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

herself by the front door to make sure no one got past her.  The only thing she didn’t do was to tell everyone what had happened.  Because Red had somehow forgotten that in a small town like Bradley, news of murder spread like wildfire.
    Sure enough, within minutes, the raucous laughter had all quieted down into solemn murmurs as the guests tried to figure out what was going on.   When they approached the door, Myrtle told them that Red had said that no one could leave until he’d spoken with everyone.
    Miles came up to Myrtle, looking irritated, reaching for the front door handle.  “Miles, Red said no one can leave yet.”
    He frowned at her.  “Myrtle, I’ve got to get some air.  It’s getting too hot in here with all these bodies packed together.”
    “I’m not sure that bodies is the right word to use.”
    “Regardless.  It’s not like Red can’t find me.  I just want to get outside for a while,” said Miles.
    “How was Lucas doing?”
    “About how you’d expect.  He really seemed to love Cosette, so he’s very broken up about this.”
    Myrtle said, “Where is he?  Is he talking with Red?”
    “No, I took him to their bedroom so that he could be away from everyone.  The last I saw, he was playing with blocks with Noah and seemed to be trying really hard to hold himself together,” said Miles.  He pulled the door open.  “Don’t worry, I’ll tell Red that I forced myself past you if he asks.”
    He stopped short as he was about to step through the door and made a face. Myrtle pivoted around to see what he was staring at. There was an overflowing bag of trash on the front porch, blocking the way.  “I guess Lucas couldn’t handle hosting duties so perfectly, after all.”
     
    It was taking a while for Red to interview everyone there.
    “It’s a large party. It might take a while,” said Myrtle.
    Miles had decided that perhaps he should stay at the drop-in after all. “I wouldn’t think Red would have to question everyone , though.  Wouldn’t he immediately try to ascertain whether they’d seen or heard anything, then let them go?”
    “Who knows?” said Myrtle gloomily.  “He tries to keep me in the dark when it comes to his investigating techniques.  I’m sure he’ll get to us soon.” 
    Miles deflated.  Myrtle said, “Don’t be tiresome, Miles. You’re the one who wanted to come to this party.
    “Yes, but I never thought I’d be stuck here all night.”
     “Come on, let’s find ourselves a snack while we’re waiting for Red,” said Myrtle, pulling Miles by his sleeve.
    Unfortunately, the food on the dining room table had been decimated.  Except for Myrtle’s spinach dip.  “Well, at least the dip is left, Miles. It’s barely been touched. Although the silly people ate all the crackers and left the dip!”
    One of the guests overheard her and turned around, “Better keep away from that dip, Miss Myrtle.  It’s lethal.  I don’t know who brought it, but they went way overboard with the mayonnaise. The whole thing was mayonnaise, actually, with small bits of spinach in it. It was pretty sickening.”
    Myrtle frowned fiercely, but decided not to claim the dip as her own. Miles finally cracked his first smile of the evening.
    And, after all of that, even the interview was cut and dried. 
    Red had claimed the kitchen as a temporary police station and listened carefully as Myrtle and Miles explained how they’d looked for Cosette to tell her goodbye and had finally resorted to looking in the backyard.  “How long was it before you noticed that Cosette was missing?” he asked.
    Miles and Myrtle stared at each other.  “Maybe forty-five minutes?” guessed Myrtle.  “The last we saw her, she was setting little Noah up with a babysitter.  I don’t think I saw her after that.”
    “And shortly afterward, Lucas stepped in with the hosting duties,” said Miles.  “So it wasn’t very long.”
    “Did you notice if anyone was conspicuously