Charleston with a Clever Cougar: A Dance with Danger Mystery #6 by Sara M. Barton

tell me he had college covered, that there was no
reason to keep putting money into the account. And then he got
divorced. Wound up living in a little one-bedroom after they sold
the Farmington McMansion. That money helped pay for those kids go
to school, even when their parents were duking it out over who got
the big screen television and who got the ski chalet in Vermont.
Uncle Doc turned out to be a good guy after all.”
    “It doesn’t sound like you two are all that
close,” I commented.
    “Dennis has a different outlook on life. He’s
all about making a name for himself, being a big shot. Me? I’m
still the baby brother.”
    “Too bad,” I said, sipping my wine. “You
never wanted kids, Doc?”
    “Never got around to it. Figured I’d do that
when I got out of the Army.”
    “And now?”
    “Well, I took that job with the insurance
company, so maybe I’ll get around to it,” he mused, “one of these
days.”
    “Forgive me for saying this, Doc, but you
don’t really sound like your heart is in this insurance thing.”
Those green eyes gazed over at me. “It doesn’t really sound like a
job you would enjoy.”
    “Have to pay the bills, Cady. Can’t sit
around hoping the perfect job will just drop into my lap.”
    “But don’t you have a passion for something?
Anything?”
    “Besides coffee?” He laughed. “I spent so
many years patching up broken bodies and bruised spirits, it’s
really all I know, but I’ve had enough. I’m ready for a change. I’m
ready to hang up my spurs and start the next chapter of my
life.”
    My cell phone buzzed in my pocket. Reaching
in with my good hand, I pulled it out, reading the screen.
    “Carole’s calling.” I pushed the button and
put the phone up to my ear. “Hi there. What’s up?”
    “You’re not going to believe this,” she told
me. “Mimi’s coming for a visit. She wants to take Daisy out to
dinner tomorrow night.”
    I hit the speaker button and put a finger to
my lips, locking eyes with Doc.
    “That sounds like short notice. Why does Mimi
want to take Daisy out to dinner?” I asked, playing dumb.
    “I don’t know. It’s out of the blue, Cady.
Should I be worried?”
    Doc was shaking his head, providing my cues.
I went along with his direction.
    “No, Carole. I’m sure she just wants to see
for herself that Daisy’s okay,” I said reassuringly.
    “But I didn’t tell Doug about the incident at
the shop. Neither did Daisy. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, Cady.”
As she spoke, Doc moved his chair closer to me, leaning on the back
of my chair, whispering comments in my ear.
    “She has a lot of friends in the area,
Carole. Maybe one of her political friends contacted her.”
    “Maybe.” Carole seemed to consider the
possibility. “I’m sure you’re right. It’s nothing. It’s just that
Daisy said her father wants to change the custody. I’m not sure I
can afford another legal battle, Cady.”
    “Perhaps it won’t come to that,” I suggested
gently. “The mediator said you needed your kids with you.”
    “I know. I thought this was all settled. Why
would Doug want to change things now?”
    “What does Daisy want to do?”
    “She says she’ll go, but she’d rather not
have to see Mimi.”
    “There’s your answer.”
    “Mimi won’t take no for an answer, Cady. She
told me she must insist on it, because what happens to Daisy
affects her life, too.” Doc’s eyebrows shot up when he heard that.
I thought it was a little aggressive on the part of Doug’s wife.
Even as the stepmother, she still acted like she needed to throw
her weight around. This wasn’t a woman interested in building a
relationship with Doug’s children. But she seemed to be up to
something specific for Friday night. I was suddenly relieved that
Doc was right beside me, especially since I knew what Carole did
not, that Mimi was willing to murder her stepdaughter.
    “In what way is Mimi affected?” Carole
pressed on. “If you ask me, Mimi’s