Murder by Artifact (Five Star Mystery Series) by Barbara Graham Page B
Authors: Barbara Graham
Tags: Novels
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the cabinet and turned to face Theo. She looked as tired as he felt. This was the first chance today they’d been able to talk without the boys and their portable antennae, also known as big ears, lurking around. Chris and Jamie had gone to get the dog’s worn tennis ball, and Daisy’s excited barking drowned out every other sound. As curious as he was about Doreen’s apparent murder, the tale he’d heard in Cincinnati haunted him.
Theo poured herself a tall glass of sweet iced tea and strolled onto the front porch. He followed her, wondering how to ask his questions without alarming her.
They sat side-by-side on the top step and watched the boys playing ball with Daisy across the street in the park. It was almost dark. Decorative lights glowed along the walking path and the tiny brown bats began leaving their wooden homes for their insect hunting.
“Tell me what you remember about Vicky Parker.”
“I don’t know I can tell you much.” Clearly curious, Theo didn’t ask him to explain. “She and her father moved here for a little while. They lived with her uncle. You know him. Her uncle is Nelson Parker.”
“Yes, I do know him, at least by sight. He’s the old recluse who has the place up past Nina’s. He comes into town about twice a year and never causes any trouble.” Tony thought the man was maybe fifty-five. He looked a hundred. He had no visible teeth, and that made his lips and gums sink into his face like those on a dried apple doll. Tony pulled his lips over his teeth and smacked his fake gums together. Leaning closer to his wife, he panted softly. “Give us a kiss, pretty girl.”
Theo dissolved into a fit of the giggles. “That’s him, all right. However, he does wear his store-bought teeth on ceremonial occasions.”
“I thought he lived alone up there.” Tony’s eyes drifted to the dark mass of the mountains.
“Well, he probably does now.” Theo pushed her glasses up onto the bridge of her nose. “Vicky and her father didn’t live there fulltime. They would arrive for a few months and then be gone for several years. I don’t think Vicky and her father stayed up there very often after you moved away.”
“Any idea where they moved to? Or where they moved from, for that matter.” Tony doubted his own choice of residence had any effect on the Parkers.
“No.”Theo turned to face him. “You ought to ask your mom. Since they joined your dad’s congregation, he might have learned that and passed the information on to her. I do remember Vicky liked you, a lot, and she spent quite a bit of time hanging out, watching you.” She gave him a sparkling grin that made him feel warm and safe. Her next words spoiled that effect. “When you left for the Navy, she talked about you at Sunday school, you know, like the two of you were engaged. No one believed her. Not really.”
Tony couldn’t suppress a shiver and lifted his eyes to watch the boys. They took turns throwing the ball to each other and then for the dog, sending the big retriever diving into the shrubs. He hadn’t told Theo what he’d learned from Harrison, but he would eventually. He also believed Harrison’s version of events right down to the last words of the letter.
“When did you last see her?” Tony stole Theo’s glass and drained the last of the tea.
“This morning.” As she retrieved her empty glass, Theo gave him a glare that could have melted an iceberg. “It’s funny you should be asking about her. I saw her the other day for the first time in years.” She pulled an ice cube out of the glass and rubbed it on the soles of her bare feet. “She came into the shop just a couple of days ago. We chatted for a little bit and I suggested lunch. She showed up this morning just before Nellie Pearl arrived with the news about Doreen.”
Tony felt a chill, and the hair on his arms lifted. He hoped his voice would not betray his unease. “She was in your shop? Today? Has she moved back
Theo poured herself a tall glass of sweet iced tea and strolled onto the front porch. He followed her, wondering how to ask his questions without alarming her.
They sat side-by-side on the top step and watched the boys playing ball with Daisy across the street in the park. It was almost dark. Decorative lights glowed along the walking path and the tiny brown bats began leaving their wooden homes for their insect hunting.
“Tell me what you remember about Vicky Parker.”
“I don’t know I can tell you much.” Clearly curious, Theo didn’t ask him to explain. “She and her father moved here for a little while. They lived with her uncle. You know him. Her uncle is Nelson Parker.”
“Yes, I do know him, at least by sight. He’s the old recluse who has the place up past Nina’s. He comes into town about twice a year and never causes any trouble.” Tony thought the man was maybe fifty-five. He looked a hundred. He had no visible teeth, and that made his lips and gums sink into his face like those on a dried apple doll. Tony pulled his lips over his teeth and smacked his fake gums together. Leaning closer to his wife, he panted softly. “Give us a kiss, pretty girl.”
Theo dissolved into a fit of the giggles. “That’s him, all right. However, he does wear his store-bought teeth on ceremonial occasions.”
“I thought he lived alone up there.” Tony’s eyes drifted to the dark mass of the mountains.
“Well, he probably does now.” Theo pushed her glasses up onto the bridge of her nose. “Vicky and her father didn’t live there fulltime. They would arrive for a few months and then be gone for several years. I don’t think Vicky and her father stayed up there very often after you moved away.”
“Any idea where they moved to? Or where they moved from, for that matter.” Tony doubted his own choice of residence had any effect on the Parkers.
“No.”Theo turned to face him. “You ought to ask your mom. Since they joined your dad’s congregation, he might have learned that and passed the information on to her. I do remember Vicky liked you, a lot, and she spent quite a bit of time hanging out, watching you.” She gave him a sparkling grin that made him feel warm and safe. Her next words spoiled that effect. “When you left for the Navy, she talked about you at Sunday school, you know, like the two of you were engaged. No one believed her. Not really.”
Tony couldn’t suppress a shiver and lifted his eyes to watch the boys. They took turns throwing the ball to each other and then for the dog, sending the big retriever diving into the shrubs. He hadn’t told Theo what he’d learned from Harrison, but he would eventually. He also believed Harrison’s version of events right down to the last words of the letter.
“When did you last see her?” Tony stole Theo’s glass and drained the last of the tea.
“This morning.” As she retrieved her empty glass, Theo gave him a glare that could have melted an iceberg. “It’s funny you should be asking about her. I saw her the other day for the first time in years.” She pulled an ice cube out of the glass and rubbed it on the soles of her bare feet. “She came into the shop just a couple of days ago. We chatted for a little bit and I suggested lunch. She showed up this morning just before Nellie Pearl arrived with the news about Doreen.”
Tony felt a chill, and the hair on his arms lifted. He hoped his voice would not betray his unease. “She was in your shop? Today? Has she moved back