caught Mallory’s eye. Written three times in block letters was the phrase W ALT D ISNEY DID IT .
Jacobson moved closer. “What did you find?”
Mallory yanked evidence gloves from her back pocket and pulled the tack out of the piece of the paper. She held the paper up and read it out loud. “I guess our crime is solved. We’ll just pick up Walt on our way to the station house.” She retrieved another piece of paper that had Dustin’s signature on it off the floor. The handwriting was the same as the accusation directed at Walt Disney.
Jacobson kneeled on the floor and flipped through a volume on wine. “You got that faraway look in your eyes, boss. What are you thinking?”
Mallory leaned against the desk. Nothing but the uneasiness in her stomach told her the note was significant. It had been her experience that sharing gut feelings did very little to impress other officers, especially male officers. Mallory pushed herself off the desk and waved the note. “I was just wondering if Mickey and Minnie know anything about the murder.”
Ginger closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythm of Arleta moving the oar of the gondola boat through the water. Midmorning in Calamity was still cool enough to enjoy being outside.
Suzanne slapped at a mosquito on her shoulder. “Tell me again why were out here.”
Kindra adjusted the tie of her cotton, wide-brimmed hat and slathered sunscreen on her legs. “Because Ginger and I thought this would be more private. No one can overhear us while we’re on the water.”
“Couldn’t we at least hire a gondola driver so Arleta doesn’t have to do all the heavy lifting?” Suzanne asked.
Ginger spoke without opening her eyes. “The gondola drivers cost extra. We are way over budget already.” She didn’t want to open her eyes. Right now, life felt like way too much to bear. The breeze and the rhythmic sound of the oars soothed her.
“I don’t mind rowing,” Arleta said. “It’s good exercise.”
The robustness of Arleta’s tone cheered Ginger. Not much got the senior member of the BHN down. Today Arleta was dressed in white cowboy boots, white skirt, and turquoise, western-cut jacket. The sequins and grommets on the jacket caught glints of morning sunlight. Ginger opened her eyes. Time to deal with life .
“Last night, Kindra overheard that lady detective talking about Earl and me. They say I threatened Dustin. Because Earl was found leaning over the body, they think we are up to some kind of funny business.”
“You mean they suspect you of murder?”
Ginger cringed. She couldn’t bring herself to think the thought or say the word. But leave it to Suzanne to blurt it out. “Maybe they just want to ask us more questions.”
“So did you threaten Dustin?”
Ginger raised her arms. “I guess. He just made me so mad. I didn’t kill the guy, and I sure didn’t ask Earl to.”
Kindra adjusted herself on the narrow wooden seat. “That’s all we need to know.” She slipped into her gauzy, long-sleeve blouse.
“Kindra, why don’t you wear a parka?” Suzanne slapped another mosquito.
“I burn easily, okay?” she snapped back as she buttoned her blouse to the neck.
Arleta stabbed her oar in the water and pushed it through. “Ladies, ladies, we all know that none of us is getting much sleep. Lets not get at each others throats just because were tired.”
Kindra crossed her arms. “At least you guys had beds to sleep in. Ginger and I caught our ZZZs out in the lobby.”
Ginger placed a steadying hand on Kindra’s forearm. It was a technique she had learned teaching Sunday school. A soft touch calmed an agitated child. “The couch wasn’t uncomfortable.” But it was lonely. She hadn’t been able to find her husband.
Kindra’s spine collapsed, and she sighed. “I’m sorry, guys. I am not mad at you. I am worried about Xabier. He’s disappeared. I don’t know why he didn’t tell me Dustin was his dad.” Her shoulders jerked up slightly. “I kind of liked him. We
Jacobson moved closer. “What did you find?”
Mallory yanked evidence gloves from her back pocket and pulled the tack out of the piece of the paper. She held the paper up and read it out loud. “I guess our crime is solved. We’ll just pick up Walt on our way to the station house.” She retrieved another piece of paper that had Dustin’s signature on it off the floor. The handwriting was the same as the accusation directed at Walt Disney.
Jacobson kneeled on the floor and flipped through a volume on wine. “You got that faraway look in your eyes, boss. What are you thinking?”
Mallory leaned against the desk. Nothing but the uneasiness in her stomach told her the note was significant. It had been her experience that sharing gut feelings did very little to impress other officers, especially male officers. Mallory pushed herself off the desk and waved the note. “I was just wondering if Mickey and Minnie know anything about the murder.”
Ginger closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythm of Arleta moving the oar of the gondola boat through the water. Midmorning in Calamity was still cool enough to enjoy being outside.
Suzanne slapped at a mosquito on her shoulder. “Tell me again why were out here.”
Kindra adjusted the tie of her cotton, wide-brimmed hat and slathered sunscreen on her legs. “Because Ginger and I thought this would be more private. No one can overhear us while we’re on the water.”
“Couldn’t we at least hire a gondola driver so Arleta doesn’t have to do all the heavy lifting?” Suzanne asked.
Ginger spoke without opening her eyes. “The gondola drivers cost extra. We are way over budget already.” She didn’t want to open her eyes. Right now, life felt like way too much to bear. The breeze and the rhythmic sound of the oars soothed her.
“I don’t mind rowing,” Arleta said. “It’s good exercise.”
The robustness of Arleta’s tone cheered Ginger. Not much got the senior member of the BHN down. Today Arleta was dressed in white cowboy boots, white skirt, and turquoise, western-cut jacket. The sequins and grommets on the jacket caught glints of morning sunlight. Ginger opened her eyes. Time to deal with life .
“Last night, Kindra overheard that lady detective talking about Earl and me. They say I threatened Dustin. Because Earl was found leaning over the body, they think we are up to some kind of funny business.”
“You mean they suspect you of murder?”
Ginger cringed. She couldn’t bring herself to think the thought or say the word. But leave it to Suzanne to blurt it out. “Maybe they just want to ask us more questions.”
“So did you threaten Dustin?”
Ginger raised her arms. “I guess. He just made me so mad. I didn’t kill the guy, and I sure didn’t ask Earl to.”
Kindra adjusted herself on the narrow wooden seat. “That’s all we need to know.” She slipped into her gauzy, long-sleeve blouse.
“Kindra, why don’t you wear a parka?” Suzanne slapped another mosquito.
“I burn easily, okay?” she snapped back as she buttoned her blouse to the neck.
Arleta stabbed her oar in the water and pushed it through. “Ladies, ladies, we all know that none of us is getting much sleep. Lets not get at each others throats just because were tired.”
Kindra crossed her arms. “At least you guys had beds to sleep in. Ginger and I caught our ZZZs out in the lobby.”
Ginger placed a steadying hand on Kindra’s forearm. It was a technique she had learned teaching Sunday school. A soft touch calmed an agitated child. “The couch wasn’t uncomfortable.” But it was lonely. She hadn’t been able to find her husband.
Kindra’s spine collapsed, and she sighed. “I’m sorry, guys. I am not mad at you. I am worried about Xabier. He’s disappeared. I don’t know why he didn’t tell me Dustin was his dad.” Her shoulders jerked up slightly. “I kind of liked him. We
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