The Puzzle Lady vs. the Sudoku Lady (24 page)

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Authors: Parnell Hall

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“Well, that worked out,” Sherry said as they drove home.
“Yes, I think so,” Cora said. “Even when you figure in the price of a karate outfit. Can I take it off my taxes as publicity?”
“Ask your agent. At least he's not in jail.”
“No, he's not.” Cora frowned. “I bet my books would sell better if he was.”
“Cora.”
“Just a thought. I'm not framing the son of a bitch.”
“Why is he a son of a bitch? He's done very well by you.”
“I still haven't forgiven him for booking me into that Granville Grains publicity tour.”
“Hey, don't knock publicity. Publicity sells books.”
“Well, it did for Minami.”
“Yeah.” Sherry took a breath. “So. About you moving out—”
“I'll get to it,” Cora said irritably. “I've been a little busy.”
“I'm not trying to rush you. But you're right about the house not being big enough.”
“That's all I'm saying.”
“I spoke to Aaron, and he agrees, and he wanted me to talk to you before we got home. Because he had to go back to the paper to write the story.”
“There's nothing to talk about. It was my idea.”
“Yeah, but he didn't want you to freak out.”
“Why would I freak out?”
“About the backhoe.”
“Huh?”
“The backhoe in the driveway. And the builders staking out the ground.”
“What?”
“You're right. The house is too small. So we're adding on: three bedrooms, two baths, game room in the basement.”
“Basement?”
“Yeah. It's two stories with a basement. You can have your own pool table. Aaron figured it would keep you out of mischief. I know better, but take the table. It's one of the perks.”
Cora's mouth was open. She blinked. “Sherry. Is that true?”
“More or less. The backhoe's not there yet. Or the builders. They start next week.”
Cora shook her head. “I can't believe it. Why are you doing this?”
“How many times have you been divorced and you have to ask me that? You got married, things changed, you didn't like it. Aaron and I are very happy. We got married. If that means throwing you out, we'll start to resent it. Better we start to resent
you
.”
“You already resent me.”
“See? It's working.”
“But how can you afford it? This is a hell of a time to finance a house.”
“Well, it turns out your sudoku books are doing so well, you just sold a whole new line of crossword puzzle books.”
“I did?”
“You sure did. Which would be a real chore if you had to write them, but since all you have to do is pose for a picture or two, I didn't feel that guilty saying yes.”
“Oh, my God.” Cora was utterly overwhelmed. She opened her mouth, closed it again. “I don't know what to say.”
“Now, there's a first.” Sherry grinned and breezily changed the subject. “So, how'd you get Minami to cooperate? She can't have felt too kindly toward you. Before you got her off, I mean.”
“Easy. I knew her secret. She doesn't write sudoku. Her niece does it for her.”
“You blackmailed her?” Sherry said. She frowned. “No, that can't be it. She was positively cordial to you just now.”
“Well, I won her confidence.”
“How?”
“I shared a secret with her.”
Sherry's eyes widened. “Oh, my God! You told her I write your crossword puzzles! You said, ‘What a coincidence. Your niece writes your puzzles and my niece writes mine.' No wonder you're thick as thieves. That's it, isn't it?”
“Are you kidding me?” Cora countered. “Trust her with a secret like that? Come on. She's not family.”
“So what did you tell her?”
“Told her I left the sudoku.” Cora shrugged. “I figured that was a big enough secret. I said, ‘Hey, babe, I framed you for murder. How you like them apples?'”
I would like to thank Will Shortz,
New York Times
crossword puzzle editor and NPR puzzlemaster, for constructing all the sudoku that appear in this book. I didn't tell him they would be used for blackmail. I hope he doesn't mind.
I would like to thank frequent
New York Times
contributor Manny Nosowsky for constructing the blackmail notes. Manny proved surprisingly adept at extortion. I will have to watch him in the future.
I would like to thank National Champion Ellen Ripstein for editing the puzzles. She didn't know they were blackmail notes. Or so she says. I'd watch her, too.
Last, but not least, I would like to thank the incomparable Ruth Cavin for the Sudoku Lady. The Puzzle Lady meeting her Japanese counterpart was Ruth's idea.
Clearly she bears watching.
Dead Man's Puzzle
 
 
The Sudoku Puzzle Murders
 
 
You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled
 
 
Stalking the Puzzle Lady
 
 
And a Puzzle to Die On
 
 
With This Puzzle, I Thee Kill
 
 
A Puzzle in a Pear Tree
 
 
Puzzled to Death
 
 
Last Puzzle & Testament
 
 
A Clue for the Puzzle Lady
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.
 
 
THE PUZZLE LADY VS. THE SUDOKU LADY. Copyright © 2009 by Parnell Hall. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
 
 
A THOMAS DUNNE BOOK FOR MINOTAUR BOOKS.
An imprint of St. Martin's Publishing Group.
 
 
eISBN 9780312612184
First eBook Edition : June 2012
 
 
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hall, Parnell.
The Puzzle Lady vs. The Sudoku Lady : a Puzzle Lady mystery / Parnell Hall.—1st ed.
p. cm.
“A Thomas Dunne book for Minotaur Books”—T. p. verso.
1. Felton, Cora (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Crossword puzzle makers—Fiction. 3. Women—Crimes against—Fiction.
4. Sudoku—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3558.A37327P79 2010
813'.54—dc22
2009034525
First Edition: February 2010

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