Murder by Yew (5 page)

Five

Edna was getting ready for bed that evening when the phone rang.

“
Hi, sweetheart.”

The sound of Albert’s voice comforted her, something she badly needed after the last several hours of waiting in vain for word of Tom’s condition.

“
Hello, dear,” she replied. “How was your flight?” She wanted to hear him talk, listen to him first, before she gave him the sad news.

“
Not a hitch. No delays. Made it in plenty of time for the luncheon lecture.” She thought she detected a slight hesitation before he continued. “Edna, Honey, I’ve been invited by Dr. Isaacs, one of the pediatricians on my panel, to visit a children’s clinic in Denver. I’m thinking of extending my trip into next week. I’m going to call Grant, see if I can stay with them.”

There it was. Just a flicker of memory, but Dee’s words taunted her.
You think he’ll be back on Sunday?
Edna forced her attention onto Albert’s last words.

Grant was their son, their third child and the only one who lived more than a couple of hours’ drive away. He was the one Edna worried about most, having lost his first wife in a tragic accident and remarrying before he or his young daughter had had time to mourn properly, in Edna’s opinion. Or was she still angry that he hadn’t bothered to tell his parents about his second marriage until it was a
fait accompli
? His new wife was expecting a child in mid-December, not two months before their first wedding anniversary and only a year since Michele’s funeral. Edna had been very fond of Michele. Her fun-loving daughter-in-law had been a good foil for her overly serious son. Michele made Grant laugh. In fact, everyone’s mood seemed to brighten when Michele had been around.

Albert broke into her thoughts. “I know we’re driving out there for Thanksgiving, and you’re as anxious to see Grant and the family as I am, but I don’t know if Phil will be around during the holiday.” He’d apparently taken her silence as disapproval.

“
Oh, no … that’s fine,” she stammered, bringing her mind back to the present. She’d been thinking of the skiing accident that had taken Michele’s life. “That sounds like a good idea. You can meet Karissa before we descend on them in November.”

“
You don’t mind then about my being away longer than expected?”

Edna gave a short laugh. “Of course not, Albert. Give Jilly-bean a big hug for me.” She sighed, thinking of her eight-year-old granddaughter Jillian. “I wish I were going to be with you, though.”

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wanted to grab them back. She could almost recite Albert’s response word-for-word.

“
I keep telling you there’s all kinds of help for people who are afraid to fly.” His tone was light, but she knew he didn’t understand her phobia—how weak her knees got or how nauseous she felt at the mere thought of stepping into an airplane. Ever since she could remember, whenever she saw a plane overhead, she would imagine it falling out of the sky. The image was so real, she would actually see the mechanical bird begin to fall and would have to look away.

She and Albert had been planning to drive to Denver in two months to meet their new daughter-in-law and spend some time with the family. It would have been almost a year since they had seen Grant and Jillian. Of course, they had received copies of the wedding pictures and had spoken with the family on the phone, but it wasn’t the same as being together, watching Karissa with their son and granddaughter.

“
Listen, Edna, I’ve gotta run. People are waiting for me. Dinner at some new steakhouse in town. Love you, Sweetheart.”

Before she had time to protest, Edna heard the line disconnect. Still thinking of Grant and Jillian, it was several minutes before she realized she hadn’t had a chance to tell Albert about Tom.

Once in bed, she felt depressed, worried about Tom and missing Albert. She hadn’t yet acclimated to the creaks and groans of her new house, and she wasn’t used to sleeping without her husband beside her. As a result, she spent a fitful night and awoke Friday morning feeling groggy. Only the thought of her appointments that morning prevented her from rolling over and going back to sleep.

The cleaning women would arrive at eight-thirty, and as of this morning, she had a weekly hair appointment at nine. Tuck had helped get her scheduled with both the Housekeeper Helpers and The Locks Shoppe. Ordinarily, the cleaners spent the whole of Friday at the Tucker estate, but when the Davieses moved to town, Tuck volunteered to give up three hours to them. Edna was grateful.

