Read Online Berried to the Hilt by Karen MacInerney - Free Book Online Page A

later.”
    “Got it.”
    “You know, there’s one good thing about this,” she said.
    “What?”
    “At least everyone will be talking about something other than the bake-off.”
    I groaned. “Thanks for reminding me.”
    “Always looking for the silver lining,” she said. “Anyway, gotta run. If you hear anything on your end, let me know—day or night!”
    “Aye aye, captain.”
    Despite Charlene’s reminder, I finished wiping down the counters in a slightly cheerier mood. I was hoping the police wouldn’t arrest Eli. But if they did, I knew Charlene would have the entire island leaping to his defense.
    _____
    John was on the phone when I knocked on his door twenty minutes later; he waved me in, and I perched on the edge of his oatmeal-colored couch and listened as he finished the conversation. From the GPS coordinates being batted back and forth, I knew he was getting an update on the search for the Lorelei .
    “Have they found anything?” I asked when he hung up a moment later.
    “Some debris out by Deadman’s Shoal,” he said, “but nothing identifiable—at least not yet.”
    “The other crew members could probably ID anything they found,” I said.
    “I’m sure they’ll ask them,” he said.
    “I’m surprised no one’s been by the inn to question anyone yet.” Unfortunately, I was more than familiar with post-murder procedure on Cranberry Island.
    “They’ve been talking with Eli all morning,” John said. “They’re out at his house right now.”
    I suddenly realized I hadn’t called Eli’s wife, Claudette. She was strong and stoic, but I was sure she was shaken up—particularly with the police at her house. “I need to swing by their house this morning,” I said. “But I don’t understand; why aren’t they questioning Gerald’s coworkers—or even Carl? He attacked Gerald last night,” I said.
    “You need to tell them about it,” he said. “I’ll make sure they interview you.”
    “They’ve got to look beyond Eli,” I said. “Charlene brought up another good point; if the boat was insured, who is the beneficiary, now that Gerald is out of the way?”
    He gave me a wry smile. “You and Charlene are good at thinking of ulterior motives, aren’t you?”
    I sighed. “Unfortunately, I haven’t been overly impressed with law enforcement’s ability to see beyond the easiest solution.”
    “Hey,” John protested.
    “Present company excluded, of course,” I said, giving him a peck on the cheek. “I think I’ll head over to Claudette’s and Eli’s now—I’ve got some time before lunch.”
    “Send my love, will you?”
    “Of course,” I said. “If you’re lucky, she’ll send you some pie.”
    “Maybe all the excitement will mean she hasn’t had a chance to bake,” he said.
    “Let’s hope so,” I said. “Keep me posted, okay?”
    “Always,” he said, with a look that made my insides do a delightful little flip.
    _____
    I pulled my coat tight around me as I walked down the end of the road to Claudette and Eli’s; the wind had freshened since last night, and a flood of gray clouds had extinguished the sun. Muffin and Pudge, the goats Claudette raised for their soft wool, were happily munching on a bed of roses, a block down the road from Claudette’s; they had evidently managed to drag the tire she kept them chained to within range of Ingrid Sorenson’s prize Souvenir de la Malmaisons. I hauled the tire back to the meadow, but by the time I made it to Eli and Claudette’s, they were already tugging it across the road. I made a mental note to stop by Ingrid’s and ask about her son Evan; something told me he might somehow be involved with the disappearing Lorelei .
    There were no cars outside Claudette and Eli’s house; either the police had arrived on foot, or had already left. Eleazer’s jumble of bleached hulls and burnt-out motors dotted the long grass behind the small, wood house; his workshop had a desolate look to it. I hesitated a moment