any clues that even point to her?” Claire asked, seeing the perfect opportunity to try and find out what clues the close-mouthed detective actually did have.
Zambuco picked his glass up from the small table beside his chair, tipped it to his lips and took in a mouthful of ice cubes, which he crunched noisily. “We have the footprint down at the lab. Of course, we are still missing the murder weapon, which I’m hoping will be found on the killer’s premises.”
“The rake?” Dom asked.
“Maybe. Anyway, the last thing you people need is to know what the clues are.” Zambuco pointed his index finger accusingly at Dom and then Claire. “I know the two of you can’t help but stick your noses in, but remember, you’re both retired now. I wouldn’t want to have to arrest you on obstruction charges and don’t even think about withholding pertinent information again or you may find yourself in the cell next to your friend.”
Zambuco slid one last warning look at Claire and Dom, bowed to Velma and Hazel and then stormed off the porch.
***
“Oh, dear, I hope I didn’t get Norma in trouble.” Velma’s hands fluttered nervously in her lap. “I didn’t even think … I mean, he asked and I just answered.”
“It’s okay,” Claire soothed. “He was bound to find out sooner or later, and better he hear it from us than someone who might not like Norma as much.”
“But now I wonder ...” Hazel’s voice trailed off as she watched Zambuco’s car speed off. “You know how
“I won’t?” Velma’s shoulders relaxed with relief.
Claire walked over to them and stood in front of Zambuco, her hands fisted on her hips. “No, Velma, you won’t have to because I saw the fight, too. And I’m sure someone else did as well, so eventually, Zambuco will find out who Zoila argued with.”
“For crying out loud, someone just tell me who it was before I throw the lot of you in jail!” Zambuco said.
Claire paused, then sighed. “Fine. I’m sure you’ll find out soon enough. The person Zoila had an argument with was Norma Hopper.”
Chapter Ten
Zambuco squinted up at Claire. “Norma Hopper? That mean old painter lady?”
Claire’s gut twisted. She hadn’t wanted to tell Zambuco it was Norma, but she couldn’t stand him threatening Velma. She didn’t want poor Velma to have to bear the burden of being the one who told him, so Claire had blurted it out. Anyway, he’d probably find out from someone else and this way, she could watch his reaction and try to temper the news.
“She’s not mean,” Claire said defensively.
“That’s true,” Hazel added. “She just acts that way. Once you get to know her, you realize she’s not that bad.”
Velma nodded. “That’s right. We’ve known her our whole lives. She’s crotchety, but she’s not a killer.”
“What did she and Zoila argue about?”
“I don’t know.” Velma pointed to her ear. “My hearing isn’t as good as it used to be.”
“Me, either. I could just tell they were yelling.” Hazel looked up at Claire. “Do you know what they were arguing about?”
Claire shook her head. “No, I saw them from my garden. I could hear voices but couldn’t make out the words.”
Zambuco narrowed his eyes. “You ladies wouldn’t be withholding information from me, would you? Because I’m pretty sure you had the opportunity to tell me this before Watson.”
Clair grimaced. “I didn’t think it was relevant, because Norma isn’t the killer.”
“Really?” Zambuco glared at her with sharp, dark eyes. “And what else haven’t you told me because you don’t think it’s relevant ?”
Claire held up her hands. “Nothing, I swear.”
Except the fact that Norma left the island early this morning.
“Well, it looks like I’ll be paying a visit to Norma Hopper.” Zambuco pushed up from the chair.
“You’re wasting your time,” Claire said.
“Maybe.”
“Do you have any clues that even point to her?” Claire asked, seeing the perfect opportunity to try and find out what clues the close-mouthed detective actually did have.
Zambuco picked his glass up from the small table beside his chair, tipped it to his lips and took in a mouthful of ice cubes, which he crunched noisily. “We have the footprint down at the lab. Of course, we are still missing the murder weapon, which I’m hoping will be found on the killer’s premises.”
“The rake?” Dom asked.
“Maybe. Anyway, the last thing you people need is to know what the clues are.” Zambuco pointed his index finger accusingly at Dom and then Claire. “I know the two of you can’t help but stick your noses in, but remember, you’re both retired now. I wouldn’t want to have to arrest you on obstruction charges and don’t even think about withholding pertinent information again or you may find yourself in the cell next to your friend.”
Zambuco slid one last warning look at Claire and Dom, bowed to Velma and Hazel and then stormed off the porch.
***
“Oh, dear, I hope I didn’t get Norma in trouble.” Velma’s hands fluttered nervously in her lap. “I didn’t even think … I mean, he asked and I just answered.”
“It’s okay,” Claire soothed. “He was bound to find out sooner or later, and better he hear it from us than someone who might not like Norma as much.”
“But now I wonder ...” Hazel’s voice trailed off as she watched Zambuco’s car speed off. “You know how
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