Page 90 of Hearts Aweigh
“Brace yourselves, girls.” Emily’s gaze slid to Gerry. “Our dear friend is being extorted for murder.”
“Grandma!” Maddie’s excited voice called. “I got it.” She raced down the stairs with a storybook, hurried to the couch, and climbed between Daisy and Althea.
The four ladies exchanged a look, and Gerry and Emily withdrew to the kitchen.
“My, my,” Althea cooed to the little girl. “You chose a good one. I love this story.”
Daisy opened the picture book and began to read aloud.
Emily leaned on the island and lowered her voice. “The culprit tipped their hand this time.” She pointed at the note. “It says you wouldn’t want the police to go digging up your vegetable garden. Isn’t that part of the mystery novel you’re writing?”
“Yes,” Gerry whispered. “That plot point is brand-new. I wrote the murderer’s confession this morning, right before you joined me in the library. If someone didn’t know better, they might mistake it for a diary entry.”
Emily nodded. “Are you certain you haven’t mentioned the story or shown it to anyone else?”
“Positive. When I left the library, I put the notebook in my bag, meaning to type the new paragraphs on my laptop after lunch, but we got distracted by Spencer’s reemergence.”
“Is it still there?”
Gerry fetched her bag and withdrew the spiral-bound notebook with the red cover. She fanned through the pages. “As far as I can tell, it hasn’t been touched.”
“This makes no sense. Why would someone think you’re a murderer unless they’ve read that so-called confession?”
“And we’ve yet to discover how they found out about Daisy’s affair,” Gerry declared.
Daisy’s voice faltered. Althea grabbed her hand and read the story where her friend had left off. Daisy rose and moved to join Emily and Gerry. She stood in front of them, her body blocking her granddaughter from the conversation.
“Sorry.” Gerry winced. “I didn’t mean to dredge up the past.”
Daisy’s pinched lips relaxed.
“Whooo-eee.” In the living room, Althea stretched her arms. “What a good story. Why don’t you find us another book to read?”
Maddie hurried upstairs.
Althea scooted to the kitchen and put her arm around her roomie. “You good?”
Daisy crumpled. “It was my error in judgment. I deserve the shame.”
“Nonsense.” Althea swatted her back. “We talked about this, Daisy Mae. Once you repent, it’s under the blood. The Bible promises complete forgiveness. Feeling guilty isn’t part of the deal.”
Emily withdrew her phone and opened a note-taking app. “Daisy, do you have any papers that mention your … past?”
“Mercy, no,” Daisy snapped. “It’s hardly something I’m proud of, and I prefer not to dwell on it.”
“Did you tell anyone besides Althea?”
“No.” Daisy tugged at her necklace, sliding the miniature pendant watch on the chain. “She’s my only confidante. We spoke of it twice. One night in our cabin after I’d experienced a distressing nightmare and then the next day when she accompanied me to the spa. My nerves were overwrought, so I booked an aromatherapy massage.”
“I sat and talked while she got the fancy stuff,” Althea said.
Emily typed with both thumbs. “Althea, did you ever mention it to anyone else?”
Althea’s broad nostrils flared at the implication. “What do you take me for? A snitch?”
“Forgive me, dear.” Emily typed away. “I’m trying to be thorough.” She set her phone down. “A crew member might have overheard you in the spa. Was anyone else there?”
Daisy shook her head. “The masseuse had already left. No one else was in the room.”