Also, since Tuck was a good customer of long standing at one of the more popular beauty salons in town—all cuts were money-back guaranteed, she had asked the manager to work Edna in at the same scheduled appointment time. This particular morning, they were meeting another of Tuck’s friends who was having her hair done at the salon. Until her retirement last year, Peppa had been a town librarian for almost forty years, and Tuck thought her two friends would hit it off. She said it might be fun if the three of them got together for brunch as a regular Friday morning activity.

Although appreciating Tuck’s efforts on her behalf, Edna knew it was in large part because of her recent widowhood that Helen Tucker wanted to keep busy and surround herself with people. While she was still new to the community, Edna didn’t mind Tuck’s managing her social schedule. Albert, who had graduated from the nearby University of Rhode Island, already knew many people in the area and spent most days on the golf course with his old cronies. So far, except for her art instructor and fellow classmates, Edna knew only the wives of Albert’s friends. Once she established herself, however, she would take care of her own social calendar.

Glancing at the clock, Edna was shocked to see how long she had been daydreaming. She would have to hurry if she were to dress and make coffee before the cleaners arrived. This week, as previously arranged, they were starting a half hour early because the owner, Beverly Lewis, had plans for the weekend. She had wanted to cancel, but Edna persuaded them to come for a couple of hours. She was hosting the bimonthly art class on Saturday afternoon and needed help getting the house ready.

The Housekeeper Helpers were on time, as usual, walking into the kitchen from the mudroom just as Edna finished rinsing out her coffee cup. Although pleasant enough, Beverly Lewis was a tough-looking woman in her late forties. Of medium height and somewhat overweight, she wore loose khaki slacks and a pink, short-sleeved overblouse that did nothing for her splotchy complexion. Junie Williams was large-boned, and at just shy of six feet, she was several inches taller than her boss. Edna thought the teenager would be more attractive if she stood up straight and tied her stringy brown hair back from her face.

According to what Tuck had confided to Edna, Beverly had moved to town last fall, advertising reliable housecleaning. She had hired a local girl to work for her and, rumor was, paid her well. Leslie Anne Williams, known as Junie practically from birth, had been fresh out of high school with no particular skills or ambitions. Her family had been delighted with the change in her, happy that Junie had discovered something she enjoyed.

Helen Tucker had also filled Edna in on Junie’s family. The Williamses, mostly fishermen, had lived in the area for several generations. They were a large, boisterous and popular family. Beverly had picked well. Thanks mostly to Junie’s family’s connections and referrals, Housekeeper Helpers had all the business they could handle. Of course, it boosted business considerably when Muriel Shaeffer, long-suffering housecleaner for several prominent people in the area, retired and moved to Florida last spring.

Housekeeper Helpers consisted of only the two women, although many people wondered why Beverly didn’t expand, since she had a page-long waiting list. When questioned, she always replied, “You want somethin’ done right, you gotta do it yerself.”

“
Good morning,” Edna said, wiping her hands on a small towel. “I want to thank you again for postponing your plans for me. If it weren’t for my art class coming tomorrow …”

“
A good customer like you, we’re always glad to help,” Beverly interrupted, putting down her pail and resting on a mop handle. “How’s your husband likin’ his trip?”

“
Just fine, thank you.” Remembering something else Tuck had told her, Edna said, “I hear your brother is starting a handyman business in town.” She felt a pang of disloyalty for Tom but was glad Norm Wilkins would have competition.

“
That’s right. If you have anything you need done around here, I can send him over.” Beverly put the mop aside and lifted the pail to fill it at the kitchen sink. “Shoes is a good worker,” she said over her shoulder.

“
Shoes? I thought his name was David.”

