Dead Rapunzel by Victoria Houston Page B

charge here,” she said.
    An eager face with a wide toothy grin greeted them with an air of enthusiasm that was hard to resist. In contrast to her older sister, Osborne liked her immediately. “I mean it—all of you come in out of this cold.” She opened the door wide and stood beckoning, wispy light brown hair floating around her face.
    â€œKenzie,” said Sloane, warning, “this is not what we’ve planned. You know that.”
    â€œOh, Sloanie, don’t be so mean.” Kenzie thrust an elbow in the direction of her sister’s plump torso. She’s always mean,” laughed the young woman. “Hi, I’m Kenzie Steidl and I know Judith, but you are . . . ” She stuck her hand out to Mallory.
    â€œI’m Judith’s assistant, Mallory Osborne.” Mallory stepped past Kenzie into the house.
    â€œOh, you look so familiar—I know you, you’re the dentist. Dr. Osborne.”
    â€œRetired dentist,” Osborne corrected her as he shook her hand, “but how do you know I’m a dentist? I’ve been retired several years.”
    â€œDoesn’t everyone know everyone in Loon Lake?” said Kenzie as she pulled Lew inside. “Seriously, my girlfriends and I always talk about how good-looking you are for an old guy. They see you at McDonald’s and I see you buying dog food at the Loon Lake Market.”
    â€œD-a-a-d . . . ” Mallory had overheard that and gave Osborne a teasing lift of her eyebrows.
    â€œChief Lewellyn Ferris with the Loon Lake Police,” said Lew as Kenzie closed the door behind her. “Dr. Osborne and I have a short piece of business to take care of with you folks, and then we’ll leave. I do not want to interrupt your gathering this morning.”
    â€œOh for heaven’s sake, you’re not interrupting a thing,” said Kenzie with a dismissive flick of her right hand. She turned to Judith and, grabbing her by the shoulders, gave her a swift, hard hug. “Oh, Judy, Judy—you must be so devastated and I am so sorry. I loved Rudd—we all did.” Tears glistened.
    Lew caught Osborne’s eye and he knew what she was thinking: Judith’s concern that Kenzie was bipolar could be accurate. She was effusive and welcoming one minute, then sad to the point of tears within seconds. Nevertheless, Osborne found her warm and engaging—with none of the rudeness of the woman who had opened the front door.
    The living room they walked into was warm and bright, with quilts and colorful framed pictures scattered across the walls. A dining area at one end opened to a kitchen. As they walked into the room, Kenzie reached out her arms to gather up their parkas, insisting, “If you keep those darn things on you’ll roast in here.
    â€œNow, I want you to meet everyone and get something warm in your tummies before you leave. Please.” The eagerness in her manner reminded Osborne of Mike, who never failed to greet him with happy hops and a furiously wagging tail.
    â€œYou two sit down over there,” said Kenzie, directing Lew and Osborne to a loveseat covered in a white fabric dotted with huge purple and green flowers.
    In the meantime, Judith had walked over to a tall man who was wearing black slacks and a ribbed, grey wool sweater that fit snugly over an impressive potbelly. “Hello, Tim,” said Judith. “I am so surprised to see you here. I thought you were spending your winters down on Bonaire.”
    The man, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a studious look on his face, gave a shrug. “Not yet,” he said. That was all he volunteered, not even a welcoming smile. Osborne excused his rudeness. The impact of Rudd’s unexpected death must have just hit him.
    â€œTim, please come over and meet Chief Ferris and Dr. Osborne,” said Judith, tugging at his sleeve. “Chief Ferris is in charge of the investigation into Rudd’s death.