Read Online Stay Tuned for Murder by Mary Kennedy - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Kennedy
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had died. I shook my head in disbelief at the randomness of events.
If I shared Lark’s view of the world, I’d have no trouble accepting this odd dichotomy. Lark believes that whenever the cosmos favors you with good fortune, it immediately sends a bolt of darkness and sadness. Every joyful moment is followed by tragedy. Yin and yang, Lark calls it. Sunny days are always balanced by rain. I’m glad this philosophy makes Lark happy, but I don’t buy it.
“Althea Somerset? But what happened? She was fine last night,” I said idiotically. My mind was doing loops at the impossibility of it all. It always amazes me what pops out of people’s mouths when they’re hit with the news of someone’s death.
I wasn’t a close friend of Althea’s, but she’d been kind to me when I was new in town, feeling my way. I felt a wave of sadness at her passing, and I took a deep breath to steady myself.
“She was murdered in a home invasion.” Vera Mae paused; her voice sagged. “Right there at the historical society. Bludgeoned to death with a fireplace poker.” Vera Mae had known Althea for more than two decades, I remembered. No wonder she was upset. “It was all over the news a few minutes ago.”
“We’ve had radio silence here this morning,” I said. “Lola was studying her lines. She’s going on an audition tomorrow. You know how she is when she’s memorizing a part. No one can make a sound.” I walked away from the kitchen, down the little hallway that leads to my bedroom.
Lark and Lola had headed out the front door for a shopping trip at Sawgrass Mills just a few minutes earlier. I felt a little pang when I realized they’d find out the news as soon as they turned on the car radio. I tried to gather my thoughts, which were scrambling like leaves in the wind.
Sudden death was shocking enough, but murder was unthinkable. And why Althea? It was impossible to think of her as a murder victim.
“I need to call Rafe,” I said quickly. “And Nick Harrison.”
I knew Nick, my reporter friend at the Cypress Grove Gazette , would be on top of the news and was probably already out interviewing sources. Even though he covers arts and entertainment, he never misses a chance to tackle the crime beat.
And Rafe, my on-again, off-again boyfriend, who happens to be a detective with the Cypress Grove PD, was probably working the case right this minute. I needed to get information from both of them, and I needed it fast.
“Well, Rafe’s already called here for you. I told him we were both at that séance last night, along with Lola and Lark. It’s weird to think that we were probably some of the last people to see her alive, isn’t it?”
Along with about thirty other people, I thought. And of course Chantel. Could the murder be connected to the séance? But how? And who would benefit from Althea’s death?
“How fast can you get in here?” Vera Mae asked, breaking into my thoughts. “I’m thinking of putting together a memorial show about Althea and her work with the historical society. We won’t be able to get it ready in time for today, but we can certainly run it tomorrow.” She paused. “And Cyrus wants me to step up those promos for the time capsule ceremony. That was one of Althea’s pet projects.” There was a little catch in her voice.
“I know, Vera Mae,” I said softly. “That would be a wonderful tribute to her, a great way to honor her. We can work on the promos as soon as I get there. I’m on my way.”
Chapter 7
I scrolled through my messages as I zipped out to my little red Honda parked on the street. Rafe had called my cell three times. Interesting. I thought of calling him back and decided against it. I knew he’d go ballistic if I tried to talk to him while I was driving, and I wanted to get to the station as quickly as possible.
I’d just pulled into the WYME parking lot and was scrambling out of my car when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“I think you’ve done it
If I shared Lark’s view of the world, I’d have no trouble accepting this odd dichotomy. Lark believes that whenever the cosmos favors you with good fortune, it immediately sends a bolt of darkness and sadness. Every joyful moment is followed by tragedy. Yin and yang, Lark calls it. Sunny days are always balanced by rain. I’m glad this philosophy makes Lark happy, but I don’t buy it.
“Althea Somerset? But what happened? She was fine last night,” I said idiotically. My mind was doing loops at the impossibility of it all. It always amazes me what pops out of people’s mouths when they’re hit with the news of someone’s death.
I wasn’t a close friend of Althea’s, but she’d been kind to me when I was new in town, feeling my way. I felt a wave of sadness at her passing, and I took a deep breath to steady myself.
“She was murdered in a home invasion.” Vera Mae paused; her voice sagged. “Right there at the historical society. Bludgeoned to death with a fireplace poker.” Vera Mae had known Althea for more than two decades, I remembered. No wonder she was upset. “It was all over the news a few minutes ago.”
“We’ve had radio silence here this morning,” I said. “Lola was studying her lines. She’s going on an audition tomorrow. You know how she is when she’s memorizing a part. No one can make a sound.” I walked away from the kitchen, down the little hallway that leads to my bedroom.
Lark and Lola had headed out the front door for a shopping trip at Sawgrass Mills just a few minutes earlier. I felt a little pang when I realized they’d find out the news as soon as they turned on the car radio. I tried to gather my thoughts, which were scrambling like leaves in the wind.
Sudden death was shocking enough, but murder was unthinkable. And why Althea? It was impossible to think of her as a murder victim.
“I need to call Rafe,” I said quickly. “And Nick Harrison.”
I knew Nick, my reporter friend at the Cypress Grove Gazette , would be on top of the news and was probably already out interviewing sources. Even though he covers arts and entertainment, he never misses a chance to tackle the crime beat.
And Rafe, my on-again, off-again boyfriend, who happens to be a detective with the Cypress Grove PD, was probably working the case right this minute. I needed to get information from both of them, and I needed it fast.
“Well, Rafe’s already called here for you. I told him we were both at that séance last night, along with Lola and Lark. It’s weird to think that we were probably some of the last people to see her alive, isn’t it?”
Along with about thirty other people, I thought. And of course Chantel. Could the murder be connected to the séance? But how? And who would benefit from Althea’s death?
“How fast can you get in here?” Vera Mae asked, breaking into my thoughts. “I’m thinking of putting together a memorial show about Althea and her work with the historical society. We won’t be able to get it ready in time for today, but we can certainly run it tomorrow.” She paused. “And Cyrus wants me to step up those promos for the time capsule ceremony. That was one of Althea’s pet projects.” There was a little catch in her voice.
“I know, Vera Mae,” I said softly. “That would be a wonderful tribute to her, a great way to honor her. We can work on the promos as soon as I get there. I’m on my way.”
Chapter 7
I scrolled through my messages as I zipped out to my little red Honda parked on the street. Rafe had called my cell three times. Interesting. I thought of calling him back and decided against it. I knew he’d go ballistic if I tried to talk to him while I was driving, and I wanted to get to the station as quickly as possible.
I’d just pulled into the WYME parking lot and was scrambling out of my car when I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“I think you’ve done it
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