The Listener Read Online Free PDF Page A

plate. He seated himself.
    She picked up her knife and fork, and looked down at her meal.
    “Tonight we’re going to enjoy ourselves,” he said. “T-bone steak, mushrooms, and rosemary garlic potatoes.”
    Cornelia stared at the food. Stared, then lifted her gaze and stared at Mason.
    Mason. Handsome, pleasant, shallow, vapid, lazy, easily influenced. She knew all those things. She also knew he liked her. Maybe loved her.
    So … what was the probability he loved some other woman, too?
    Unfortunately, in the circumstances, the probability was high.
    She reached for her water glass, hit it with the back of her hand, and knocked it over.
    Mason made a grab for it.
    Water spilled all over the Italian linen tablecloth.
    “I’m so clumsy!” she lamented. “I’ve made a mess. I’m so sorry! Can you forgive me?”
    He was on his feet, clutching her water glass. He looked at her as if she was some kind of exotic animal, then he kissed her on the top of her head. “No problem. I can easily fix this. Now … go ahead and enjoy your dinner. I’ll be back with another glass of water, and you can tell me what’s wrong.”
    “It’s okay. I may have figured it out.”
    “Right. You’re smart. You don’t need me for much. You figure out everything on your own.” He headed into the kitchen.
    She waited until he was out of sight.
    Then she switched the plates.
    ***
    The next afternoon, Kateri sat at the lunch counter.
    Rainbow leaned an elbow against the chrome napkin holder.
    They both stared at Cornelia Markum.
    Half the town was in the Oceanview Café, staring at Cornelia.
    Cornelia, who sat at her usual table, frowning at her laptop.
    “What’s she doing?” Rainbow asked.
    “She looks like she’s working,” Kateri said.
    “Her husband died last night,” Rainbow said.
    Kateri looked at Rainbow. “He poisoned himself.”
    The two women returned to staring at Cornelia.
    “Word is,” Kateri said, “she tried to tell Sheriff Foster someone was going to murder someone, and when she couldn’t come up with the names, he threatened to arrest her for hacking.”
    Rainbow looked sheepish. “She asked me who to tell about a murder. I asked if she was writing a book.”
    Both women laughed semi-hysterically.
    “As I understand it,” Kateri said, “she looked down and recognized the menu. She distracted Mason and switched the plates. She figured it wouldn’t matter as long as he hadn’t added poison to her food.”
    “But he had.”
    “And he’s dead.”
    “And there she sits, working.”
    Silence.
    “I mean … they were married for a long time.” Kateri looked at Rainbow.
“You
said she loved him.”
    “I think she did.”
    “He tried to
kill
her. Couldn’t we have some angst? Or melodrama? Or … something?”
    “Not while she’s working.”
    “Not ever.”
    Silence.
    “Did you hear about the other woman?” Rainbow asked.
    “Karrin Ventura.”
    “The children’s librarian.”
    Kateri couldn’t believe it. “She wears cotton socks and organic cotton shifts.”
    “She’s pretty and sweet.” Rainbow leaned forward and lowered her voice. “And apparently she knows how to research poisons.”
    “The poison didn’t take effect right away. I heard he cleaned the kitchen and watched some TV before he started cramping. Then Cornelia called 911.” Kateri swallowed. “He died in agony.”
    “Poor, cheating, murdering bastard.”
    “Cute, though.” Kateri shoved her coffee cup toward Rainbow.
    Rainbow filled it up.
    It had been a soy latte, but a little straight coffee wouldn’t hurt.
    Rainbow moved through the diner, filling everybody else’s cups, too.
    No one was talking.
    Everyone was whispering. In fits and starts.
    No one was behaving normally … except Cornelia.
    When Rainbow came back, Kateri said, “This morning, Sheriff Foster, the dumb shit, arrested Cornelia. By then Karrin had heard that Mason was dead.”
    “I was working.” Rainbow indicated her view of the Virtue Falls town