Murder and Salutations Read Online Free Page A

with.”
    As we followed Bradford, I whispered to my sister, “Did you really see her in the kitchen? What happened?” I couldn’t imagine Sara Lynn and Eliza together in the close confines of the kitchen. An unwelcome thought came as I fought not to add, without blood being shed.
    Bradford stopped and looked at me before Sara Lynn could answer. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to interview the witnesses myself without your assistance.”
    “ Fine,” I said. “I was just asking.”
    There were seven people standing in front of the room, including Beth. She approached Sara Lynn before Bradford could say anything. “I’m so sorry I told on you.”
    She looked like she was going to start crying, and my sister patted her hand. “You did the right thing, dear. I have nothing to hide.”
    That obviously made Beth feel better, and she started back toward the kitchen.
    Bradford stopped her dead in her tracks. “Where are you going?”
    “ I have to help clean up,” Beth explained.
    Bradford shook his head. “I’m afraid they’ll have to get along without you for now. I need you here.”
    “ I already told you what I saw,” Beth said.
    “ Have a seat,” he said, pointing to an empty table in front. “I’m not finished with you yet.”
    Beth didn’t look happy about the command, but she followed it nonetheless. My brother was a hard man for most folks to say no to, though I hadn’t had much trouble over the years. Still, I could see how he could be intimidating with that cold stare and booming voice.
    I could see him glance between Sara Lynn and Lillian, so I wasn’t really surprised when he tapped my sister first. “Come on, Sis.”
    Sara Lynn followed him, and I started after him when Lillian touched my arm. “Let your brother do his job,” she said to me.
    Bradford looked startled by the defense as he nodded his thanks. “It will go faster if you wait right here, Jennifer.”
    I reluctantly agreed as I watched my brother escort my sister off for questioning in a murder case. It was not a scene I’d ever imagined I’d witness.
    I turned to Lillian after they were gone. “What exactly did you say to Eliza when she started toward us before dinner?”
    Lillian shook her head, refusing to answer.
    “ Come on,” I said. “You’re not going to tell me?”
    “ Jennifer, I don’t want to get you into trouble with your brother. Besides, it was nothing.”
    I knew better than that. Lillian had scored a direct hit with Eliza; the stricken look on the woman’s face testified to that.
    “ You’re going to have to tell Bradford. Why not tell me?”
    Lillian frowned. “Do you think I’m all that proud of the fact that one of the last things that woman heard in her life was my snippy remark about her low morals? Jennifer, I was wrong to confront her. It wasn’t my fight, but I had to step in and be clever, and now I couldn’t take it back even if I wanted to.”
    I knew Lillian had a certain sensitivity about her, but her brash nature usually made it hard to remember that all the time. “Listen, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you on it.”
    When Lillian looked at me, I could see a tear tracking down her left cheek. “Jennifer, it’s fine, but I really don’t want to talk about it right now, all right?”
    “ Certainly,” I said, looking at the other witnesses gathered around the front of the room. Addie Mason, a tall, reedy woman with flaming red hair, was there. As Eliza’s partner at Heaven Scent, it was understandable why she’d talked to the woman that evening. It kind of surprised me to see Luke Penwright there, though. Luke and Eliza had been married ten years before, but it had lasted less than six months before they’d split up. From what I’d heard around town, Luke had been trying unsuccessfully for years to get her back. He was good-looking enough in his own way, but there was something about his heavy eyebrows and constant scowl that always gave me the creeps. Polly Blackburn