A Little Yuletide Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

moments. I don’t suppose there’s anyone who’s lived here for any length of time who hasn’t been crossed by him. At any rate, all everyone is talking about is that Jake murdered Rory Brent.”
    I sat in a chair in front of the fireplace and looked into flames that were building. I understood her concern. Once a rumor gets legs, as they say, it’s like the proverbial snowball rolling down hill. It suddenly struck me that Cynthia might be worried that townspeople would take matters into their own hands. I asked her if that was on her mind.
    “Oh, no, I don’t think so, Jess. People here aren’t like that.”
    “You never know,” Seth said sternly.
    “Certainly not at this time of year,” I said. “It’s almost Christmas. Peace on earth. Goodwill toward men.”
    “And women,” Cynthia added.
    “And women,” I said.
    “You might be forgetting one thing,” said Seth.
    “What’s that?” I asked.
    “It wasn’t just Rory Brent, a farmer, who’s been killed. It was Santa Claus.”
    Initially, his comment struck me as funny. But it occurred to me just as quickly that there was a certain metaphorical truth to what he’d said. Rory Brent had become synonymous with Santa Claus in Cabot Cove. He was an icon, a man loved throughout the year, but revered once he donned his red Santa costume with its furry white trim, floppy red-and-white hat, and shiny black boots.
    I stood and paced the room. “If what you say is true—and I agree there could be a problem having people running around already convicting Jake Walther—then what we have to do is come up with a quick plan to put it to rest. Any suggestions?”
    “Maybe you should tell us what happened out at Rory’s farm when you and Mort went out there,” Seth said.
    I thought for a moment, then said, “Well, there isn’t much to say. The county police were there. It seems there’s a little jurisdictional dispute between Mort and them. Patricia arrived while we were there. She was down visiting a cousin in Salem. She hadn’t known about Rory’s death. It wasn’t pleasant being the ones to break the news. I came back in town with Mort and Robert Brent.”
    “You did?” said Cynthia.
    “Yes. Mort wanted to interview him and thought headquarters was the best place to do it. He came readily enough.”
    “A bad seed, that boy,” said Seth.
    “Not terribly friendly, I agree, but I don’t want to jump to conclusions about him the way you say others are ready to hang Jake Walther. Bob Brent has been telling Mort that he’s convinced Jake killed his father. Not that that means anything. Mort asked him whether he had seen Jake do it, and Bob said he hadn’t. He and Mort are at police headquarters as we speak.”
    “I was thinking of calling an emergency meeting of the town board,” Cynthia said. “Make it an open meeting, invite the public. What do you think?”
    I shrugged. “I’m not sure it would accomplish much, Cynthia. It might even fan the flames. Maybe it’s better to let it settle down on its own.”
    “Seems to me the only thing will settle it down is if Mort’s investigation rules out Jake,” said Seth. “Until that happens, people will be looking at him like he’s a murderer.”
    “Has anyone seen Jake since this happened?” I asked.
    Seth and Cynthia shook their heads.
    “I’m sure Mort will make interviewing Jake one of his top priorities, especially since Robert Brent is so adamant about pointing a finger at him. Maybe the best thing is to make Mort aware, if he isn’t already, of the sentiment in town, and urge him to work as quickly as possible to either clear Jake or arrest him.”
    “Good suggestion,” said Cynthia. “Would you call Mort?”
    “Of course,” I said. “Let me give him a little time with Bob Brent before I do.”
    Our conversation was interrupted by the whistling teakettle. After I’d served them and myself, I said, “Anything else on the agenda?”
    “Matter of fact, there is,” said Seth.
    My