Death at a Drop-In Read Online Free PDF Page A

put down the tea pitcher, nearly dropping it on the floor in the process. “Maybe we should look for her.”
    Miles sighed and Myrtle said quickly, “I think we should.  Although she might very well be in your bedroom with Noah.  You saw that your grandson was here, didn’t you?”
    This information seemed to be a surprise to Lucas, too.  “Noah?  How did he get here?  I haven’t seen Joan.”
    “Joan is here somewhere—I think.  At any rate, we saw Joan arrive with Noah, but we haven’t seen her for a while.  Cosette found a teenager to look after Noah,” said Myrtle.  Lucas was truly looking puzzled and she said quickly, “Let’s look around for both of them.”
    The first place they checked was the master bedroom.  A bored-looking teen gave them a quick smile as they entered.  Toddler Noah was playing with a coloring book—in theory, anyway.  He seemed to be tasting all the different colors of crayons. There was no sight of Cosette or Joan and the teenager hadn’t seen either one since she’d been asked by Cosette to watch Noah.
    As they left the room, Myrtle muttered to Miles.  “Genius.  Right. He’s busy eating his crayons”
    “Is that still bothering you?” said Miles.
    “It is.  Jack is just as smart as little Noah and I don’t feel the need to go blabbing around town about his brilliance.  Cosette is so—”
    “Annoying,” said Miles.
    Annoying—and missing.  They looked for her in the crowded living room, the dining room, and even knocked on the hall bathroom to make sure she wasn’t in there.  Everyone had seen her, but no one had seen her recently.
    Lucas’s face appeared strained.  They’d retreated back to the kitchen to talk, since they could barely hear each other in the other rooms.  “Where could she have gone?  And during a drop-in? That’s not like her.  She’s always a good hostess.”
    Myrtle said, “The only place we haven’t checked is outside.  She’s clearly not inside.”
    “Why on earth would she go outside? I mean—she’s an outdoor person, but why now?” He gave a rough laugh.  “I don’t go outside at all myself anymore—gardening never caught on for me.”
    “Who knows?” asked Myrtle impatiently.  “But we should check.  And we should make sure her car is here, too.”
    “I can’t imagine Cosette driving away from a party ,” said Lucas.
    “Maybe she suddenly realized y’all were out of ice or something,” said Miles.  “It happens.”
    They walked out the kitchen door onto the back porch and into the attached garage.  Cosette’s sedan was still there.  “I didn’t think she would leave,” said Lucas.  “But where is she?”
    “Can you turn on any lights that will shine in the backyard?” asked Myrtle.  “It’s the only place we haven’t checked.”  She gripped her cane.  She was fairly sturdy on her feet, really.  Just not on soil. 
    Lucas obediently stepped into the kitchen and flipped some switches, and lights came on at the back corners of the ranch house and outside the back porch.  Myrtle peered into the darkness.  There was a dark lump on the ground near the line of trees leading down to the lake. 
    Myrtle gripped her cane and opened the screen door, moving carefully into the yard.  “Do y’all see something there? On the ground…near the woods?”  
    Lucas froze in place as Myrtle and Miles hurried forward. 
    It was Cosette, sprawled face-first on the damp ground.  A bloody croquet mallet lay next to her.
     

Chapter Four
     
    Lucas Whitlow seemed intent on leaping across the yard and completely mucking up the crime scene.
    Fortunately, Miles was able to hold his arm and stop him.  “Lucas, there’s nothing you can do now.  I’m so sorry.  Let’s go inside and call the police right away.  We need to find out who did this, and treading into the crime scene won’t help.”
    The poor man was completely devastated, trembling all over.  “Are you sure?  There’s no