Murder by Yew (An Edna Davies Mystery #1)(13)

“So, you think he’ll be back on Sunday?” Before Edna could answer, Dee looked down at the photo. “You were a very pretty bride. Was your hair auburn?”

The quick change of subject, along with the unexpected compliment, disconcerted Edna. “Why, yes.”

“Have you thought of going back to that color? The gray is attractive, but I bet your husband would feel younger if you looked like the girl he once married. If he’s watching you,” she added with a wink, “you don’t need to watch him.” Lowering her voice, she added, “There are a lot of lonely widows out there.”

“I really don’t think …” Edna started to protest.

Dee lifted her wrist and looked at a slender gold watch, nestled among at least five gold and silver bracelets. “Goodness, look at the time.” She set the wedding picture back on the bureau. “I really must be going.”

In silence, Edna followed Dee out to her car. Nobody had ever spoken to her quite as frankly as this impetuous woman. She thought again of how Tom had looked at Dee, the admiration in his eyes.

Edna’s visitor settled into the white leather driver’s seat and started the engine. “Thanks for the tour,” she called out the window as the car started down the broken shell driveway.

Watching the convertible disappear, Edna couldn’t decide whether she liked or disliked Dee Tolkheim. Walking back through the kitchen garden, she noticed the clump of rue lying on the wooden bench. Not surprised, she thought, that wasn’t really why Dee came by today.

Four

In the house, Edna grabbed a sketch pad and pencil and put her hat on before going out to the herb garden again. She found Benjamin stretched out on the wooden bench enjoying the sun, and she smiled at the picture of perfect contentment. Strolling up and down the paths, she began to consider the presentation she’d be giving in less than a month, but her mind kept wandering over the morning’s events. What a strange day it had been so far, and it was barely lunchtime.

First, there had been the disturbing arrest of Aleda Sharp across the street. The image of her neighbor’s bowed head in the back of the police cruiser haunted Edna still. And how had Mary known the officers were on their way? She had her father’s radio scanner, Edna remembered, from when he had been a volunteer fireman. That must have been at least thirty-five or forty years ago, Edna marveled, then wondered how Mary knew the private detective she had recommended to Tom.

A smile came to Edna’s lips as she thought about Tom and his excitement over finding his long-ago buddy. She almost laughed aloud thinking of Tom’s absurdly flirtatious behavior towards her. How fun to be teased by someone other than Albert. The thought reminded her of Dee’s blatant performance, and Edna frowned. What had been the woman’s purpose in stopping by this morning? Was the position in the garden club so important that Dee felt she must scout out the competition?

Edna thought of the comment Dee had made about being new to the community and that they must stick together. She herself wished to feel welcomed by her neighbors and wondered if the desire in Dee was that much stronger. Acceptance into the elite garden club would certainly be a big step in that direction.

Before she could consider the possibility further, Edna was startled by a blur of orange fur flying past her and streaking toward the stone wall that bordered the Davies’ property. Turning to see what had frightened her cat, she spotted Norm Wilkins walking toward her. A ball of fire grew in her chest as she watched him approach.

Albert thought she had been exaggerating when she complained about Norm’s rudeness towards her, because the man was always so polite and deferential to her husband. The few times she’d had to deal with Norm alone, she’d gotten the feeling she was of no more significance than a gnat, something to be swatted if she got in the man’s way. Norm both frightened and disgusted her.

Whatever brought him here must be critical to get him out of his chair. The owner of Honeydew Home Repairs was not known to exert himself, preferring to spend his days bossing others around from behind a desk.

“Where’s Tom?” he growled at her without preamble, not bothering to remove the toothpick from his mouth when he spoke.

“I have no idea.” She put a hand on the crown of her wide-brimmed straw hat and glared up at him, determined not to let the man know how much he intimidated her.

At six-foot-three, Norm was as tall as Tom but weighed about seventy pounds more, a good deal of which hung over his belt buckle. Tom had laughingly confided to Edna once, “The only thing my cousin likes almost as much as money is beer.” Norm’s body, clad in faded blue jeans and a wrinkled, white, button-down shirt, swayed from side to side as he walked, and he leaned slightly backward as if to offset the pull of gravity on his stomach.

“Hah! I knew I’d catch him at it.” His eyes, small and close-set, glinted in triumph.

“Catch him at what?” She tried to keep both the quiver and the disgust from her voice. Norm might own the company, but Tom was the one who did most of the work. According to the rumors around town, Norm wouldn’t have a company if it weren’t for Tom.

“Told me he was working here today.” Norm grinned, repositioning the toothpick to the corner of his mouth. “Knowed he’s been lying to me.”

“He came by earlier this morning to hang a screen.”

“He say where he was off to after that?”