Read Online Just Over The Mountain by Robyn Carr - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Robyn Carr
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exactly fool Myrna, she allowed herself to be manipulated by a couple of pros.
It was Amelia and Endeara who blew the whistle onthem. They refused to wait on them and went to June, who went to Elmer, who went to Tom. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened. The enterprising writing couple was ousted, and fortunately for them, they were gone before Tom found out they had a long record for conning rich elderly people.
“Aunt Myrna, you must be more careful,” June had scolded.
“I was being completely careful,” she replied. “They were fascinating! You can’t believe how stupid they thought me, or the wild tales they told me to keep me off their scent. I’m not exactly sure what their long-range plan was, but in the short term, they were trying to figure out just what I was worth. I crept around the house planting old bank statements, canceled checks and investment records for accounts closed years ago.” She cackled happily. “Must’ve made them drool. I wonder if they were going to try to get into my will, or if they were just going to kill me and rob me.”
June had gasped. “How can you talk about that possibility so calmly?”
Myrna had patted her arm gently. “I guess I just see it all as research.”
And, sure enough, a couple of books later a husband-and-wife con-artist team were rubbing out little old ladies for their fortunes, but eventually found themselves captured by one of their victims, herself a skilled murderess. Myrna was getting more shocking by the year.
On her way home from the clinic June dropped by her aunt’s house. Amelia’s car was still in front of thehouse and it was she who opened the door. “Is my aunt Myrna receiving?” June asked.
Amelia simply turned and walked into the great house, leaving the door open so that June would know to follow. The Barstow twins were not only the biggest grumps in town, they bickered so fiercely with each other that Myrna only allowed one of them to work for her at a time. Essentially, they job-shared.
The door to the den that Myrna used as an office was ajar and she peeked in. Myrna was hunched over her laptop computer. June tapped lightly and Myrna glanced at her watch as she looked up to see June. “Gracious! Where has the day gone?” She pulled off the reading glasses perched on the end of her nose, pulled the pencil from behind her ear and stood slowly. Stiffly. She took a moment to stretch out the kinks.
“You must be on a roll,” June observed.
“Darling, sometimes they just write themselves. This one isn’t going to let me sleep till it’s over.”
“If you’re too busy…”
“Nonsense. I have to stop. I don’t want to burn out, you know. Besides, I think it might be time for my martini. Join me?”
“Maybe for half a glass of wine. If you’re sure you’re not too busy.”
Myrna laughed, her loud, joyful cackle. “There are two things I’m never to busy for. My five o’clock martini and you, my dearest.”
“It’s almost six,” June pointed out.
“So it is. I might have to have two martinis.” Myrnalooped her arm through June’s. Her steps were slow and creaky as they walked toward the kitchen.
“You shouldn’t sit so long at the computer,” June said. “Get up and walk around, at least once an hour.”
“Lord, June, don’t you think I do? I’m eighty-four! I can stiffen up in ten minutes. Amelia!” she called toward the kitchen. The woman stuck her head out. “Bring us drinks in the sunroom. June will have a glass of merlot.”
“Chablis,” June corrected.
“She’ll have merlot. It’s better for her heart.”
“Merlot,” she accepted, knowing she’d only have a few sips anyway. “I did stop by to talk to you about something specific.” They came into the sunroom, an addition to Hudson House that was only fifteen years old. It stuck out of the north end of the house, seventy-five percent glassed-in porch, so that it caught the morning and afternoon sunshine. At six, the sun
It was Amelia and Endeara who blew the whistle onthem. They refused to wait on them and went to June, who went to Elmer, who went to Tom. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened. The enterprising writing couple was ousted, and fortunately for them, they were gone before Tom found out they had a long record for conning rich elderly people.
“Aunt Myrna, you must be more careful,” June had scolded.
“I was being completely careful,” she replied. “They were fascinating! You can’t believe how stupid they thought me, or the wild tales they told me to keep me off their scent. I’m not exactly sure what their long-range plan was, but in the short term, they were trying to figure out just what I was worth. I crept around the house planting old bank statements, canceled checks and investment records for accounts closed years ago.” She cackled happily. “Must’ve made them drool. I wonder if they were going to try to get into my will, or if they were just going to kill me and rob me.”
June had gasped. “How can you talk about that possibility so calmly?”
Myrna had patted her arm gently. “I guess I just see it all as research.”
And, sure enough, a couple of books later a husband-and-wife con-artist team were rubbing out little old ladies for their fortunes, but eventually found themselves captured by one of their victims, herself a skilled murderess. Myrna was getting more shocking by the year.
On her way home from the clinic June dropped by her aunt’s house. Amelia’s car was still in front of thehouse and it was she who opened the door. “Is my aunt Myrna receiving?” June asked.
Amelia simply turned and walked into the great house, leaving the door open so that June would know to follow. The Barstow twins were not only the biggest grumps in town, they bickered so fiercely with each other that Myrna only allowed one of them to work for her at a time. Essentially, they job-shared.
The door to the den that Myrna used as an office was ajar and she peeked in. Myrna was hunched over her laptop computer. June tapped lightly and Myrna glanced at her watch as she looked up to see June. “Gracious! Where has the day gone?” She pulled off the reading glasses perched on the end of her nose, pulled the pencil from behind her ear and stood slowly. Stiffly. She took a moment to stretch out the kinks.
“You must be on a roll,” June observed.
“Darling, sometimes they just write themselves. This one isn’t going to let me sleep till it’s over.”
“If you’re too busy…”
“Nonsense. I have to stop. I don’t want to burn out, you know. Besides, I think it might be time for my martini. Join me?”
“Maybe for half a glass of wine. If you’re sure you’re not too busy.”
Myrna laughed, her loud, joyful cackle. “There are two things I’m never to busy for. My five o’clock martini and you, my dearest.”
“It’s almost six,” June pointed out.
“So it is. I might have to have two martinis.” Myrnalooped her arm through June’s. Her steps were slow and creaky as they walked toward the kitchen.
“You shouldn’t sit so long at the computer,” June said. “Get up and walk around, at least once an hour.”
“Lord, June, don’t you think I do? I’m eighty-four! I can stiffen up in ten minutes. Amelia!” she called toward the kitchen. The woman stuck her head out. “Bring us drinks in the sunroom. June will have a glass of merlot.”
“Chablis,” June corrected.
“She’ll have merlot. It’s better for her heart.”
“Merlot,” she accepted, knowing she’d only have a few sips anyway. “I did stop by to talk to you about something specific.” They came into the sunroom, an addition to Hudson House that was only fifteen years old. It stuck out of the north end of the house, seventy-five percent glassed-in porch, so that it caught the morning and afternoon sunshine. At six, the sun
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