Read Online Keeping Mum (A Garden Society Mystery) by Alyse Carlson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alyse Carlson
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patriarch, a person one didn’t confront directly.
She realized, though, in addition to political animosity, that the event was a perfect opportunity for someone who had a personal issue to take advantage of the setup. She had no idea who Derrick Windermere might have offended personally—surely dozens of people.
She was just glad she wasn’t stuck investigating this fiasco. She didn’t want to dig around in the sleazebag’s life. She would continue to help Annie, but that was about finding her dad. Being a murder witness was a “just in case” angle.
She faded off as she lay in the soothing water, and just before she fell asleep, it occurred to her that her father had been with someone who would have liked their event to end in tragedy. She hated to think it, but maybe he knew something.
• • •
• • •
R ob woke her up. She wasn’t sure how much later it was, but the water was definitely tepid. He dried her and got her into bed, kissed her forehead, and that was the last she knew.
It was strange to wake up naked the next morning. It wasn’t normally her thing, but at least she felt rested. The bath had done that much.
As she showered to prepare for her day, she tried to think of a way to spin this event. She would do her best to describe it as a tragedy, but RGS would not benefit from being mentioned, so she would leave them out of it.
She was just drying off as her phone buzzed.
“Tunia?” she answered.
“Cam! Get over here!”
“Why? What happened?”
“They’re searching the van!”
“Slow down, Petunia. Who is?”
“The police!”
“The catering van? Why?”
“Somebody was kidnapped? They must think our van was used.”
“Okay, calm down. You and Nick didn’t kidnap Annie’s dad, did you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then all looking in the van can do is clear you.”
“But we cleaned it.”
“Which is normal. You do use it to transport food. That’s a normal and perfectly explainable practice.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
Petunia seemed to breathe easier, but then gasped. “It was Annie’s dad?”
“It was.”
Petunia paused, and Cam thought she was wrestling with her dislike of public figures but fondness for Annie. “Tell her I’m sorry, okay?”
“I will. Thank you.”
They hung up. Petunia’s nerves were understandable. Six months earlier, Nick had been falsely accused of murder. Cam didn’t see any way they could be accused of this. The evidence would clear them. The search must just be a precaution because the van was known to have been on location.
She debated going to the office after that but decided to work from home. She emailed the Roanoke Garden Society board to let them know where she was and how to reach her.
Next she followed through on the idea swimming in her head when she’d fallen asleep the night before. She retrieved her phone.
“Daddy?”
“Hiya, sunshine!”
“Have the police . . .” she stalled. This was the third time she’d asked her dad this question, and it wasn’t getting any easier. For the first time, though, he seemed lost.
“Have the police what?”
“A couple of bad things happened last night. I’m surprised they haven’t reached you.”
“Again?”
Cam sighed. “Look. Could we meet for lunch?”
“Of course we can, but can you give me a hint?” She heard crumpling and then, “Wait, never mind. Murder, huh?”
Damn
. That meant this news had made the papers already. Why was Rob so efficient? No wonder he had disappeared before she woke up.
“Yeah, and does it mention Annie’s dad?”
“Should it?”
“He was kidnapped.”
“Oh, dear. Sunshine, I think maybe I should pick up lunch and we should meet Annie. Do you know where she is?”
“She planned to work. The customer part is rough, but the baking part calms her. She said she’d go crazy sitting around waiting.”
“Then we’ll take lunch there. Meet you at noon?”
“Make it one. Annie sometimes has a
She realized, though, in addition to political animosity, that the event was a perfect opportunity for someone who had a personal issue to take advantage of the setup. She had no idea who Derrick Windermere might have offended personally—surely dozens of people.
She was just glad she wasn’t stuck investigating this fiasco. She didn’t want to dig around in the sleazebag’s life. She would continue to help Annie, but that was about finding her dad. Being a murder witness was a “just in case” angle.
She faded off as she lay in the soothing water, and just before she fell asleep, it occurred to her that her father had been with someone who would have liked their event to end in tragedy. She hated to think it, but maybe he knew something.
• • •
• • •
R ob woke her up. She wasn’t sure how much later it was, but the water was definitely tepid. He dried her and got her into bed, kissed her forehead, and that was the last she knew.
It was strange to wake up naked the next morning. It wasn’t normally her thing, but at least she felt rested. The bath had done that much.
As she showered to prepare for her day, she tried to think of a way to spin this event. She would do her best to describe it as a tragedy, but RGS would not benefit from being mentioned, so she would leave them out of it.
She was just drying off as her phone buzzed.
“Tunia?” she answered.
“Cam! Get over here!”
“Why? What happened?”
“They’re searching the van!”
“Slow down, Petunia. Who is?”
“The police!”
“The catering van? Why?”
“Somebody was kidnapped? They must think our van was used.”
“Okay, calm down. You and Nick didn’t kidnap Annie’s dad, did you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then all looking in the van can do is clear you.”
“But we cleaned it.”
“Which is normal. You do use it to transport food. That’s a normal and perfectly explainable practice.”
“You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
Petunia seemed to breathe easier, but then gasped. “It was Annie’s dad?”
“It was.”
Petunia paused, and Cam thought she was wrestling with her dislike of public figures but fondness for Annie. “Tell her I’m sorry, okay?”
“I will. Thank you.”
They hung up. Petunia’s nerves were understandable. Six months earlier, Nick had been falsely accused of murder. Cam didn’t see any way they could be accused of this. The evidence would clear them. The search must just be a precaution because the van was known to have been on location.
She debated going to the office after that but decided to work from home. She emailed the Roanoke Garden Society board to let them know where she was and how to reach her.
Next she followed through on the idea swimming in her head when she’d fallen asleep the night before. She retrieved her phone.
“Daddy?”
“Hiya, sunshine!”
“Have the police . . .” she stalled. This was the third time she’d asked her dad this question, and it wasn’t getting any easier. For the first time, though, he seemed lost.
“Have the police what?”
“A couple of bad things happened last night. I’m surprised they haven’t reached you.”
“Again?”
Cam sighed. “Look. Could we meet for lunch?”
“Of course we can, but can you give me a hint?” She heard crumpling and then, “Wait, never mind. Murder, huh?”
Damn
. That meant this news had made the papers already. Why was Rob so efficient? No wonder he had disappeared before she woke up.
“Yeah, and does it mention Annie’s dad?”
“Should it?”
“He was kidnapped.”
“Oh, dear. Sunshine, I think maybe I should pick up lunch and we should meet Annie. Do you know where she is?”
“She planned to work. The customer part is rough, but the baking part calms her. She said she’d go crazy sitting around waiting.”
“Then we’ll take lunch there. Meet you at noon?”
“Make it one. Annie sometimes has a
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