Page 13 of A Dark and Stormy Night

Water spilled all over the Italian linen tablecloth.

“I’m so clumsy!” she lamented. “I’ve made a mess. I’m so sorry! Can you forgive me?”

He was on his feet, clutching her water glass. He looked at her as if she was some kind of exotic animal, then he kissed her on the top of her head. “No problem. I can easily fix this. Now … go ahead and enjoy your dinner. I’ll be back with another glass of water, and you can tell me what’s wrong.”

“It’s okay. I may have figured it out.”

“Right. You’re smart. You don’t need me for much. You figure out everything on your own.” He headed into the kitchen.

She waited until he was out of sight.

Then she switched the plates.

***

The next afternoon, Kateri sat at the lunch counter.

Rainbow leaned an elbow against the chrome napkin holder.

They both stared at Cornelia Markum.

Half the town was in the Oceanview Café, staring at Cornelia.

Cornelia, who sat at her usual table, frowning at her laptop.

“What’s she doing?” Rainbow asked.

“She looks like she’s working,” Kateri said.

“Her husband died last night,” Rainbow said.

Kateri looked at Rainbow. “He poisoned himself.”

The two women returned to staring at Cornelia.

“Word is,” Kateri said, “she tried to tell Sheriff Foster someone was going to murder someone, and when she couldn’t come up with the names, he threatened to arrest her for hacking.”

Rainbow looked sheepish. “She asked me who to tell about a murder. I asked if she was writing a book.”

Both women laughed semi-hysterically.

“As I understand it,” Kateri said, “she looked down and recognized the menu. She distracted Mason and switched the plates. She figured it wouldn’t matter as long as he hadn’t added poison to her food.”

“But he had.”

“And he’s dead.”

“And there she sits, working.”

Silence.

“I mean … they were married for a long time.” Kateri looked at Rainbow. “You said she loved him.”

“I think she did.”

“He tried to kill her. Couldn’t we have some angst? Or melodrama? Or … something?”

“Not while she’s working.”

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