Read Online Marty Ambrose - Mango Bay 03 - Murder in the Mangroves by Marty Ambrose - Free Book Online
Authors: Marty Ambrose
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in-laws’
house. I was having trouble with the bathroom vanities. Trish Palmer wanted them raised five inches higher than standard,
but it was hard to find a carpenter to do it within the time frame
she wanted for completion. So I was on the phone all morning.
Then I had to drive onto the mainland to pick up these special
gold faucets for the master bath.” Her mouth trembled. “I just
got in this minute.”
“And I had to be the one to give you the bad news” I cleared
my throat. “So sorry.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why are you so interested in
Gina?”
“I work for the Observer-Mallie Monroe. I’m writing a story
on Gina, about her life and sudden death” No need to tell her
that I’d found the body-or seen that syringe. “People on Coral
Island will want to know what happened to their Mango Queen”
Isabel buried her head in her hands and emitted a sound
somewhere between a sob and a groan. “That stupid contest.
I don’t know why she was so obsessed with being Mango
Queen” She raised her head, tears streaking mascara down her
cheeks in long black tracks. “She spent months and months
learning about the island’s history and the mango industryall so she could claim the title and impress Brett’s parents”
“They must’ve respected her if they hired her to decorate
their house”
She gave a scornful laugh. “‘Hired help’ is a far cry from
daughter-in-law. We’re good enough to decorate their house,
but not to live in it. They tolerated Gina’s engagement to Brett,
but I don’t think they’ll be mourning at her funeral.” Her tone
had turned bitter.
“She and Brandi seemed to be friends.”
“No way” Isabel wiped her cheeks with the back of one hand.
“Brandi pretended to like Gina because of Brett. They’ve always
been a close brother and sister. But make no mistake, Brandi
wanted to be Mango Queen by hook or by crook. She was seething with envy this morning when Gina walked into Mama
Maria’s wearing her Mango Queen crown”
“Huh?” I stopped scribbling. “Was it made of … mangos?”
“No, of course not. It was a tiara, like the beauty queens
wear.”
This Mango Queen thing was big. A tiara? On Coral Island,
where most of the population rarely wore shoes? “So you think
Brandi might’ve wanted to see Gina out of the way so she
could be the Mango Queen?”
Isabel blinked a couple of times. “Wait a minute. How did
Gina die? Is there something suspicious about her death?”
“I can’t say for sure. As I told you, it’s undetermined.”
“But you’re asking a lot of questions.”
“That’s my job” At least it was when I left the office that
morning. Who knew what changes Bernice had made since
then?
“This is just … unbelievable. Gina was my friend and partner.” She gazed up at me with desperation. “What’s going to
happen to our decorating business? I can’t run the company
on my own. Gina was the one who brought the clients
in…” She broke off, staring into the distance as if she could see a
bleak, dismal future.
The door chime rang, and I looked over at the entrance. A
thin, middle-aged guy with a ferretlike face stood there. He
wore a slate-gray suit and loafers-formal dress indeed for
the island. “Hi, Isabel.”
“I just lost my business partner-Gina,” she sobbed.
Shock registered on his pinched features. “Oh, I’m so sorry.
I just saw her a few nights ago when she was elected Mango
Queen. She died?”
“Yes.” I spoke up. “I’m Mallie Monroe from the Observer,
and I’m writing her obituary-that’s why I’m here.” Sort of
true.
“Homer Finch-my law office is next door.” He blinked
several times in rapid succession. “I didn’t know her very
well, but she was lovely.”
Isabel nodded mutely.
“If there’s anything I can do, let me know,” he said to Isabel. He stood there in awkward silence for a few moments
and then exited.
I turned back to
house. I was having trouble with the bathroom vanities. Trish Palmer wanted them raised five inches higher than standard,
but it was hard to find a carpenter to do it within the time frame
she wanted for completion. So I was on the phone all morning.
Then I had to drive onto the mainland to pick up these special
gold faucets for the master bath.” Her mouth trembled. “I just
got in this minute.”
“And I had to be the one to give you the bad news” I cleared
my throat. “So sorry.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why are you so interested in
Gina?”
“I work for the Observer-Mallie Monroe. I’m writing a story
on Gina, about her life and sudden death” No need to tell her
that I’d found the body-or seen that syringe. “People on Coral
Island will want to know what happened to their Mango Queen”
Isabel buried her head in her hands and emitted a sound
somewhere between a sob and a groan. “That stupid contest.
I don’t know why she was so obsessed with being Mango
Queen” She raised her head, tears streaking mascara down her
cheeks in long black tracks. “She spent months and months
learning about the island’s history and the mango industryall so she could claim the title and impress Brett’s parents”
“They must’ve respected her if they hired her to decorate
their house”
She gave a scornful laugh. “‘Hired help’ is a far cry from
daughter-in-law. We’re good enough to decorate their house,
but not to live in it. They tolerated Gina’s engagement to Brett,
but I don’t think they’ll be mourning at her funeral.” Her tone
had turned bitter.
“She and Brandi seemed to be friends.”
“No way” Isabel wiped her cheeks with the back of one hand.
“Brandi pretended to like Gina because of Brett. They’ve always
been a close brother and sister. But make no mistake, Brandi
wanted to be Mango Queen by hook or by crook. She was seething with envy this morning when Gina walked into Mama
Maria’s wearing her Mango Queen crown”
“Huh?” I stopped scribbling. “Was it made of … mangos?”
“No, of course not. It was a tiara, like the beauty queens
wear.”
This Mango Queen thing was big. A tiara? On Coral Island,
where most of the population rarely wore shoes? “So you think
Brandi might’ve wanted to see Gina out of the way so she
could be the Mango Queen?”
Isabel blinked a couple of times. “Wait a minute. How did
Gina die? Is there something suspicious about her death?”
“I can’t say for sure. As I told you, it’s undetermined.”
“But you’re asking a lot of questions.”
“That’s my job” At least it was when I left the office that
morning. Who knew what changes Bernice had made since
then?
“This is just … unbelievable. Gina was my friend and partner.” She gazed up at me with desperation. “What’s going to
happen to our decorating business? I can’t run the company
on my own. Gina was the one who brought the clients
in…” She broke off, staring into the distance as if she could see a
bleak, dismal future.
The door chime rang, and I looked over at the entrance. A
thin, middle-aged guy with a ferretlike face stood there. He
wore a slate-gray suit and loafers-formal dress indeed for
the island. “Hi, Isabel.”
“I just lost my business partner-Gina,” she sobbed.
Shock registered on his pinched features. “Oh, I’m so sorry.
I just saw her a few nights ago when she was elected Mango
Queen. She died?”
“Yes.” I spoke up. “I’m Mallie Monroe from the Observer,
and I’m writing her obituary-that’s why I’m here.” Sort of
true.
“Homer Finch-my law office is next door.” He blinked
several times in rapid succession. “I didn’t know her very
well, but she was lovely.”
Isabel nodded mutely.
“If there’s anything I can do, let me know,” he said to Isabel. He stood there in awkward silence for a few moments
and then exited.
I turned back to
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