Murder in the Marigolds by Dale Mayer (best young adult book series .txt) 📕

“I almost never even talked,” she muttered.

“And that’s the way I liked it,” he said, “but Robin was very different, so that gave me a different experience. And this spirit, I like it.” He smiled. “Keep it up. Keep it up. And I’ll see you in a little bit,” he said. “I’ve got to fly back home, but I’ll stay in touch.”

Bemused, she watched as he turned and headed out without her. “Well, you might as well walk back with me,” she said. “Your car is there.”

He stopped, looked at her, and shrugged, then said, “Actually I’m here with somebody else, and they’ve already picked up the car.”

“Ah,” she said, wondering about that too. “I guess that makes sense. You didn’t use to drive yourself around.”

“Still don’t drive much,” he said, “just when I want privacy.”

And, at that, she heard the purr of a powerful engine and watched as the Jaguar pulled up beside him.

“Robin was driving a car like that.” He looked at her in surprise. Doreen shrugged. “I guess, like you, she’s used to that luxury and couldn’t get away from it. But I figured you wouldn’t fund any more of it.”

“No, I certainly wasn’t,” he said in a decisive motion. As he went to get in, she stepped forward and asked, “What broke up you guys?”

He just looked at her, as if wondering what to say. Then smiled and said, “She wasn’t you.”

And, with that, he got into the vehicle and drove away, as she stared in stunned disbelief.

Chapter 9

Monday Midmorning …

As Doreen slowly turned and walked past Rosemoor, Nan stood outside, waiting for her.

“Was that Mathew?” Nan snapped.

Doreen looked at her grandmother and nodded slowly. “I don’t know what’s going on though, so don’t even ask,” she muttered.

“Well, it won’t be anything good. He’s up to something. You can count on that.”

“He’s always up to something, isn’t he?” Doreen said absentmindedly, wondering just what that could be. Nothing made sense.

“Absolutely he is,” Nan muttered. “That man is simply no good.”

“I get it,” she said. “I just still don’t understand the turn of events today.”

“Well, it’s scary that he even showed up at all. Maybe he killed the lawyer.”

“Maybe,” she said. “I did think of that.”

“Of course you did. You’re not stupid,” Nan said.

She smiled. “You know what? You’re the only one who ever believed that,” she said, with a laugh.

“Well, you should have believed it yourself all these years. But that man? That man is poison.”

“Maybe. We definitely have to figure something out.”

“Figure something out? What do you mean?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m just thinking about some of the things I heard him say.”

“Tell me. Tell me,” Nan said, as she pointed at the patio. “Come have tea, and talk to me.”

She looked at her and grinned. “You’re just curious.”

“I’m dying of curiosity. Wherever that man goes,” she said, “trouble is in his wake. The fact that he’s here and talking to you just terrifies me. I already told Mack.”

Doreen stopped in her tracks. “You told Mack what?”

“I told him that your ex was here in town.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Maybe the better question is,” Nan said, turning to look at her in all seriousness, “why you didn’t.”

“Because,” and then she stopped. “It wasn’t … any of his business?”

Nan snorted at that. “That’s because you’re thinking like a woman. You’re not thinking like a detective,” she said. “Where’s your head at, dear? Your lawyer gets murdered, and then your ex shows up. Of course they’re connected.”

“Well, I did think of that,” she said, “but I couldn’t really figure out why or how. Besides, I would text Mack now anyway,” she said. Then she shrugged, as she sat down on the patio chair. “Honestly I was just flabbergasted that he was even here. He wanted to go for coffee, and I suggested going for a walk and automatically came this direction,” she said, looking around. At that, another vehicle pulled up, and she watched as Mack got out of his truck and strode toward them.

“Great,” she said, “now I’m about to get the fifth degree.”

“And you better have an excuse ready,” Nan warned.

“Why?” she said, glaring at her grandmother.

“Because you hurt his feelings, and Mack is a good man. You don’t want to chase him away, making him think you’re still interested in your ex.”

She leaned toward Nan and whispered, “Mathew said he wanted me back.”

At that, Nan stared at her, her mouth open. “He said what?”

She nodded slowly, as she watched Mack coming toward them with big long strides.

“What did you say to him?”

“I didn’t really say anything because I knew it wasn’t real. No way that’s what he wants.”

“Then he’s up to something.”

“I know,” she said. “I just couldn’t figure out what.”

At that, Mack arrived and, glaring at Doreen, asked, “Figure out what?”

Immediately she glared back and said, “Trying to figure out what my ex was up to.”

“Why was he here?” he asked and settled in a little bit, as if afraid that she wouldn’t say anything.

“He didn’t make that clear, and he is supposed to be flying out this afternoon.” She checked her watch and said, “I think in about two or three hours.”

“Any reason I should detain him?”

“I’m not sure. He didn’t seem normal,” she said.

“Meaning?”

“I think he was pretending to be nice, but I don’t know what he wanted from me. He wasn’t here alone either, but I don’t know who else he had with him. He was also on the phone a lot.”

“All of this sounds very intriguing,” he said, “but does it pertain to the case?”

She didn’t like that stiffness to his tone. “Hard to say,” she said, “but I do think that he was looking for something of Robin’s.”

“Like what?”

“Well, he kept talking to somebody on the phone about looking for something.” Then she stopped and stared back in the direction of her house. “Oh my,” she said. “I was really flabbergasted that he just showed up like that.” Then she hopped to her feet. “Uh-oh,