A Body at Bunco (29 page)

Sloan still looked puzzled, so Miles explained, “Myrtle sent out social media updates that she was here and needed help.”

Georgia nodded and took another large drag on the cigarette. “That’s right. And everybody who was online and saw it stopped what they were doing, grabbed a weapon, and ran to the
Bugle.
”

Sloan gave Myrtle a reproachful look. “So
you’re
the hacker?”

Myrtle snorted in irritation. “There was no hacking required, Sloan. I merely updated the social media sites while you left your computer unlocked. And the passwords were on a sticky note, for heaven’s sake. That hardly passes for computer security.”

Sloan shook his head. “So … Mimsy. I can hardly believe it.”

“You’d have believed it if she’d been heaving a hammer at you,” said Myrtle succinctly. “Sometimes people aren’t totally what they seem.”

Miles said under his breath, “Briana the terrorist?”

Myrtle nodded and together they waited for Red.

It didn’t take long until Red plopped down in a wheeled chair next to Myrtle and took out his notebook. Pasha had calmed back down once all the people were behaving once again in a normal, people-like manner and she was now curled up on Sloan’s desk by Myrtle. Myrtle scratched her under her chin. “Good kitty,” she murmured.

Red said, “Mama, I’ve got to hand it to you. You were able to figure out who was behind the murders when I was still thinking that Mimsy Kessler was being set up by someone jealous of her.”

Myrtle nodded. “Someone like Poppy, you mean?”

Red said, “Exactly. I guess you must have come to that conclusion along the way, too.”

“Because that’s the conclusion Mimsy
wanted
us to reach. She was the one talking about how envious Poppy was of her success and her lifestyle and the fact that she didn’t have a job. She fed all those ideas to us so that we’d think poor Poppy was setting Mimsy up to look like the killer.”

“Was her financial situation really that bad?” asked Red, shaking his head. “It’s hard to believe that Mimsy would do something like this just because she’d fallen on bad times.”

Myrtle said, “I don’t think she
was
doing it merely because she’d fallen on bad times. For one thing, I think she’s always been a little dangerous. Even when she was a teenager, she liked pushing things to the limit. She ran with a fast crowd back then.”

“She sure doesn’t now, though,” mumbled Red.

“Right. But she got that same thrill from murdering Luella at my Bonkers party. Can you imagine? Killing a family member at a party after pretending to lose her earring. Everyone came into the living room to try to help her find it. She was just as cool as clams. And anyone could have spotted her breaking into Alma’s house,” said Myrtle, waving her arms around excitedly.

“Anyone who was up very late at night and outside,” reminded Miles.

“Which, as it happens, are a lot more people than we thought,” said Myrtle. “I’d have only said it was you and me until very recently.”

Red said, “What I don’t get is how you knew it was Mimsy.
Suspecting
it was Mimsy is one thing.
Knowing
it is something entirely different.

“Florence gave me the final piece of the puzzle,” said Myrtle. “She told me that she’d seen Mimsy put her earring in her purse and thought she might be absentminded.”

Red’s eyebrows shot up. “I must have spoken to Florence Ainsworth five times since Luella’s death and she never told me any such thing.”

“But did you ask her about the earring?” asked Myrtle.

“No, but that’s because it was evidence. I was trying not to divulge the evidence we had in the case,” said Red.

Myrtle shrugged. “I had no such concerns. So I brought up the earring thing with Florence.”

Miles cleared his throat. “People also find it easy to talk to your mother, Red. Maybe they’re a little intimidated that you’re the police. They open up with Myrtle more.”

“I think you ended this whole investigation very quickly, Mama. Good job. Not that I ever want you to do this again,” he added ominously.

“Duly noted,” said Myrtle, promptly and deliberately forgetting his addendum. “If you wanted to thank me, I know just how you can go about it.”

“I just
did
thank you, I thought,” said Red warily.

“Yes, but my solving the case qualifies for a special thank you. Like replacing Dusty’s string trimmer,” said Myrtle.

“What? But that will be expensive,” said Red. “And I’m paying for a plumbing emergency and a new car.”

“I don’t think it will be all that bad. He wouldn’t want anything top of the line, I don’t think.” Actually, he
would
. But since Dusty wasn’t aware of any of it, he’d be none the wiser. “It’s his birthday. Plus, he just broke his string trimmer. And I have a feeling that you’re not in any hurry to step in and substitute your services for Dusty’s.”

Red said hastily, “No, that’s for sure. I suppose I do have my police discount at the hardware store.”

