Murder by Arrangement (Edna Davies mysteries Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

her herb garden.
    “I’ll never
forget the feeling of isolation when my new friends and neighbors made up all
sorts of excuses to avoid coming to my home. If they did visit, they refused to
eat or drink anything and left as soon as politely possible. I don’t know what
was worse, the police questioning me or the silent accusations of everyone
around me.”
    Rosie’s head
nodded in slow agreement with Edna’s description of the helplessness she’d
felt. Sudden tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill over. “I know,” she
said in an unsteady voice. “It isn’t fair. I was never arrested.” She emitted
an unsteady sigh. “There are times I wish they had charged me.”
    “Oh, no, Rosie.
Don’t ever say that,” Edna urged.
    “Were you arrested?” Irene, still wary, studied Edna’s face.
    “No, dear.
Fortunately, the real killer was caught before it came to that. I had a narrow
escape, though.” Thinking to offset the startling news for Irene, Edna added,
“It’s when and how I met Charlie Rogers for the first time.”
    Before Irene
could respond, Rosie spoke. “The police never formally said Gregory didn’t
commit suicide, so the insurance company refused to pay me his life insurance.
They also never said he was murdered, but the reporters all implied it, so it’s
hanging over my head.” She was playing with her spoon and looking at neither
Edna nor Irene. It was almost as though she were speaking to herself.
    “Is the case
still open?” Edna asked.
    “It’s what they
call a ‘cold case.’ Not officially closed but I don’t think anyone’s been
working on it.” Rosie paused before adding, “Until recently, that is. The first
detective who questioned me at the time showed up several weeks ago.” She
sighed as she gazed across at Edna. “I called his department to complain, but
they told me he retired last year. Whatever he’s doing has nothing to do with
them, so I don’t know why he’s asking questions again.” Her mouth twisted in a
bitter smile. “I feel like I’m his pet project and he has nothing else to do.”
    “Maybe he
discovered new evidence.” Edna had read that there had been at least two other
suspects, but she wanted to hear what Rosie had to say. Suddenly realizing how
painful the retelling must be for her, Edna hurriedly asked, “Do you mind
discussing it?”
    Studying Edna’s
face, Rosie paused as if to consider her answer. Edna was beginning to think
the woman would remain silent when she gave a brief nod. “After hearing your
story, I think I can talk about what happened to me.” Still, she remained
silent for a minute, staring at the nearly empty soup bowl in front of her.
    When Rosie
cleared her throat as if ready to speak, tears again glistened in her eyes, and
when her voice cracked, Irene stood abruptly. She bent and put her arms around
her neighbor’s shoulders, giving her a quick hug. Then, glancing at Edna, she
said, “Why don’t we take our tea into the living room where we’ll be more
comfortable.”
    Realizing her
daughter-in-law was giving Rosie time to gain control of her emotions, Edna
stood to help gather cups. As she did so, she caught Irene’s eye, winked and
smiled her approval. In the living room, she sat at the opposite end of a sofa
from Rosie and shifted slightly to face the woman. They were seated before a
small gas fireplace which Irene turned on to take the winter chill off the room
before she settled into a stuffed chair at right angles to both Edna and the
hearth.
    After taking a
slow sip of her tea, Rosie put her cup on the coffee table and sat back to rub
her forehead, as if scrubbing away a headache. “It’s hard to know where to begin,”
she said.
    “What happened
between you two? Why did the police think you might have had something to do
with your husband’s death?” Edna suggested.
    The younger
woman’s eyes shifted toward Edna, but without focus as if looking into the
past. She shrugged. “They asked me what I