want to disappoint—”
Robert’s friends, Darla Green aside. “Is anyone normal going to be there?” Status. Money. Social standing. Robert’s group thrived on all that rot.
“One or two. Maybe. Please, Beth. For the moms.”
Beth grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl and began peeling its skin. “I hate it when you pull that guilt-trip stuff on me.” She chomped down on a bite.
“I know. But I’m desperate.”
“You do it because it works.”
“That too,” Sara said.
Beth sighed. “Okay. I’ll stomach them long enough to take their money.” At least it would be used for something constructive. “Does Darla know she’s donating this property?”
“She knows I’m after it.”
“Well, if she comes back to the club after today, odds are she’s giving it to you.”
“She hinted she was. That’s why it’s critical for you to be there. Darla would move mountains for you.”
She would. On two commercial acquisitions, Beth’s tips had saved Darla a fortune. It had to be hard for her, losing John, being arrested for his murder, and spending months proving her innocence. Then her own son disowned her—that had to cut to the core. “All right, I’ll go.”
“Thanks. Nine o’clock. Darla is handling the details. You’ll just need to speak a few words—and it’ll help if you don’t snarl at them.”
“Cute.” Sara obviously didn’t expect this problem with Robert to resolve quickly. Now what should Beth think of that? “I need to check on Nora. Hey, maybe she’ll come along.” Beth dialed her cell phone. “She could squeeze blood from a turnip.”
“It’s late. Don’t call her now.”
“With Clyde passing … she’s not sleeping.”
“Don’t ask. She won’t be comfortable with Robert’s friends.”
“Nora’s comfortable anywhere. Robert’s friends won’t be comfortable seeingthemselves through her eyes. Maybe they’ll donate more to make themselves feel better.”
Nora answered on the first ring. “Do you realize it’s after midnight, Beth Dawson?” Some game show played on Nora’s television. “Who else is dead?”
“Nobody. I just knew you’d be up.” Beth walked out into the yard, looked beyond the grass onto the calm cove water bathed in moonlight.
“Ah. Quit fretting, dearie, I’m fine. You should be catching a wee wink.”
Beth filled Nora in on what was going on at Sara’s.
“He’s up to no good, that one.”
Nora was not a Robert fan either. “I’m afraid so too,” Beth admitted, glad she didn’t have to guard her words. Jasmine bushes lined the edge of the yard and their scent hung heavy in the air, blending with the salt-tinged breeze blowing in off the water.
“You watch her, Beth. Our Sara puts on a fine face, but she’s had a time with that one.”
Did Nora know anything about that cryptic warning? “Why do you think so?”
“It’s in her eyes, dearie. She ain’t happy, and that’s that. Sara’s a troubled soul.”
Beth swallowed hard. “Do you know why?”
“Girl, God gave you sense. Use it. She’s married to a shyster, bless her heart.”
“Point taken.” A fish jumped and moonlight sparkled on the ripples. “So will you go with me to the fund-raiser? It’s at the club. If you don’t want to be there after today, it’s—”
“I’m mourning my Clyde, true enough, but I got enough of my wits to stay away from that club and so should you. NINA was there. It ain’t safe and that’s a fact.”
Beth had considered that. “They’ll stay away because we know they were there.”
“Your call, of course, but I don’t like it and I ain’t going. Annie and I are making arrangements for Clyde’s funeral. It’s Tuesday. Two o’clock. Reverend Brown’s doing a graveside service. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t. I’m so sorry about Clyde, Nora.” Beth swallowed a knot of tears. “I’ll miss him.”
“Me too. Something fierce, my girl.” She sniffed. “I’ll send money for the moms and kids. You
Robert’s friends, Darla Green aside. “Is anyone normal going to be there?” Status. Money. Social standing. Robert’s group thrived on all that rot.
“One or two. Maybe. Please, Beth. For the moms.”
Beth grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl and began peeling its skin. “I hate it when you pull that guilt-trip stuff on me.” She chomped down on a bite.
“I know. But I’m desperate.”
“You do it because it works.”
“That too,” Sara said.
Beth sighed. “Okay. I’ll stomach them long enough to take their money.” At least it would be used for something constructive. “Does Darla know she’s donating this property?”
“She knows I’m after it.”
“Well, if she comes back to the club after today, odds are she’s giving it to you.”
“She hinted she was. That’s why it’s critical for you to be there. Darla would move mountains for you.”
She would. On two commercial acquisitions, Beth’s tips had saved Darla a fortune. It had to be hard for her, losing John, being arrested for his murder, and spending months proving her innocence. Then her own son disowned her—that had to cut to the core. “All right, I’ll go.”
“Thanks. Nine o’clock. Darla is handling the details. You’ll just need to speak a few words—and it’ll help if you don’t snarl at them.”
“Cute.” Sara obviously didn’t expect this problem with Robert to resolve quickly. Now what should Beth think of that? “I need to check on Nora. Hey, maybe she’ll come along.” Beth dialed her cell phone. “She could squeeze blood from a turnip.”
“It’s late. Don’t call her now.”
“With Clyde passing … she’s not sleeping.”
“Don’t ask. She won’t be comfortable with Robert’s friends.”
“Nora’s comfortable anywhere. Robert’s friends won’t be comfortable seeingthemselves through her eyes. Maybe they’ll donate more to make themselves feel better.”
Nora answered on the first ring. “Do you realize it’s after midnight, Beth Dawson?” Some game show played on Nora’s television. “Who else is dead?”
“Nobody. I just knew you’d be up.” Beth walked out into the yard, looked beyond the grass onto the calm cove water bathed in moonlight.
“Ah. Quit fretting, dearie, I’m fine. You should be catching a wee wink.”
Beth filled Nora in on what was going on at Sara’s.
“He’s up to no good, that one.”
Nora was not a Robert fan either. “I’m afraid so too,” Beth admitted, glad she didn’t have to guard her words. Jasmine bushes lined the edge of the yard and their scent hung heavy in the air, blending with the salt-tinged breeze blowing in off the water.
“You watch her, Beth. Our Sara puts on a fine face, but she’s had a time with that one.”
Did Nora know anything about that cryptic warning? “Why do you think so?”
“It’s in her eyes, dearie. She ain’t happy, and that’s that. Sara’s a troubled soul.”
Beth swallowed hard. “Do you know why?”
“Girl, God gave you sense. Use it. She’s married to a shyster, bless her heart.”
“Point taken.” A fish jumped and moonlight sparkled on the ripples. “So will you go with me to the fund-raiser? It’s at the club. If you don’t want to be there after today, it’s—”
“I’m mourning my Clyde, true enough, but I got enough of my wits to stay away from that club and so should you. NINA was there. It ain’t safe and that’s a fact.”
Beth had considered that. “They’ll stay away because we know they were there.”
“Your call, of course, but I don’t like it and I ain’t going. Annie and I are making arrangements for Clyde’s funeral. It’s Tuesday. Two o’clock. Reverend Brown’s doing a graveside service. Don’t be late.”
“I won’t. I’m so sorry about Clyde, Nora.” Beth swallowed a knot of tears. “I’ll miss him.”
“Me too. Something fierce, my girl.” She sniffed. “I’ll send money for the moms and kids. You
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