St. Patrick's Day Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

cold, hasn’t it?”
    Lucy sighed and looked at Ted, hoping for some help.
    He stepped forward. “There’s no easy way to tell you,” he said. “The body is headless.”
    Dylan seemed to suffer a delayed reaction when he heard the word. It almost seemed to Lucy that he had been expecting it. But then he quickly exclaimed, “Dear God!” and covered his face with his hands. He remained in the chair, with his head bowed, for what seemed like a long time. Then, slowly, he seemed to rally and got to his feet. “Life goes on,” he said. “There are things I must do. My wife and daughter are outside in the car. They can’t sit there all day. And there’s the body. I must see to that.”
    “Of course,” said Ted. “Why don’t I take you to the police station?”
    Dylan nodded in agreement, then hesitated. “The police station is no place for my daughter,” he said.
    “Of course not,” agreed Lucy. “She must be exhausted from her long trip.”
    “My wife, too,” said Dylan. “We were going to stay at my brother’s place, but now…”
    “There’s a lovely inn here in town,” suggested Lucy. “It’s quaint and quiet….”
    “You’d get off-season rates,” said Phyllis.
    “That sounds perfect,” said Dylan. “It will be a great relief to me to get them settled.” He got to his feet slowly, as if it required extreme effort. “I’ll meet you outside. We’re parked right in front. But give me a moment. I need to explain to my wife what’s happened.”
    Once he was gone, the three exhaled a collective sigh.
    “Talk about bad timing,” said Lucy, rolling her eyes.
    “I hope I never have to go through something like that again,” declared Ted. “Telling the poor man his brother is dead.”
    Phyllis shook her head and clucked her tongue. “Hardly the family reunion they were hoping for.” She sighed. “Well, you two better get going. I’ll stay here and hold the fort.”
    Lucy and Ted put on their coats and went out to the sidewalk, waiting just outside the door until Dylan waved them over.
    He was standing next to a white compact rental car, with his arm around a slim woman who was wrapped in a long black cape that was fastened at the neck by an intricate silver clasp with elaborate twists and knots. A large hood covered her head, but locks of curly red hair escaped and were whipped by the wind against her lightly freckled cheeks. Her features were delicate, and she had large green eyes and a little, pointed chin.
    “Meet my wife, Moira,” said Dylan.
    “Pleased to meet you,” said Lucy, extending her hand. Moira took it with both gloved hands. “I’m Lucy Stone. I’ll take you over to the inn while Ted, Ted Stillings, goes to the police station with your husband.”
    “Thank you so much,” said Moira, speaking in a breathy little voice. “I really appreciate your help.”
    “We’re glad to help,” said Lucy. “Shall I drive?”
    “That would be best,” said Dylan. “Moira’s not used to American cars yet.”
    Lucy opened the driver side door and saw a little girl, just about the same age as her own daughter Zoe, sitting in the backseat. “Hi, there,” she said, sliding behind the steering wheel while Moira got settled in the passenger seat.
    “Deirdre, me darling, what’s happened to your manners? What do you say to Lucy here, who’s going to take us to the hotel?”
    The little girl sat a bit straighter and piped up. “How do you do?”
    “Very well indeed, thank you,” said Lucy. “And in just a few minutes, we’ll have you settled nice and comfy at the Queen Victoria Inn.”

    The Queen Vic offered the best lodging in Tinker’s Cove. It was built in the late nineteenth century, when the expansion of the railroads made it possible for city dwellers to escape the summer heat in the mountains or at the seashore. Large hotels were built to meet the demand for accommodations, and several had been built in Tinker’s Cove, but only the Queen Vic had survived. It had