The April Fools' Day Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

tired to think about it. And tomorrow is April second, so anything I hear I can trust to be accurate.”
    “Wow, do you have a lot to learn.”

5
    We picked up my cousin, Gene, on Sunday morning and took him to mass with us. Gene lives in a residence for retarded adults here in town, but for many years the home was in the town that the younger Platts lived in. We had decided to treat ourselves to an enormous buffet brunch at a hotel in that town. We had done it once or twice before, and thought Gene would appreciate it. For Jack and me it meant no more cooking or cleaning up for the rest of the day, a nice incentive after the great meal he had prepared the night before.
    Gene was ready when we got to Greenwillow, dressed in slacks, a nice shirt, and a blazer. He carried a knit shirt with him so he could change and be comfortable when we got home after the brunch, and we stowed that in the trunk.
    We got to church a little early. People were milling around outside, the first sunny Sunday we’d had in a long time. I said my hellos and listened to various conversations. They were all about the April Fools’ Day murder, and one person seemed to know that there had been a false alarm earlier in the day when it was thought WillardPlatt was dead but it turned out he wasn’t. I was glad my name wasn’t mentioned.
    We went inside and found a pew with room for four, Jack taking the outside aisle seat as he usually did, in case Eddie became obstreperous, although I must say he had been behaving quite well lately.
    An hour later we piled into the car and drove to the hotel. It was a surprise for Gene, who was thrilled to pieces. After we were seated, I walked Gene around the buffet, showing him all the different foods, explaining that he could take whatever he wanted. It was his first buffet and he had a hard time believing that all of those wonderful-looking dishes were his for the taking. At one point he turned and spied the dessert table, his face lighting up. We walked over and he asked if he could have two desserts, and I said he could have two or maybe even three. He absolutely glowed.
    I think I enjoyed watching Eddie and Gene even more than I enjoyed the food. Gene was especially taken with the scope and amount of food, sure that this could not last. He tried a few new things, and even admitted to liking the smoked salmon, but for the most part he stuck with tried and true favorites. And when we were ready for dessert, he almost went wild.
    They had two huge containers of ice cream and all the fixings for sundaes. Eddie was satisfied with a scoop of vanilla and a taste of hot fudge, but Gene wanted everything they had, the whipped cream, the nuts, the sprinkles. He left most of it, although very reluctantly. But we promised we would come back for his birthday, and I think he started counting the days.
    Full to bursting, we drove home. Eddie tumbled intohis bed, and even Gene nodded off on the sofa. Jack and I nearly giggled over it.
    “Worth the price,” he said. “I think this is a watershed day in Gene’s life.”
    “I’m glad. Sometimes it’s hard to think of what to do for him, but we’ve got the word now.”
    “Look, as long as everyone’s conked out, I think I’ll do some studying.”
    “Fine with me. I’m going to drive over to the younger Mrs. Platt’s and see what I can find out.”
    “See you later.”
    I had thought Jack’s days of studying were over when he passed the bar exam and became a lawyer, but he’s an ambitious person, and having achieved one goal, he decided to pursue another. He has been a detective sergeant for years and is now studying for the lieutenant’s exam, which tells me he’s still happy to be part of the NYPD, something I wasn’t sure of during the years he spent in law school. If he makes it—and I feel sure he will eventually—he’ll be put on the civil service promotion list and get appointed when his number is reached. It will mean greater prestige, perhaps a new