Read Online Plain Murder by Emma Miller - Free Book Online Page B

“I should mind? I should put you on the payroll.”
    â€œRooms aren’t paid for yet. She wanted to leave a credit card number, but I said, no, you would do that. I didn’t want to make a mistake, not with someone’s credit card. I’m not as sharp as I used to be.”
    Rachel took the paper. The name and number and other details were written clearly in beautiful penmanship. I should be so sharp at ninety-three, she thought. “You’re a lifesaver, Hulda Schenfeld. Thank you.”
    â€œHulda Schenfeld.” She chuckled. “Still sounds funny. Kline was my maiden name. My father was Joseph Kline. Maybe you’ve heard of him? He was an old-time family doctor in Huntingdon.”
    â€œI have heard of him,” Rachel said, not bothering to remind Hulda that she told the story often. She was a treasure. Rachel wondered, though, how it was that she’d been here to answer the office phone.
    Almost as if she’d read her mind, Hulda continued. “I came hoping something would be left over from tea. The phone started ringing before I made it to the dining room. You have a single next weekend, a regular, a Miss Harper, and a couple for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I checked your calendar, saw you had plenty of rooms open, and confirmed both.”
    â€œThat settles it. I am putting you on the payroll, payment is an open invitation to come to afternoon tea whenever you like, no charge. And I insist you take some of those ham-and-biscuit sandwiches and gingerbread home.”
    â€œI won’t say no,” Hulda replied with a chuckle. “Most fun I’ve had in days. If I weren’t here interfering in your affairs, I’d be home ordering something off a shopping network. I got the most beautiful scarf Monday, silk. You can wear it five ways. It’s multicolored. Goes with everything. You must come over and see it when it arrives.” She rose and came spryly around the desk. She was a small woman, no more than four feet ten or eleven inches tall, wearing a pink-and-white jogging suit and tan Birkenstock sandals. Bishop strolled after her, long tail curled over his back.
    â€œI wondered where you were,” Rachel said.
    â€œCurled up in my lap. Knows how I love cats. You know I have an Abyssinian. Thomas. A lovely creature, but very particular about his diet.” Hulda stooped to stroke Bishop. “Oh, and you had visitors, dear. John Hannah and your sister Annie. I told them that you had gone to see what you could do to get your uncle out of that horrible prison.”
    â€œHe isn’t in prison yet,” Rachel said. She sighed. If Hulda knew, then Willy O’Day’s homecoming was already common knowledge. “He’s at the state police station.”
    â€œTerrible tragedy,” she said with a shake of her head. “How could they ever believe one of your people would do such a thing? A stranger did it, I’m sure. Murdered for the money in his pocket. Everyone knew Willy liked to collect his rents in cash on the first of the month. George told me that Willy would sometimes come home with several thousand dollars on him. Cash money.” She made a clucking noise with her tongue. “I’ll not be able to rest easy in my bed tonight, I can tell you that.”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll be safe enough. You have your son and grandsons in the house. And your daughter-in-law.” Hulda’s grand old home next door provided ample living space for her extended family and a never-ending round of relatives.
    â€œTrue, I have them there.”
    â€œSee, you’re well protected. And well loved by the whole community.” Rachel led the way back through the hall into the dining room. “I’ll make you a basket of goodies to take home.” She opened the right-hand door on the sideboard to remove a basket just as the kitchen door popped open.
    â€œRachel.” It was Mary Aaron. “I’m