“Just remember, it’s a secret. And if Dusty should ask you about repairing his trimmer, you just nod and smile and say that you’re getting right on it,” said Myrtle.

Red tilted his head quizzically at her. “Repairing it?”

“He thinks you are. Repairing it, I mean. So just go along with it.”

Red said to Miles, “Sometimes I feel like I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Join the club,” said Miles. “Sometimes I feel like
Myrtle
is the only one who knows what’s going on.”

Sloan, who’d been outside talking on his cell phone, came into the building again. The expression on his face was stunned. “I just heard some amazing news,” he said slowly. “Rogers Automotive says they want to resume advertising with the
Bugle
.”

Myrtle beamed at him. “Well, isn’t that nice!”

“And Tim Rogers said to give Miss Myrtle his regards,” said Sloan. He and Red stared at Myrtle.

“There are many ways of being persuasive,” said Myrtle with a shrug. “I just hope this means that you can hire Tilly Morris back as copyeditor again. My red pen has run dry with all the correcting of the paper.”

“I will,” said Sloan with a sigh. “Although I still need a new part-time salesman to get more advertisers.”

Myrtle snapped her fingers. “I have a great idea. I just happen to know someone who would do a fantastic job and would be happy to work part-time. Robert Wiggins.”

Red said, “Alma’s son?”

Sloan’s eyes opened wide. “But I thought I heard something about him. Something that might make me worried about hiring him at the
Bugle
.”

Myrtle put her hands on her hips. “Red, have you arrested Robert Wiggins for fraud?”

“I sure haven’t,” he said.

“Then I think you’ll be fine with him, Sloan. He’s very well-spoken. Besides, the
Bugle
doesn’t have any money to steal anyway,” said Myrtle.

“Isn’t that the truth,” said Sloan glumly.

“And I certainly hope it means you don’t try any radical means of getting readers for the paper. Clearly, they like the
Bugle
the way it was.”

Red snorted. “You think? I passed about ten #SaveTheBugle signs on the way over here.”

Sloan colored a bit. “I got the message, too. I think you’ll find that everything with the newspaper will be returning to normal soon.”

Myrtle said, “And you’ll bring back the horoscopes, recipes, and the Good Neighbors column? Because the paper isn’t the same without them, Sloan.”

Sloan nodded. “I will. I give up. People want what they want and there’s nothing I can do to convince them otherwise.”

The next morning, Myrtle figured Sloan was
trying
to thank her by featuring her on the front page of the newspaper in living color alongside her story on Mimsy’s arrest. Even though she was now immortalized for all time in a pink nylon tracksuit.

Next Myrtle Clover:
Murder on Opening Night

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When Myrtle Clover and her friend Miles attend a play in their small town, there’s a full house on opening night.

It’s clear to Myrtle that one of the actresses is a stage hog who loves stealing the spotlight. Nandina Marshall certainly does upstage everyone—when her murder forces an unexpected intermission.

Can Myrtle and Miles discover who was behind her final curtain call….before murder makes an encore?

About the Author

Elizabeth writes the Southern Quilting mysteries and Memphis Barbeque mysteries for Penguin Random House and the Myrtle Clover series for Midnight Ink and independently. She blogs at ElizabethSpannCraig.com/blog , named by Writer’s Digest as one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers. Elizabeth makes her home in Matthews, North Carolina, with her husband and two teenage children.

Other Works by the Author:

Myrtle Clover Series in Order:

Pretty is as Pretty Dies

Progressive Dinner Deadly

A Dyeing Shame

A Body in the Backyard

Death at a Drop-In

A Body at Book Club

Death Pays a Visit

A Body at Bunco

Southern Quilting Mysteries in Order:

Quilt or Innocence

Knot What it Seams

Quilt Trip

Shear Trouble

Tying the Knot
(June 2015)

Memphis Barbeque Mysteries in Order (Written as Riley Adams):

Delicious and Suspicious

Finger Lickin’ Dead

Hickory Smoked Homicide

Rubbed Out

Where to Connect With Elizabeth

Please sign up for Elizabeth’s free newsletter to learn about new releases, and receive special deals for subscribers:

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Facebook: Elizabeth Spann Craig Author

Riley Adams, Author

Twitter: @elizabethscraig

Website:
www.elizabethspanncraig.com

Thanks so much for reading my book…I appreciate it. If you enjoyed the story, would you please leave a short review on the site where you purchased it? Just a few words would be great. Not only do I feel encouraged reading them, but they also help other readers discover my books. Thank you!