Murder by Arrangement (Edna Davies mysteries Book 5) by Suzanne Young

wining and dining the young woman he had recently employed as
his office assistant. To get even, Farren mentioned her suspicions to Rosie
about young Bobbi Callahan, a sophomore at the nearby university.
    Before Edna got
side-tracked with the young girlfriend, she clicked on one of the items that
had come up for Farren McCree. In part, the article was a rundown of her
actions on the days leading up to the discovery of Haverstrum’s body. It
revealed no more than what Rosie had told Edna. Farren had reportedly visited
Gregory Haverstrum’s apartment on the afternoon he died, but hadn’t stayed
long.
    Edna was
disappointed. Nothing much of significance was divulged, so she closed the
article, making a mental note to ask both Mary and Charlie what they knew of
the woman. Edna was scanning other McCree items for any detail she might have
missed, when she heard voices coming from the kitchen. She switched the screen
to her message in-box just before Amanda came rushing into the room, followed
seconds later by Starling.
    Edna didn’t feel
guilty about investigating the scandal or the people involved, but she didn’t
know if Amanda knew about the case or about Lettie’s family’s history. If the
subject ever arose, Edna would rather talk face-to-face with her granddaughter
than have the child see lists of news headlines with her friend’s name on a
computer screen.
    “Can we call
Lettie now?” Amanda said, picking up Benjamin from the chair beside the desk.
She draped the ginger cat over her shoulder and stroked his back as she sat
down. He, apparently, didn’t like this new arrangement because he eased himself
onto the chair back and pushed off from Amanda’s shoulder onto the window ledge
where he sat in a small spot of sun and began to wash a front paw.
    Edna was
surprised to see by her desk clock that it was nearly ten. “I think it’s late
enough. Let me find my garden club list of phone numbers.” As she hunted
through papers in a basket beside the computer monitor, she asked, “What are
you planning to do today?”
    Amanda shrugged.
“I dunno. Play with the kittens, I guess.”
    Starling,
leaning against the door jamb, hands thrust into the pockets of her blue woolen
slacks, said, “How about a drive to Point Judith Lighthouse? The waves will be
amazing in this wind. We could go to Iggy’s for lunch. What do you say? They
have the best clamcakes,” she added as if to persuade her niece.
    Amanda’s eyes
lit up. “Yeah. Cool, Auntie Starling.”
    Without looking
up from what she was doing, Edna said, “Pick another lunch place. The Iggy’s at
Point Judith closes for the winter.” Ignoring the resulting duet of groans,
Edna found the phone list and glanced over at Amanda. “If we ask Lettie, we
should invite her grandmother, too.”
    “I guess,”
Amanda said with a definite lack of enthusiasm.
    Starling
chuckled at her niece’s lackluster reply and said, “Sure. Why not?”
    Lily answered on
the third ring. After preliminary greetings, Edna mentioned their plans for the
morning, asking if she and Lettie would like to join them.
    “I have some
things to do today, but I’m sure Violet would enjoy the outing. All she’s done
since breakfast is sit around and play with her phone.”
    Edna had the
impression that Lettie was within earshot of her grandmother’s remark. “I’m
sorry you’re not able to join us, but we’ll be by in half an hour to get
Violet.” Edna was careful to use the name Lily seemed to insist on calling her
granddaughter. Hanging up, she studied Amanda’s scoop-necked jersey and light
cardigan, “The wind will be stronger and colder near the water. You might want
to wear your hoodie.”
    “Okay.” Amanda
jumped up, heading into the hall and up the stairs.
    Starling slipped
into the chair vacated by her niece. Benjamin stepped gingerly from the window
sill to her shoulder and slid into her lap. She scratched along his jawline,
but seemed preoccupied.
    “What’s on