Diane Greenwood Muir - Bellingwood 06 - A Season of Change by Diane Greenwood Muir Page A

over. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”
    “Don’t tell me.” He grinned at her.
    “I won’t, but if you could call Leroy and head him off, that would be great.”
    “Do you know who it is?”
    “Nope. I didn’t want to move things to figure it out.”
    “Do you suppose it’s one of the boys?”
    “I don’t think so. They should be in Omaha with Henry.” She glanced back toward the vineyard. “It could be anyone, I guess.”
    “Henry’s got his hands full with you.” Ben took his phone out. “I’ll let Leroy know. We’ll work at the hotel today.”
    “I’ll see you later,” she said and walked back to her truck. When she got back inside, she said, “They aren’t even surprised anymore, Obiwan. If anyone is going to die in three counties around here, I’m going to find them.” She slumped down in the seat and laid her head against the back rest. “I don’t want to tell Henry about this. He’s never going to leave town again.”
    But she started entering characters into her phone.
    I had to call Aaron. You aren’t going to be able to start at the construction site today. Leroy and Ben are working at the hotel. Call when you’re free.
    “There,” she said. “That ought to stir him up.”
    Aaron’s SUV pulled in to the cross street behind her and he got out, coming over to her truck.
    “I’ve called everyone in. Can you tell me where you found him?”
    Polly explained where it was located and said, “I think I should blame Lydia for this one,” Polly said.
    Aaron looked at her in surprise. “What do you mean?”
    “She’s the one who had a party about a murder at the winery. This is on her!”
    “I’ll let her know,” Aaron said. “I’m sure that will make her very happy.” He glanced around. “I guess we’re going to get to know those three boys a little better than we thought.”
    “Did you know them when they were in high school?”
    He grinned at her. “Of course I did. J. J. Roberts was always in trouble. He never did anything that could be considered criminal, but he put his parents through hell.”
    “Were you working in Boone back then?”
    “I wasn’t the Sheriff, but yes I was a young deputy in those days. Bellingwood police handled most of the trouble those boys got into, but every once in a while, they’d try their hand in the big city and my boss thought it would be good experience for me to deal with them.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I suppose you haven’t met any of their parents yet.” Aaron took a deep breath. “The Roberts’ family are good folk. J. J.‘s dad is a farmer north of town. But the boy hated farming and his mama didn’t have the wherewithal to make him do something he didn’t want to do. His daddy finally gave up on him and just let him do what he wanted. Ryan Williamson. Well, his family is another story. That boy had to work hard to come out of that family with any sanity. I’ll give him credit. He did more with his life than any of us expected. You probably know Millie and Van Stephens, don’t you?”
    Polly shook her head.
    “Well, Van is a good man. He’s a farmer and a professor down at Iowa State. His wife brought money into the family. Let’s just say that Patrick married his mother all over again. She’s always held that family out to be more than they are and has a tendency to look down her nose at anyone who works for a living. Patrick was a bit spoiled. He has a younger brother and an older sister. They’re not much better.”
    She’d never heard Aaron gossip like this and didn’t know what to make of it, so she kept her mouth shut and waited, but couldn’t contain the grin on her lips.
    “Oh stop laughing at me,” he said. “I pay attention to what’s going on around here, even if it’s Lydia who talks to everyone.”
    “I’m not saying a word.”
    “Don’t tell my wife, she’ll yell at me. She tells me that gossip isn’t very nice.”
    “She doesn’t let us do it either, but Beryl never really