Elizabeth C. Main - Jane Serrano 01 - Murder of the Month Read Online Free PDF Page A

the book in his hands.
    My efforts were in vain. Alix had abandoned the window and ambled over to the group. “You really think Gil is devastated that Vanessa’s gone, Minnie?” she asked. “Rumor has it that there are a few women around who would dispute that.”
    Minnie flicked a glance at Tyler. “That’s just a rumor, Alix, and people do change.”
    “ Not that much they don’t. Doesn’t the Bible say something about a leopard not changing his spots? Remember, I went to high school with Gil and—”
    “ Well then,” I said briskly, “if nobody is ready to talk books, maybe we should just call it a night … all things considered.”
    Minnie spoke as though she hadn’t even heard my suggestion. “You’re saying terrible things, Alix.”
    “ Doesn’t mean they’re not true,” Alix countered. “Maybe Vanessa is better off dead than married to Gil.”
    Minnie gasped. “You think that she … she jumped off that cliff?”
    “ No, of course not. I just wouldn’t want to be married to him. Don’t get all melodramatic here.” Alix picked up her wallet in preparation for departure. “Could be she even loved him, for all I know.”
    Minnie sputtered in outrage. “And why wouldn’t she? He’s going to be the next Attorney General of Oregon. He’s handsome, talented, intelligent—”
    “ All those things, and a few others besides.”
    “ But everybody knows they’d put their problems behind them.”
    “ I thought you said those were just rumors.”
    “ Well, I’m sure they were. Besides, Arlene transferred to San Francisco over a year ago.”
    “ I didn’t even know about Arlene. Gil always did like blondes though. Maybe if we pool our rumors, we can each come up with a different blonde.” Alix continued, “I was thinking of—”
    “ Don’t say it. Don’t say it.” Minnie put her hands up as if to cover her ears, but mainly succeeded in covering her face with the scarves. Peering out from behind them, she recited, “‘Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.’”
    Alix gave Minnie a long, incredulous look and then shrugged. “Well, Minnie, it’s certainly very Christian of you to take that attitude … in the face of all available evidence. I guess that’s where faith comes in—but you’d better toss in some hope and charity to go with it. All I’m saying is that I’d be surprised if Vanessa hadn’t figured out that being married to Gil wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.”
    “ Wait a minute, both of you!” Bianca’s abrupt words startled Wendell into a frantic scramble to get out from under the table, where he had continued his hunt for food.
    I tried to head her off. “Yes, in fact, let’s wait more than a minute. We’ve all had plenty for one night.”
    Bianca continued earnestly, “No, that’s not what I meant. Sorry, Wendell. Didn’t mean to scare you.” She stroked him before continuing. “Mom, I know what you’re trying to do, but I just can’t let this go.” She turned to the rest of the group and said, “I told Mom something earlier, and she doesn’t want me to tell you about it, but it’s important. I read a book—”
    “ Oh, no. Not the dog detectives again,” Alix said.
    “ You haven’t been willing to read even one book in that series—”
    “ And I don’t intend to—”
    “ See? That’s the problem, Alix. You’re just like Mom, so closed to anything new that you miss opportunities to see things from a different perspective, things that might be right in front of your face.”
    “ And you want me to find opportunities to expand my consciousness by studying dog droppings or whatever?” Alix asked.
    “ I’m not talking about dog droppings—”
    “ Well, that’s a relief—”
    “— and trying to expand your consciousness is pretty much a lost cause! But if you pay attention to what animals have to tell us, you might learn something. I’m not kidding. Dogs in particular can be very perceptive.”
    “ Oh my god,