Read 03 Murder by Mishap for Free Online

smile as she leaned down to rub Hank’s ears. She knew darn well Mary was only being nosey.
    “Met the new neighbor?” Mary rested a hip against the car and crossed her arms over her chest. Edna thought her neighbor might have been considered plain, but for her lovely green eyes that were definitely the window to her soul. Guileless, Mary would never be able to hide her feelings. At the moment, she was not just a little curious.
    “Not yet. The Sharpes must be relieved that someone finally bought their place. I sure am glad it won’t be standing empty any longer.”
    She straightened as she spoke to look across the narrow macadam country lane at the house that was nearly half hidden by the tangle of lilacs and laurels growing in abundance along both sides of the road. The house wouldn’t be visible at all except the land sloped upwards and the building sat on top of the hill. A Prudential Gammons Realty sign had decorated the front lawn since the previous autumn when the owners moved out of town. In their hurried departure, they had not waited for the house to sell. Even Allen Gammons, the best realtor in the area, was unable to find a buyer as quickly as the Sharpes had wished. Local gossip and rumor jinxed the place, it seemed, and it was to Gammons’ credit that the place was finally off the market.
    She turned back to Mary. “Have you met them?”
    “’S not a ‘them’,” Mary replied. “New owner’s a woman. Been tryin ’ to meet her, but she doesn’t answer the door. Seen her from a distance, is all.”
    Edna swallowed another smile, knowing it was probably driving Mary crazy to have someone in the area whose acquaintance she hadn’t made and whose complete history was unknown to her. Giving Mary a chance to air whatever knowledge she’d gleaned so far, however, Edna asked, “Do you know anything about her?”
    “Name’s Joanna Cravendorf . I’ve gone over a few times and knocked on the door, but she doesn’t answer. Keeps her curtains drawn, too. Makes me wonder what she’s hiding.”
    “Oh, Mary, you’re too suspicious.” Edna spoke lightly to take any sting out of her words. “It could be that she’s just busy getting settled in and doesn’t want to be interrupted.”
    Mary gave Edna a “get real” look and snorted. “She’s been living there for almost three weeks. Should be moved in by now.” She frowned when she added, “She does her grocery shopping late at night. Why would she do that if she’s not hiding something?”
    “I don’t know.” Edna was growing tired of Mary’s skepticism. “Maybe she’s allergic to the sun or maybe she’s simply a night owl and sleeps during the day. That would also explain why she doesn’t answer the door.”
    Mary shrugged. “Maybe. I guess. But there’s something else suspicious about her. I can’t find her on the Internet. It’s like she doesn’t exist.”
    Edna glanced at her watch and gasped at the time. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Sorry, Mary, I’d like to help you figure it out,” she said, knowing full well sarcasm would be lost on her neighbor, “but I promised some herbs to a friend. Her gardener will be here to pick them up in less than an hour.”
    “Need help?”
    “Sure, if you have the time. Aren’t you working at the hospital today?”
    “My volunteer shift got changed. I’m on bookmobile duty and don’t have to be there ‘til after supper.”
    Edna led the way along the brick path to the south side of the house. Benjamin jumped off the car and broke into a run while Hank brushed by Edna, trotting to keep up with the cat. Mary brought up the rear.
    The side door of the house opened into a large mudroom where Edna kept small gardening tools, bags of potting soil and an assortment of pots, including peat pots for seed starters. Goran would be able to put pots and all into the ground without disturbing the plants’ roots again, she decided. By the time she’d grabbed what they’d need and returned