Murder is the Pits Read Online Free PDF Page B

program, probably sequestered in Timbuktu.”
    Rich Wheeler was a man Penny Sue fell in
love with on our last trip. Unfortunately, Rich got mixed up with
some very rough bikers who were engaged in scary activities. They
nearly killed Rich, so the Feds shuttled him away for his own
safety. How long that would last, no one knew; but Rich vowed he’d
return to Penny Sue one day.
    “Sorry, Rich was my first thought. Pink
roses stand for admiration.”
    “Admiration? I’ll bet it was Yuri,” I
said.
    “Who’s Yuri?” Ruthie asked.
    “A sleazy realtor who wants to buy up the
complex. He’s trying to butter you up,” I said to Penny Sue.
    “Sleazy? I thought he was a nice guy. Not
bad looking, either.” Penny Sue studied the rose smugly. “He helped
us bring in the groceries.” She paused again, the wheels in her
head whirring. “Admiration. What stands for love?”
    “Red roses.”
    Penny Sue grinned. “I’ll bet it was Yuri. Rich would have sent a red rose.”
    “Does that mean Rich is history?” I
asked.
    “No,” she snapped, her brows knitting. “Even
though I love Rich, it doesn’t mean I have to check into a nunnery.
Nothing wrong with an occasional date until he gets home. After
all, we’re not married.”
    True, she wasn’t married or even officially
engaged. Besides, flirting to Penny Sue was akin to breathing, an
involuntary biological process. I was certain she’d been faithful
to all three of her husbands—even the two who didn’t return the
favor—still, she’d always been a flirt. The thrill of victory, I
supposed, to see how many men she could attract. And lord knows,
that was a lot.
    A loud horn blared, and Penny Sue’s romances
were instantly forgotten. Lu Nee 2 whirled in circles, demanding,
“Halt! Who goes there?” The Furby woke up too, moaning, “Big sound,
scare me!”
    Ruthie, Penny Sue, and I stood like
slack-jawed fools, trying to figure out where the sound came from.
Then, a loud male voice boomed, “At two forty-five, Volusia County
issued a mandatory evacuation for all mobile and manufactured
homes.”
    The weather radio! We rushed to the
closet.
    “Shelters will open at four PM and close to new entrants between eight and nine PM . Tropical force winds are expected by
ten PM . Bridges from the beach to the
mainland will close when winds reach 38 mph. All Daytona Beach
International Airport flights have been cancelled.”
    Ruthie sank into one of the plastic chairs.
“A mandatory evacuation! The airport’s closed and there are no
hotel rooms to be found. We’re stuck.”
    Ring, ring. Bam, Bam, Bam. The Furby
screeched, “Whoa-a-a!” Lu Nee 2 exclaimed, “Where did that come
from?”
    Penny Sue put her hands over her ears,
stomped down the hall, and flung the door open with a thud. There
was a long pause then she started to laugh. “Come here, you’ve got
to see this!”
    Ruthie and I turned off the weather radio
and double-timed it to the door.
    I couldn’t believe my eyes. Guthrie was on
the stoop dressed in his Arlo Guthrie tee shirt, baggy madras
shorts (circa 1972) with a chicken tied around his knee. Yep, you
heard right, a chicken! A whole, frozen, Purdue roaster.
    “Leigh,” he began, pitifully, “I’ve hurt
myself, Charley’s coming, and I’m all alone. Can I stay with
you?”
    Penny Sue’s eyes were glued to the chicken.
“What’s with the poultry?” she asked.
    “Publix sold out of ice. My freezer’s turned
to high, but it can’t make ice fast enough for drinks and my knee.
The chicken is frozen—as good as ice.” He put his hand to his
forehead. “I’m so upset. My friend isn’t going to come—he has to
stay with his mother. I can’t go to his place, because Mother
doesn’t approve of our relationship. With Mrs. King in the
hospital, I’m all by myself. On top of that, the Russians are
coming. Can I stay with you? Or will you come to my place?”
    Penny Sue opened the screen door and waved
him in. Once again, he took the seat