Read Midsummer Murder for Free Online Page A

to the bone.
    “Of course,” said Lindy. She saw Biddy shoot her a quick look.
    “Robert and Chi-Chi and Jeremy are already there. I think they wanted to talk,” Lindy added.
    “Then let’s join them, by all means,” said Stuart. With a brief look toward Biddy, Lindy stood and linked her arm around Marguerite’s free one. Marguerite squeezed back and took a moment to catch her breath.
    They started toward the house, Biddy and Stuart following behind.

    * * *
As they entered the drawing room, Sandiman was just handing drinks to Chi-Chi and Robert who were sitting together on the couch.
    Jeremy had pulled up a side chair and was leaning toward them, his elbows resting on his knees. His face registered a flash of something that might have been annoyance as the others entered the room, then quickly changed to concern when he saw Marguerite.
    He rose and took her from Ellis and Lindy and led her to the chair he had just vacated. “I’ll get you a cognac.”
    Marguerite smiled at him. “Thank you, dear. I think you can go to bed now, Sandiman. We’ll help ourselves.”
    Sandiman nodded slightly. “Good night, madame.” He nodded again to the others and quit the room.
    “Robert, you look ghastly,” said Marguerite. “You are taking too much of this on yourself. Chi-Chi, please take him to bed.”
    Robert shook his head. “I’ve been thinking about something that happened yesterday. If only I had paid more attention . . .” He took a deep breath, which caught in his throat. Chi-Chi covered his hand in hers.
    He smiled a wan smile at her. “No, it’s just that—well—the thing is—Larry asked to speak to me yesterday. He seemed, I don’t know, 26

    Midsummer Murder
    worried. It was unusual for him to seek me out, but I thought he had probably just pulled some stunt that he was sure would get him into trouble and he was trying to deflect the outcome. I put him off until after men’s class today.” He took a sip of brandy then held the glass cupped in both hands between his knees. “Only by today he was dead. I thought I would just let him sweat a little. He was always so sure of himself. I figured that giving him time to stew over it would at least make him think twice about doing it again. Whatever it was.”
    Robert lowered his head and stared into the brandy snifter. “I didn’t realize he was so disturbed. I should have talked to him then and there. What have I done?”
    Marguerite was out of her chair and sitting next to Robert before the others had time to react. “Stop it this instant, Robert Stokes. It was probably just what you thought it was, and talking to him wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
    Robert looked at her bleakly. “But what if—”
    “He had an accident, plain and simple.”
    “But what if it wasn’t an accident? If he was really troubled and I turned him away. He might have been desperate.” Robert’s voice broke off. His head jerked from one face to the other.
    “Are you suggesting that the boy might have killed himself?”
    asked Stuart.
    “Nonsense,” said Marguerite. “Larry Cleveland was not a boy to commit suicide. He took one too many chances, and his luck ran out.
    There it is.” She looked around the room. “I will not have Robert taking the blame on himself. I’m sorry the boy is dead, but no amount of second guessing will bring him back.”
    “Did you tell this to the police?” asked Stuart.
    “No, I—I didn’t think about it until after they had left. I’m still not sure it has anything to do with what happened.”
    “Perhaps you should.”
    “I hardly see how that would help.” Ellis walked back from the window where he had been standing. He looked at Stuart. “Well, if he must, he must, but I still don’t see how it will help.”
    “I’ll tell them first thing in the morning, I’m sure they’ll be back,” Robert said bitterly. “Though I’m not looking forward to talking with Byron.”
    Chi-Chi patted his hand. “I think we’ll go