Read Online Take Stock in Murder by Millie Mack - Free Book Online Page B

the wealthiest men in the county. County?” She laughed. “Oh, hell, he’s one of the wealthiest men in the state.”
    “Actually, that’s why I’m calling. Charles and I’ve been talking about my cutting back a little. After all, as you say, we don’t need the money.” Carrie decided to go right to the reason for her call. “I called you for some information about the ladies’ activities at the Club.”
    “That’s wonderful, Carrie dear. How can I help you?” Marilyn was fully awake now. Carrie could see her sitting up in bed, straightening her silk gown, and brushing her dyed blond hair away from her face.
    “One of the reasons I haven’t stopped working…” Carrie deliberately let the sentence hang.
    “Yes, dear, go on. You and Charles aren’t having problems, are you?” Carrie didn’t like the gleeful way the question popped from Marilyn.
    “Oh no, our marriage is as wonderful as ever.”
    “I’m so glad.” Marilyn said the right words but sounded disappointed there would be no gossip to spread.
    “I’m afraid if I stop working, I’ll be bored. I’d have nothing to fill my days. That’s why I’m calling you. I was hoping you would let me play golf with you one day or perhaps suggest some other activities I might get involved with at TC3.” Carrie’s voice sounded just a little desperate.
    “Oh, Carrie, of course you can play golf with me…And I’m sure the rest of the group will be delighted to have you join us.”
    “Us? You play in a group?” Carrie really wanted to talk to Marilyn alone. “Marilyn, if you already have a group, I don’t want to intrude.”
    “Carrie, I can’t believe you don’t know I head the ladies’ golf division at the Club. You really do need to get more in touch with Club activities. Surely you know we have a women’s tournament group.”
    “I didn’t know about the group, but I knew you would be the right person to call.”
    “That’s a very nice compliment, and you must join us,” Marilyn said with authority.
    “I’m not sure about a ladies’ tournament group, though. I’m afraid my golf game isn’t very good.”
    “Oh, posh. None of us was any good when we started out. We simply give new players a bigger handicap. Besides, your game will improve faster playing with us. Some of the gals have really gotten quite good,” Marilyn said enthusiastically.
    “Well, I’d like to try, if the ladies don’t mind letting me play. Are there other activities?”
    “Of course there are. We do a great deal more than play golf.” Marilyn sounded annoyed but recovered nicely, realizing Carrie was naive about these important activities. “We help organize the social events at TC3, we do all kinds of charity work through the Club for the community, and we’ve a stronger voice in the operation of the Club through our action committees than women had in the past.”
    Marilyn’s last comment referred to the days at the Country Club when women had had no role in the management of Club affairs and even had limited times of day when they were allowed to be on the golf greens.
    “I had no idea. It all sounds very admirable,” Carrie said
    “You mentioned not wanting to be bored. In addition, we’ve activities that are informative. There are lectures, political and educational, the Book Club, the Culture Exchange Committee, the Travel Club, and then our latest entry, the Investment Club.”
    “The Investment Club? What’s that?”
    “I discovered that many of the Club ladies knew very little about finances. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Most of us handle our household checking accounts and pay the day-to-day bills. But it’s assumed women don’t understand the more complicated financial transactions. In reality, once we’re educated, we understand just fine. In fact, we seem to do quite well.”
    “By ‘complicated,’ you mean financial transactions like investing in stocks and bonds?”
    “Yes, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and even international