Well Read, Then Dead(14)

            Cady jumped in. “I’ve always thought Sassy had elegant hands.”

            Frank Anthony shot Cady a look as if seeing him for the first time and not really liking what he saw. Then he said, “Miss Maddox, we’ll let you know all about Sassy’s hands as soon as we take her fingerprints.”

            Flustered, I automatically clasped my hands behind my back.

            Ryan started a hoot, remembered why we were here and cut himself off but couldn’t quite contain a wink and a grin.

            Miss Augusta sipped her bourbon, ignoring us all. Finally she picked up the black notebook and held it so we could all see the faded gilt letters on the front that spelled ADDRESSES.

            “I’m sorry but I got family and friends to telephone, arrangements to make. Questions’ll have to wait for another time.”

            The lieutenant and Ryan exchanged a nearly invisible glance, and from the look of it, Augusta was about to lose control of the discussion. I took a step closer to her chair, ready to help her cope.

            Frank gave a nearly imperceptible nod, and Ryan cleared his throat. “Miss Augusta, it pains me to tell you that Miss Delia’s death was not an accident. She was killed by person or persons unknown. We are here as part of the official murder investigation team, and as such, we need to speak to you alone. And that needs to happen right now.”

            Augusta closed her eyes, and for a second I feared we might lose her there and then. When she opened her eyes, she drained her glass dry and asked, “You sure?”

            Ryan nodded.

            Augusta turned to me. “Sassy, I’m going to need that refill now. One finger’ll be plenty.”





Chapter Five ||||||||||||||||||||


            I picked up her glass and left the room. When I brought it back, Frank was sitting in the seat I had previously occupied near Augusta and Ryan was standing at attention next to the doorway, as if ready to block the exit if she tried to escape. Cady was nowhere to be seen. I handed Augusta her one finger of bourbon then stood at her side, uncertain where I should sit, what I should do. Frank looked out the front window, just over his right shoulder.

            “Your reporter friend is on the lawn. No sense you keeping him waiting.”

            He was sending me packing. Nice. I hesitated, not willing to leave Augusta, who quickly resolved my quandary.

            “Sassy, could you stay around until we’re done here? I’m going to need a little help sorting things out.”

            I flashed a triumphant look at Frank Anthony.

            “Of course.”

            But when I moved to sit down, he went all official on me. “This interview is private. You have to leave. If you wish, we’ll let you know when we’re done.”

            I couldn’t resist telling Augusta that I’d be right outside and would come back in an instant if she needed me.

            As I walked past Ryan, he whispered, “Sorry,” which didn’t help my battered ego one bit.

            Cady was leaning on his car, cell phone glued to his ear. As I came closer, I could see that he was listening intently, his brow knitted in a furrow of concentration.

            He thanked whoever was on the other end and stuffed his phone into the tan leather case threaded on his belt.

            “It’s pretty bad.” He opened the passenger door of his car. “I’ll tell you what I can on the way back.”

            “I’m not going back. Augusta wants me to stay.”

            He nodded. “Makes sense. Okay, here is what we know so far. Someone knocked Delia to the floor, smothered her with some kind of fabric-y thing and ransacked pretty much her entire house. No one has a clue as to why, but the inquiry only just started.”