Read Antiques Fate for Free Online Page A

much, dear.”
    â€œBecause of the hema thing, you mean.”
    â€œThat’s certainly a factor. But a more important one is the date of the prescription, and the number of pills left in the bottle.”
    Like an actress gone up on her lines, Mother loved prompting. “Yes? Because?”
    Giving me a self-satisfied smile, she said, “The prescription for thirty pills was filled on September the fifteenth. Millie was to take one each morning. Today is October the first. Yet there were only ten pills left.”
    â€œThat’s math, Mother. Don’t make me do math.”
    â€œGo on, dear. It’s not that difficult.”
    â€œWell . . . there should have been at least fifteen pills left in that bottle, right?”
    Mother nodded sagely.
    â€œSo,” I said, “Millie must have been double-dosing on more than one occasion. Out of forgetfulness, perhaps.”
    Mother stroked Sushi on her lap. “Or so someone wanted it to appear. It’s all too easy to trot out how absentminded or even pre-Alzheimer’s an older person can be.”
    We had arrived at our local home-away-from-home, where I found a spot in front. We got out and I noticed the outside sign had been restored to W ELCOME TO THE H ORSE AND G ROOM I NN .
    Inside, Celia, in her outdated pastel pink suit, was behind the check-in counter. With a practiced smile, she asked, “And how did the Bornes like the New Vic?”
    â€œReally a charming venue,” Mother replied. “On the other hand, Millicent Marlowe is dead.”
    Standing behind Mother, I tried pinching her through her Spanx, with no luck. While she could be tactless, particularly on the subject of death—she was fatalistic to a fault—I was well aware that she would now be viewing every resident of Old York as a suspect.
    Celia stared, agape. “Did I hear you correctly, Mrs. Borne?”
    I stepped around Mother. “I’m afraid Millie suffered a fatal heart attack. One moment she was smiling, the next . . . well, I’m afraid she’s gone.”
    â€œOh, that’s just terrible,” Celia said, one hand to her chest. “Such a terrible loss to our community.”
    I nodded sympathetically. Mother was studying the woman rather coldly, looking for reactions.
    Celia said, with a shrug that indicated she had a streak of fatalism, too, “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised, really. She had a heart attack before. Will you excuse me?”
    The innkeeper turned abruptly and disappeared into her office, where in New (not Old) York fashion she could start spreadin’ the news.
    Mother eyed me with a smile I can only describe as devilish. “Quite a cold reaction, don’t you think?”
    From the office came a faint but distinct: “Yes, a heart attack! . . . Yes, yes . . . I know. . . . ”
    I set Sushi down and turned to face Mother. Sushi looked up at her, too. “Vivian Borne, what is wrong with you?”
    Since no one else was around, I thought this was as good a time as any to get into it with her.
    Mother’s eyebrows went up and over her glasses and her expression was one of angelic innocence. “Why, whatever do you mean, dear?”
    â€œYou call her cold? How about how insensitively you’re behaving? The blunt way you told Chad about Millie, and now Mrs. Falwell!”
    Her chin came up. “I was merely stating the truth. Anyway, darling, you know I’m fishing for suspicious reactions.”
    â€œCan’t you go fishing without such tactless bait on your line? Try a little compassion on your hook, why don’t you?”
    She cocked her head, like Sushi trying to understand a new word. “Dear . . . don’t take this wrong . . . but have you been taking your Prozac as prescribed?”
    â€œHow about you? Taking your lithium? As prescribed?”
    About once a month we were reduced to this.
    Mother lowered her voice. “Dear, I have a wealth of