think?” Holly asked.
“About what?”
Holly wanted to smack her friend with the obvious. Like the murder. Like the fact that the day before, Charlene had been the one to pull her down to the crime scene and give her tech spy glasses. Maybe she’d been poking around in Trent’s office.
“Any news from Trent?” Holly asked.
“Why?” Charlene raised an eyebrow. “Trouble in paradise?”
“Well...no.”
“I knew it,” Charlene complained. “I knew things would be great if you dated my son, but I also knew what would happen when things got rocky. You’d want answers from me. Well, trust me. I’m no Dr. Ruth.”
“Who?” Holly asked.
“Dr. Ruth—the sex therapist?” She shook her head. “Never mind.”
“I asked for news from Trent concerning the current murder investigation. Or have you forgotten?” Holly hated the hint of accusation in her tone of voice.
“Pfft. Have I forgotten.” Charlene stated it like it was a rhetorical question, the answer obvious.
Holly stifled a frustrated sigh. She admitted a truth. “My relationship with Trent always gets rocky during an investigation. Conflict of interest.”
“Maybe you should give up on the investigation, then.”
What? Holly couldn’t believe those blasphemous words left Charlene’s mouth. Her friend would never suggest backing down from sleuthing for a guy, even if it were her son. She could only sit and stare at Charlene.
“Depends on much you care about Trent. What you’re willing to let go of. Relationships are all about being flexible. Give and take.”
“Okay, where is Charlene and what have you done with her?”
This brought a slight smile. “People change.”
Yes, people did change, but usually, something happened to trigger a one-eighty turnabout. Holly couldn’t think of a thing. “Are your cats okay?”
“Yup.”
“Have you been to the doctor lately?”
“Yup.” Charlene hesitated, then said, “I’ve been thinking that we should invite Millicent back to book club. She does love mysteries. Her writing might be hopeless but she has a keen eye and she’s resourceful.”
“Sure thing.” This time it was Holly who resorted to sarcasm. She didn’t know how else to respond to the odd request, so she stood, on automatic, and pulled out supplies to make that smoothie. She softened the cream cheese and sliced it directly into the blender. She added the milk, vanilla, and frozen strawberries.
Without answering or letting Charlene sing Millicent’s praises anymore, Holly pressed Blend, finding great satisfaction in the grinding noise. There was so much, besides Millicent, she needed to share with Charlene. All the clues were piling up but not adding up. The murder victim purchasing land without telling his wife or business partner was hardly motivation for murder. What about Chip? His threats. And how he didn’t seem to have any connection to the Schillings. The fact Holly had gotten nowhere in the investigation.
She poured the thick pink smoothie into two glasses and put them on the table. She’d make three more batches if she had the supplies.
Charlene tasted it and forced a smile. “Needs work.” She wiped the pink mustache from her upper lip. “And, the girls and I agree that since you were the one who brought conflict into the mystery club, which led to Millicent’s dishonorable discharge, that you should be the one to invite her to the next meeting of the secret society.”
Holly was flabbergasted. Charlene wanted Millicent not only back in the book club but wanted Holly to invite her to the secret meetings where they discussed strategy?
“I know. It won’t be easy for you.” Charlene stood and pushed the chair back under the table. “I’m sure you’ll find a way.” She walked over to the door. “The next meeting is tomorrow. Noon. At The Tasty Bite , if Millicent will have us.
Holly’s jaw dropped.
Charlene shrugged. “Might be a good way to show her we mean it. And that we’re
“About what?”
Holly wanted to smack her friend with the obvious. Like the murder. Like the fact that the day before, Charlene had been the one to pull her down to the crime scene and give her tech spy glasses. Maybe she’d been poking around in Trent’s office.
“Any news from Trent?” Holly asked.
“Why?” Charlene raised an eyebrow. “Trouble in paradise?”
“Well...no.”
“I knew it,” Charlene complained. “I knew things would be great if you dated my son, but I also knew what would happen when things got rocky. You’d want answers from me. Well, trust me. I’m no Dr. Ruth.”
“Who?” Holly asked.
“Dr. Ruth—the sex therapist?” She shook her head. “Never mind.”
“I asked for news from Trent concerning the current murder investigation. Or have you forgotten?” Holly hated the hint of accusation in her tone of voice.
“Pfft. Have I forgotten.” Charlene stated it like it was a rhetorical question, the answer obvious.
Holly stifled a frustrated sigh. She admitted a truth. “My relationship with Trent always gets rocky during an investigation. Conflict of interest.”
“Maybe you should give up on the investigation, then.”
What? Holly couldn’t believe those blasphemous words left Charlene’s mouth. Her friend would never suggest backing down from sleuthing for a guy, even if it were her son. She could only sit and stare at Charlene.
“Depends on much you care about Trent. What you’re willing to let go of. Relationships are all about being flexible. Give and take.”
“Okay, where is Charlene and what have you done with her?”
This brought a slight smile. “People change.”
Yes, people did change, but usually, something happened to trigger a one-eighty turnabout. Holly couldn’t think of a thing. “Are your cats okay?”
“Yup.”
“Have you been to the doctor lately?”
“Yup.” Charlene hesitated, then said, “I’ve been thinking that we should invite Millicent back to book club. She does love mysteries. Her writing might be hopeless but she has a keen eye and she’s resourceful.”
“Sure thing.” This time it was Holly who resorted to sarcasm. She didn’t know how else to respond to the odd request, so she stood, on automatic, and pulled out supplies to make that smoothie. She softened the cream cheese and sliced it directly into the blender. She added the milk, vanilla, and frozen strawberries.
Without answering or letting Charlene sing Millicent’s praises anymore, Holly pressed Blend, finding great satisfaction in the grinding noise. There was so much, besides Millicent, she needed to share with Charlene. All the clues were piling up but not adding up. The murder victim purchasing land without telling his wife or business partner was hardly motivation for murder. What about Chip? His threats. And how he didn’t seem to have any connection to the Schillings. The fact Holly had gotten nowhere in the investigation.
She poured the thick pink smoothie into two glasses and put them on the table. She’d make three more batches if she had the supplies.
Charlene tasted it and forced a smile. “Needs work.” She wiped the pink mustache from her upper lip. “And, the girls and I agree that since you were the one who brought conflict into the mystery club, which led to Millicent’s dishonorable discharge, that you should be the one to invite her to the next meeting of the secret society.”
Holly was flabbergasted. Charlene wanted Millicent not only back in the book club but wanted Holly to invite her to the secret meetings where they discussed strategy?
“I know. It won’t be easy for you.” Charlene stood and pushed the chair back under the table. “I’m sure you’ll find a way.” She walked over to the door. “The next meeting is tomorrow. Noon. At The Tasty Bite , if Millicent will have us.
Holly’s jaw dropped.
Charlene shrugged. “Might be a good way to show her we mean it. And that we’re
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