Clubbed to Death by Elaine Viets Page A

quite colorful,” Helen said.
    “Awk!” said Pete the parrot. Peggy and her green sidekick drifted into the party. Peggy carried a platter. “Hi, everyone. I brought cheese, crackers and grapes.”
    “Does Pete get a cracker?” Helen said.
    “No, he’s on a diet. He gets a grape.” Pete examined the green grape in sullen silence.
    “Speaking of grapes, I have wine,” Elsie said. “Fat Bastard. I found it at the grocery store.”
    “Good. You can add it to the stash we already have,” Margery said.
    “Don’t you love the name?” Elsie asked. “When I was a girl, we couldn’t have said it.”
    “That’s what we call my boss,” Peggy said. “Good name for a wine.
    That fat bastard drives everyone to drink.”
    Nancy and George came out of 2C, and Margery waved them downstairs. “Come join the party,” she said. “We have snacks and wine.”
    “I like wine,” Nancy said.
    “I like snacks,” George said, patting his round stomach. “I’ll get a beer out of the fridge and join you.”
    It was the first time Helen had seen Margery’s nice normal couple from Ohio. They were amazingly ordinary in khaki shorts and navy golf shirts. Even their gray hair matched.
    Nancy gulped a little when she saw Elsie’s outrageous outfit, but she recovered enough to shake Elsie’s hand, then Helen’s, and make small talk about the weather.
    “And what do you do back in Ohio, George?” Elsie said.
    “I’m in investments.”
    “Maybe you can help me then,” Elsie said.
    “Elsie!” Margery said. “Let the poor man alone. He’s not at work now.”
    George looked grateful for the reprieve.
    “Well, maybe the rest of you can help me,” Elsie said. “I need some advice. I’m worried about money. My son Milton is a good boy, but he won’t increase my allowance. He says I’ll just fritter it away on worthless junk.
    “I’m actually very careful with my money. I bought this new skirt and blouse at Marshalls. The boots were a bit of an extravagance, but they were on sale. I’d never pay full price. I made the turban myself with fabric remnants.” She patted the green satin. “I wasn’t going to pay two hundred dollars. I do know how to stretch my pennies. But I’m tired of cheeseparing. I’m still young. I like nice dinners and pretty clothes. I need more money fast. I’m willing to invest my entire next Social Security check.”
    “I don’t think investments are the answer,” George said carefully.
    “Anything high-yield is too risky for the small investor.”
    “Maybe you could get a job,” Nancy said.
    “Doing what?” Elsie said. “I haven’t worked in years, and I never enjoyed it. I don’t want to bag groceries at Publix. That’s about all that’s open to someone of mature years. That and hostessing at the all-you-can-eat buffet, and I don’t want to spend eight hours on my feet.”
    “Maybe you could buy a lottery ticket,” Peggy said. “I play every week.”
    “Awk,” said Pete, and dropped the unwanted grape.
    “How much have you won in the lottery, Peggy?” Margery asked.
    “Nothing yet,” Peggy said. “But I’ve had a lot of fun losing.”
    “Fun,” Elsie said. “That’s what I need. More fun.”
    “You don’t need to lose more money, Elsie,” Margery said. “Make sure you buy a winning ticket.”
    “Awk!” said Pete.
    The poolside party was in full swing. Elsie was asking Peggy where she bought her lottery tickets. Nancy was making cooing sounds to Pete.
    George was happily munching Doritos.
    “Nice party,” Phil said, “but I’d better go. I want to make some phone calls to my friends on the force. Maybe I can find out something useful about Rob. They’re more likely to talk at night when the brass isn’t around.”
    He gave Helen a kiss. “I’m glad you’re home safe. We’ll celebrate later.”
    Helen watched Phil disappear into the dark.
    “Are you going to let that man get away?” Margery said.
    “You heard him,” Helen said. “He has to