For some reason, Beverly found this remark extremely funny. She laid one hand on the counter as she bent over with laughter. When she had finally caught her breath and straightened, she said, “Yeah, I forget some don’t know him by his nickname. Well, that’s a long story.” She paused and chuckled, shaking her head before going on. “I don’t mean to stand here jawin’ about my family while there’s work to do.” Her actions made Edna even more curious, and she made a mental note to ask Bev the story another time. Picking her pail up out of the sink, Beverly brayed out another laugh before saying, “We’d better get started, and you better go get your hair laundered.”

Edna couldn’t help smiling at the good-natured woman as she retrieved her tote bag from the front hall closet and left for her second appointment of the day. She drove the short distance to the middle of town and pulled into a little strip mall. Spotting an available space in front of The Locks Shoppe, she was getting out of her car when Tuck drove up and parked beside Edna’s dark blue Buick.

“
Good morning, Tuck,” Edna greeted her friend. She had liked Helen Tucker from their very first meeting years ago. A kind woman who always wore a slightly puzzled look as if not certain how she had gotten where she was, Tuck had, nonetheless, been tremendous in helping Edna acclimate to the community.

The two women were about to enter the salon when an old, battered Mercedes spun in next to Tuck’s spotless Lincoln and stopped, slightly askew and over the line into the neighboring space. A plump woman with tight blond curls, showing gray at the roots, pushed herself out of the car and bustled toward them. She wore a paisley pants suit and carried a large, black, patent-leather handbag over her left forearm. As she approached, she dropped her keys into the purse and snapped it shut.

“
Mornin’, Tuck.”

“
Mornin’, Peppa.” Tuck put a hand on Edna’s arm and pulled her forward. “Meet my friend, Edna Davies. Edna, this is Harriet Peppafitch.”

“
Folks call me Peppa.” She had a nice smile and a twinkle in her eyes when she extended a hand. Her face was tanned and weathered, as if she spent most of her time outdoors.

“
I’ve been wanting you two to meet,” Tuck said, beaming from one to the other. “I think you’ll find you’ve a lot in common.” Getting between the two and taking each by an arm, she directed them gently toward the salon door. “We’d better not stand out here chatting. We’ll have time to talk later.”

As soon as they entered the shop, a young woman at the front counter greeted Tuck with a frown. “Heidi got a call from the day-care center that her son’s running a fever. She went to pick him up and take him to the doctor. Would you mind rescheduling your appointment? She can fit you in tomorrow, if that’s okay.”

Tuck took the card the young woman held out to her. “That dear girl. I know how busy her Saturdays are.” She turned to her friends. “This will put a crimp in our brunch plans.” After a brief pause, her face lit up. “Tell you what. Why don’t you come out to the house when you’re done here? I have plenty of food, and it’ll be a treat to cook for more than one again.”

Edna and Peppa looked at each other before nodding. “Sounds fine, Tuck,” Peppa said and nudged Edna with her elbow. “I know what a good cook she is. We’re getting the best of this.”

“
I won’t look as pretty as you two, but there’ll be plenty to eat.”

They all laughed as Tuck waved and headed for the door.

Having only a wash and set, Edna was finished first and sat down in one of the dryer chairs to wait and watch the hair coloring process. Of course, she’d seen women having their hair dyed before, but she’d never paid close attention. Wondering idly if this were the salon Dee Tolkheim used, Edna glanced at her reflection in the wall of mirrors and studied her gray hair. When Peppa was ready to go, Edna was still unconvinced that she needed to reclaim her youthful color. She had a mental picture of walking into the house with auburn curls and Albert collapsing on the floor in a fit of laughter.

Peppa offered to drive, explaining that she had to pass by the mall again to get home, so it would be no bother. “No sense driving two cars if we don’t have to.” Backing out of the space, she said. “How do you know Tuck?”

“
Our husbands were fraternity brothers.” Edna clutched the door handle as the car spun left onto Main Street. She wondered if Peppa had seen the green Honda as they’d pulled out of the parking lot into the path of the other car.