Vintage Whispers (A Cozy Retirement Mystery Book 1) by Riley Blake Page A

go talk to the woman who may have killed her husband?” Opal asked, staring at her blankly.
    “We’ve talked to Johnny, Sheriff Littleton, and Clarence. Why not stop in and visit with the woman who likely benefited most from Oscar’s death?”
    “I don’t buy it. What would she gain by killing Oscar and Samantha?” Mary Louise asked, wishing they hadn’t gotten involved. She enjoyed reading murder mysteries and loved watching crime drama movies but this mystery was a little too close to home.
    “So what do you want to do?” Pearl asked.
    “Sleep.” Mary Louise dragged her tired bones from the chair without glancing back at her friends. “Don’t wake me for breakfast.”
    ****
    Mary Louise awoke to the scratchy-hiss sound of an ax striking a tree over and over again. She rolled to her back and listened. Undoubtedly Clarence was ticked off enough to change his tree-chopping habits. As luck would have it, he was splitting wood on their side of the building.
    To add a dash of irritation to her morning fury, her phone rang before she had a chance to check the time. Not that time mattered but her family and friends knew she wasn’t exactly a morning person. Given the sun’s eastern location, she assumed it was still early.
    “Hello.” She listened. “Is anyone there?”
    “Mom? Is that you?”
    “Mark?”
    “Mom, yes, can you hear me?”
    “Of course I can. What do you need?”
    “Is something wrong?”
    “I don’t do mornings. Other than that, everything is fine. Why?”
    “Well the whole town is buzzing about you.”
    “Me specifically or—”
    “You’re causing trouble there, Mom. I want it to stop.”
    “You want it to…Now you hold on a minute. I don’t know where you came by your information but you need to stop for a second and listen to me. I’m your mother. I may be old or aging—which sounds better—but I’m still Mom. I’m wise and strong and don’t need you or anyone else to call me up first thing in the morning. If you want to scold someone, try that technique on your wife. I’m sure my daughter-in-law will get a real kick out of it.”
    Silence.
    “Mark? Are you there?”
    “I just called to see if you’re okay.”
    “You didn’t. You called to jerk me back in line. Tell your other half that those tactics may have worked with her mother but they do not and will not work with me.”
    “I have to go but wanted to check in.”
    “You have a good day, hon,” she said in a sugary sweet voice. “Give Catherine my warm regards.”
    “I will. We’re taking the kids to Myrtle Beach. Should be back in a few days.”
    “Good. We’ll see you soon.”
    “And Mom?”
    “Yes?”
    “Stay out of trouble,” he said, ending the call.
    Mary Louise glared at her phone. It automatically shifted back to the icon screen. For a split second, she thought about calling her attorney. The sooner she changed her will, the sooner she would feel like this thirty-day stay was worth its weight in gold.
    She took in her surroundings. The built-in contemporary lacquer dressers, flat screen television, and floor-to-ceiling windows were actually kind of nice. For most of her life, she’d surrounded herself with historic artifacts and yesteryear’s furnishings. Now feeling quite dated, too, maybe it was time to toss out the old and bring in the new.
    The phone rang again.
    “Mark, listen. I don’t know what you hope to gain by upsetting me first thing this morning but the best thing you can do is take off for the beach and stay awhile. I need a break from reality. I need a break from you.”
    “Good to know,” Opal said. “But this isn’t your son. Check your caller ID before you answer next time.”
    “Opal? Where are you?”
    “You told us you wanted to sleep in so Pearl and I left around six this morning. I’m glad Mark woke you. I didn’t need an earful.”
    “Earned one anyway. Sorry about that.”
    “No problem. Listen. The coroner is dead. They found him under Lickety Split