Read Online Hide and Snake Murder by Jessie Chandler. - Free Book Online Page B

could find something to yap about.
    They glared at another a moment longer, broke eye contact.
    I studied Agnes. “You look like you could use a breather.” Dark circles ringed her watery blue eyes, and her face looked even more pinched than usual. Of course, one problem was that she imbibed a little too much vodka a little too often. She hadn’t had an easy life, and I thought she deserved sainthood for taking Baz in after her niece—Baz’s mom—skipped town with a door-to-door insurance salesman. That was after Baz’s dad keeled over and expired at the racetrack one hot summer day, in the middle of betting away the family nest egg. The apple sure didn’t fall far from the tree.
    She waved a knobby-knuckled hand at me. “I really am concerned for Rocky. Don’t you worry about me, I’m fine.”
    I said, “I know you are. Come on. Coop and Baz are in the bar.”
    We found Coop ogling a tanned young woman sitting two stools down from where he and Baz were perched. She had a pack of Newports sitting in front of her and was puffing away as she chatted with the bartender. I realized, after a second, that Coop was drooling over the cigarettes, not the girl.
    Baz slumped dejectedly, one hand holding up his chin, and the other making repeated trips from a basket of popcorn to his mouth. He straightened up as soon as he caught sight of us and brightened perceptibly.
    â€œBasil!” Agnes said. “What have you done now?”
    Coop ripped his attention away from the pack of smokes and muttered under his breath, “Long fucking story.”
    Good thing Agnes had a hearing problem.
    â€œHey,” Baz said as he slid off the stool. “Agnes. Wow, am I ever glad to see you.” Watching Agnes embrace short little Baz was a sight. It looked like a she was hugging a rotund ten-year-old.
    â€œAnd Nicholas. How are you, dear?” Agnes patted Coop’s cheek.
    â€œDoing fine. We need to have another dominoes rematch sometime soon. After we deal with Baz’s problem.” Dominoes was the latest Mad Knitters fad. While poker still held the number one spot as their non-knitting diversion of choice, they always liked to broaden their gaming horizons, as Eddy was fond of saying.
    â€œIndeed we do, dear, indeed we do.” Agnes fixed her eyes on Baz. “What’s going on now, nephew?” She arched a thin, penciled-in eyebrow at him.
    I spoke before Baz could answer. “Let’s take this reunion to your hotel room.” The last thing we needed was another surprise appearance of the despicable duo, especially before we’d completely briefed Agnes and Eddy on what was going down.
    We exited the elevator in the middle of the second floor. The hallway was narrow but beautifully maintained. Eight rooms occupied each side, and six-paned windows let light in at each end. A red and black runner stretched the length of the hardwood floor. Antique wall sconces flickered next to each entry.
    Agnes stopped in front of the third room from the end and unlocked the door with an old-fashioned key.
    Two double beds and a table with three ladder-back chairs occupied half the space. The other half contained a sleeper sofa, a TV, and a small refrigerator. The carpet was a lush maroon pile and the walls were painted light sepia. An early-twentieth-century drawing of the French Quarter hung above the table.
    Eddy and Agnes claimed two of the chairs while Baz took the third. Coop and I perched on the bed.
    Agnes said, “Okay, Basil. What have you gotten yourself into this time?”
    â€œWhy does everyone think I’m always doing something wrong?” Baz grumbled.
    I leaned back and propped myself up with my elbows. “It’s like your calling card. Your state of being.”
    Baz sneered at me. “Oh you think you’re all that—”
    â€œDo not!”
    â€œDo too. Ever since you got that prize for climbing rope the fastest in gym