Beware the Orchids (A Shady Acres Mystery Book 1) by Cynthia Hickey Page B

entering Alice’s office. Was she stealing, gathering information, or both?”
    “That’s what we need to find out.” I stuffed the photos back in the envelope, added the schedule, and slid them into Grandma’s purse.
    “Holy cow.” Heath peered into the cottage. “I think Alice needs to hire a crew to clean this out. It’s too much for Amber and Becky. What are y’all doing in here?”
    “Snoo—just checking on some things,” Grandma said, spotting Dave. “Getting a grasp of the work that needs to be done. Have fun.” She grabbed my arm, and leaving Cheryl to follow, pushed our way out of the cottage. “That was close. Who is that man in overalls? I almost spilled the beans to a stranger.”
    “The substitute handyman.” I glanced over our shoulder. Heath and Dave looked our way. “We could have been caught by more than just them. What if Alice would have seen us?”
    “I would have thought of something.”
    “I’d like to know what you were doing in the victim’s cottage.” Officer Lawrence stepped from behind a tree. “Care to share any information?”
    Grandma fiddled with a button on his shirt. “We would if we’d found out anything. Didn’t the police search her place?”
    “A bit. But since it isn’t a crime scene—” He removed Grandma’s hand. “Ladies, I’ll tell you this one time only. Do not interfere in my investigation.” He turned and marched toward Maybelle’s cottage.

 
    9
    D ressed in a vintage flapper dress, I stood next to Cheryl, who wore a formal gown from modern day because of her size, and Grandma in a red flapper dress to compliment my black one. Grandma and I made petite bookends to Cheryl, but the three of us stood in the doorway and surveyed the crowd of residents in every type of clothing imaginable. We had pimp suits, tuxedos, formal gowns, a fifties prom dress…you name it, we had it. Heath wore something Gatesby might have worn and looked quite dashing, even with the crutches.
    “Remember…we are here to mingle and question the people in those photos,” I told my companions. “We’ll congregate in my cottage after the social.”
    “We can have a bit of fun.” Grandma pulled one of those long cigarette holders they used to use back in the day.
    “You can’t smoke in here.” I wasn’t aware she smoked.
    “I’m not going to light it, silly. It’s for allure.” With her head high, Grandma sashayed into the crowd.
    I shrugged and headed for the table where Heath and Dave, still in his coveralls, sat. “How did the first day go?”
    “Just great.” Dave stuffed half a cupcake in his mouth.
    Heath rolled his eyes, but kept his mouth shut. “We have some, uh, heavier items that need to be moved. Do you think your Amazon friend can help out?”
    “I’ll ask her, but she isn’t here to work. She’s on vacation.” I knew that substitute wasn’t going to work out. I should have given him the boot that morning. “Dave, we had this discussion. Either you do the work or—”
    Yelling from the corner drew my attention. Birdie and Bob hurled insults at each other until Birdie clasped a hand to her chest and sagged into a chair.
    I rushed to her side. “Do I need to call an ambulance?”
    “She’s faking it,” Bob said with a scowl. “Ain’t nothing wrong with that biddie.”
    Birdie’s eyes flashed, confirming his words. “I had a twinge, Bob. You can’t say I didn’t. Not with any certainty. If you don’t stop accusing me of taking your watch I might have a heart attack for real.”
    “You were seen snooping around my cottage.”
    “No one in their right mind would go near that pig sty.” She pushed to her feet, every pink curl on her head quivering with indignation.
    I couldn’t help but wonder whether Bob’s watch was one of those in Maybelle’s box. I made a mental note to let Office Lawrence know. “Why don’t the two of you head to opposite sides of the room and take a break?”
    Bob seemed taken aback. “Why? We came