Pride v. Prejudice (35 page)
Read Pride v. Prejudice Online
Authors: Joan Hess
“What did Peter's mother say when she saw it?”
“She laughed and admitted it was a cheap souvenir that she bought as a joke. You're going to die when you see the turquoise silk robe she brought you. Mine's a gorgeous jade green. She gave Peter a set of antique porcelain temple lions. I put them on either side of the fireplace to protect us from evil spirits.”
The FBI agent harrumphed like a tiger with a hairball.
“See you soon,” I said as I turned off the cell phone.
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
It took more than an hour before I was dismissed with stern orders to remain available and to not so much as stick my little toe beyond the city limits. Peter had called in favors from his enigmatic connections at Quantico. Chief Panzer had vouched for my impeccable character. Sheriff Dorfer had agreed that I was not yet a menace to society.
An FBI agent drove me to the police impound lot and oversaw the release of my car. I'd solved the case, but I certainly had not solved everyone's problems. Sarah was in custody. Roderick was headed for parts unknown. Grady would need a lawyer from Legal Aid. Evan, if forced to represent him, would be blushing throughout trial.
On a much cheerier note (worthy of fireworks and champagne), Prosecutor Wessell had made a fool of himself. He'd been adamant about Sarah's guilt. He'd proclaimed it from the courthouse steps, in front of the national media. Martin Luther had made less of a fuss over his ninety-five theses. The Weasel's previous prosecutions were fair game for scrutiny. I looked forward to listening to him bleat on the nightly news.
When I arrived home, I cautiously opened the front door and made sure everyone was on the terrace. My mood improved a bit when I spotted empty wine bottles on the kitchen island. I scurried into the bedroom and changed clothes. One should not meet one's mother-in-law dressed in a random man's shirt and jeans, I thought with only a twinge of hysteria. I did what I could with my hair, put on minimum makeup, and emerged from the bedroom with a sense of foreboding.
Caron and Inez were sitting on the tile floor, towels draped over their bathing suits. My beloved husband was lying in a chaise longue.
A female voice came from the chaise longue beside him. “Okay, so a priest, a rabbi, and a giant frog walk into a bar.”
For the first time, it occurred to me that I might like Peter's mother.
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JOAN HESS
is the author of both the Claire Malloy and the Maggody mystery series, a winner of the American Mystery Award, and a former president of the American Crime Writers League. A member of Sisters in Crime, she was recently recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Malice Domestic. A longtime resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas, she now lives in Austin, Texas. You can sign up for email updates
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ALSO BY
JOAN HESS
THE CLAIRE MALLOY MYSTERIES
The Murder at the Murder at the Mimosa Inn
Death by the Light of the Moon
THE ARLY HANKS MYSTERIES
Malice in Maggody
Mischief in Maggody
Much Ado in Maggody
Madness in Maggody
Mortal Remains in Maggody
Maggody in Manhattan
O Little Town of Maggody
Martians in Maggody
Miracles in Maggody
The Maggody Militia
Misery Loves Maggody
Maggody and the Moonbeams
Muletrain to Maggody
Malpractice in Maggody
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Contents
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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
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PRIDE V. PREJUDICE.
Copyright © 2015 by Joan Hess. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
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Cover illustration by Ben Perini
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eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].
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The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
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Hess, Joan.
    Pride v. prejudice : a Claire Malloy mystery / Joan Hess. â 1st ed.
            p. cm.
    ISBN 978-1-250-01195-4 (hardcover)
    ISBN 978-1-250-02999-7 (e-book)
    1.  Malloy, Claire (Fictitious character)âFiction.  2.  Booksellers and booksellingâFiction.  3.  Women detectivesâFiction.  I.  Title.  II.  Title: Pride versus prejudice.
    PS3558.E79785P75 2015
    813'.54âdc23
2014040984
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eISBN 9781250029997
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First Edition: April 2015