Bernadine Fagan - Nora Lassiter 02 - Murder in the Maine Woods Read Online Free PDF

said. “Did you taste those buns she made for the pot luck supper? Even I couldn’t eat them. I think she used motor oil instead of canola oil. Imagine the headlines: Murder by Bun.”
    “A gun,” Hannah corrected. “Maybe she used a gun. You’re not wearing your hearing aid.”
    Agnes tilted her head. “A gun. Well, that would have been my first choice, too. Certainly easier than cooking.”
    “She’d never use a knife ,” Ida said. “Too close. Too iffy.”
    Did they see me? Was I not sitting here?
    “Natural causes then,” Hannah decided. “Most likely a heart attack or stroke. So it’s safe to tell Nora.”
    All three looked at me. Finally.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    FOUR
     
     
    “It happened about three years ago,” Hannah began, adjusting her scarf. “Agnes is right about that. It was before her gall bladder operation. I remember. We left our senior citizens’ meeting early because she suffered one of her acid reflux attacks.”
    “I st ill say it was that horrible fried chicken. Must have been soaked in fat,” Ida said.
    Agnes nodded in agreement.
    “We saw Buster kissing a woman outside the church after choir practice,” Hannah said.
    “What fire was that? I don’t remember any fire.” Agnes shook her head. “Believe-you-me, I would have remembered that, gall bladder attack or not.”
    “They were under the big weeping beech next to the church. Imagine. Doing that right next to the church. And his wife still alive,” Hannah said.
    “Adultery. Near God’s house. It’s a wonder the tree wasn’t struck by lightning and didn’t crash down on their heads,” Ida said. “They thought no one could see them, all those draping branches and leaves to hide them. We just happened along.”
    “Did light ning start the fire?” Agnes asked.
    “Choir,” Hannah corrected. “Choir, not fire.”
    “Maybe it was his wife?” I suggested.
    “Oh, no. Not his wife,” Ida said, heading for the hall. She stopped in the doorway. “Too short. This woman only reached his shoulder. No more. His wife was tall, almost his height. Besides, his wife wasn’t in the choir. We’re not sure who it was.”
    “It was dark and those branches were in the way,” Agnes said. “I wanted to move closer and you both stopped me.”
    “We don’t abide snooping,” Hannah said, lifting her chin a notch.
    “We don’t gossip, either,” Ida said.
    Agnes smirked and reached for another cracker. “We did want to snoop, though. And I don’t know about you two, but I wanted to gossip.”
    “But you didn’t and that’s what’s important,” Ida said.
    “We’ve never shared this with a soul,” Hannah said.
    “This happened three years ago? Not much help,” I said.
    They all shrugged. Then Hannah said, “Who knows how long he carried on after that. All we can say is it was probably someone in the choir. And his wife was still alive at the time.”
    We all headed to the kitchen. The incredible aroma of warm honeyed ham and simmering baked beans wafted down the hall pointing the way. For one crazy moment I closed my eyes and let my nose lead me. Seconds later, common sense prevailed. I caught myself before I bumped into Hannah, who was behind Agnes who was behind Ida.
    Everyone helped get the food on the table.
    “I don’t use salt pork in my beans anymore,” Ida announced as she set a bowl of beans on the table. “Just so you know.”
    Agnes made a throaty noise of disapproval. “What’s gotten into you, Ida? I never heard of such a thing. I probably won’t like them. Baked beans need salt pork and that’s that.”
    Hannah shook her head. “You’re turning into quite the risk taker, Ida.”
    “I’ll try them anyway,” Agnes said, “but only a few.”
    “Tell me what you know about Buster,” I said, filling the water glasses.
    Hannah set the salad down and said, “For years he was wrapped up in his river tours, his hunting and fishing and such. Worked at the All-Season Wilderness Lodge