Perplexity on P1/2 (Parson's Cove Mysteries) Read Online Free

me because it’s late and you want to go home, Reg. Now, put your ear closer and listen carefully. This person is threatening my life.”
         “Mabel, Mabel, Mabel.” He shook his head. “No one is threatening your life. Besides, the recording is garbled and there’s too much static and background noise to make out what the person is saying.”
         “Please, Reg, humor me. Listen again.”
         He gave an exaggerated sigh and said, “Okay. Hit the damn button again.”
         “… … Wickles, listen …. … … get away … ….  … … Las Vegas  … … everyone in Parson’s Cove … …. wicked. … … … jail  … … dying. … … … your life. Watch out … … … leave.”
         “See, Reg, that is definitely a threatening call. Don’t you get it? Whoever this is, is telling me that I got away with something in Las Vegas; something very wicked. Now, they’re out to get me, and everyone in Parson’s Cove. And, I’m not sure, but I think they’re telling me that I’m going to spend the rest of my life in the pen, until I die.” A shiver passed through my body. “They’re warning me to watch out and telling me to leave.”
         “Say you’re right, Mabel.” The Sheriff looked up at me over his reading glasses. (I have no idea why he had to put on his glasses to listen to the tape recording.) “Now, ’fess up, what did you really do in Las Vegas?”
         “I know you think I must have done something but I didn’t. This is what is so frustrating. What did I do? I did nothing. I was a normal tourist. Well, not normal normal, if you know what I mean. I didn’t gamble and everyone who goes to Vegas, gambles. Right?” My heart started pounding. “Do you think there are people in Las Vegas who come after you if you don’t gamble?”
         “No, Mabel. No one threatens your life if you don’t gamble. It would be more likely someone would come after you if you did.”
         “I wonder if someone thought I gambled and now they’re here to take my money.”
         Reg drained his cup and stood up.
         “I doubt it. Most thieves don’t leave a message; they just arrive. Thanks for the coffee. If I were you, I’d go to bed and stop fretting about this. It’s almost ten and you’ll probably have lots of customers in tomorrow. Get a good night’s sleep. Maybe whoever phoned will call back or pop into the store tomorrow and the mystery will be solved.”
          I shook my head. “I wish I could make out if it’s a man or a woman on that thing.”
         “If you can’t tell that, how can you tell that it’s threatening?”
         “I don’t know, Reg. Maybe it’s just the person’s tone of voice.”
         He reached over and patted my arm.
         “I’m sure it’s nothing. Someone from here might be playing a crank call. Let’s face it, there could be a bit of jealousy. After all, not many from here have ever been to Las Vegas.”
         “Do you think so? I never even thought of that.” My heart pounded faster again but this time it was more excitement than fear. “I bet it’s Esther Flynn. Who else would do such a thing?”
         “Now, Mabel, don’t go making accusations like that. You can’t blame Esther for everything in life that happens to you, you know.”
         “I know that, but I think you’re right - it has to be a crank call. I’ll bet you anything Esther did this to upset me because she’s jealous.”
         “Mabel, you’re not listening. I didn’t say it was Esther. I didn’t even insinuate it was Esther. And don’t you tell anyone I did.”
         He might have said more but I shut the door.
         That had to be it. I played the tape again. And again. If only I could make out the voice. Reg was right, of course, I couldn’t come right out and blame Esther. I knew how to handle her though. At least, I should be able to after all the years of experience