Page 53 of Murder on the Page

Tegan’s cell phone pinged again. “It’s Vanna. She can’t make it. She’ll touch base tomorrow.”

The door to the shop opened. Noeline strolled in. Rick followed. Each was holding a to-go cup from Ragamuffin.

“Darling,” Noeline said to Tegan. “I stopped by to tell you all the memorial invites have gone out via email, and nearly everyone has responded yes. I’ve sent you and Allie emails as well, with a head count. I think it’s about a hundred.”

“A hundred?” I whistled. I’d have to enhance my menu and freeze some baked goods along the way so I’d have enough for everyone. Luckily, I had plenty of time before the event. “The bookshop will be crowded,” I said.

“I could apply for an ordinance to allow tables outside,” Tegan suggested.

“You’ll need to rent heaters.”

“Nah. People around here can handle the cool spring weather,” she said. “We’re cold-blooded.”

“Oh, my,” Noeline responded.

“Not cold-blooded inthatway, Mother. Not in the murder-mystery kind of way.”

Noeline said, “At least, we can rest assured knowing everyone we’re inviting isn’t a murderer.”

Rick said, “How can you be certain?”

Tegan blinked. “He’s right. One might be. Allie, you and I have to keep coming up with suspects.”

Noeline gawked. “You two are discussing this?”

“Allie is investigating.” Tegan hooked her thumb in my direction. “I’m her sounding board.”

I swatted her. “I am not investigating. Not officially. But I am trying to come up with theories that I can share with the police.”

Noeline frowned. “The last I knew, neither of you attended the police academy.”

“Mo-om,”Tegan carped, stretching out the word. “We want answers.”

“We all do, darling. Even so, that’s no reason for you to put yourselves in harm’s way.”

“Relax, sweetheart,” Rick said. “They’re bright young women. They’ll be fine.” He slung an arm around her and gave her a supportive squeeze. “I’m going to use the restroom. I’ll be right out. Then let’s go to Mosaic. You said there’s something you wanted to see there.”

Mosaic was a fine-arts shop down the street.

“Yes, let’s.”

For the next minute, Tegan filled her mother in on what we’d learned at the bank. Noeline wasn’t surprised by the value of Marigold’s estate. She and her sister had regularly discussed finances.

After she and Rick left, I opened the email Noeline had sent the two of us, and the idea that I’d raised in the car resurfaced. “We need to check your aunt’s messages and such.”

“I told you, the police took her iPhone.”

“Do you know if she was set up for iCloud services? If so, her messages will be stored in the cloud, meaning we can see them on any device.”

“You’re right. Follow me.” She led me to the office, which was fitted with a desk; a metal storage bin; two oak cabinets, which held Marigold’s antiquated card catalogue files; a hermetically-designed bookshelf filled with rare books; a pegboard for receipts; and a whiteboard for orders.

On the desk stood Marigold’s laptop computer, a Rolodex, and an in-and-out box for orders. I sat in the chair and awakened the computer. I sighed when I realized I needed a password to access it. I asked Tegan if she knew it.

“Type prejudice.” She spelled out.“P-r-e-j-u-d-i-c-e.”

“Really?” I gawked. “Her password is ‘prejudice’?”

Tegan said, “Would you have guessed it?”

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