Read The Bee Balm Murders for Free Online Page B

launching? I guess you’d call it a reverse launching.”
    “Yes.”
    “No champagne smashed over its hood?”
    Victoria smiled weakly.
    “Was she being obnoxious?” asked Elizabeth.
    “No. Not at all.”
    “Are you okay, Gram? You’ve hardly touched your food.”
    “Everything looks delicious, but I don’t have much appetite tonight,” Victoria said. “I’m sorry.”
    “I hope you’re not coming down with something.”
    “I hope not, too. A week ago I pulled a tick off my middle. I didn’t notice until it itched, and by then the tick was well entrenched.”
    “A deer tick?”
    “A tiny one, at any rate.”
    “Do you want to show me where it bit you?”
    Victoria lifted her shirt and pulled down the waistband of her corduroys.
    Elizabeth put her hand on a hot red circle on Victoria’s side, the diameter of an orange slice. “Here?”
    “Yes.”
    “Oh, Gram. It looks like the classic sign of Lyme disease. A bull’s-eye with a dot in the middle.”
    Victoria tucked her shirt back into her trousers.
    Elizabeth remained standing. “We’d better go to the emergency room. You don’t want to mess with Lyme disease.”
    “Tomorrow I read to the elderly at the hospital,” said Victoria. “Doc Jeffers is next to the nursing-home wing.”
    “You sure?”
    “I’m sure.” Victoria got up slowly and carried her plate into the kitchen.
    “Leave the dishes. I’ll do them,” said Elizabeth.
    “Thank you.” Victoria climbed up the stairs to bed.
    *   *   *
    The next morning, Casper Martin called Orion.
    “How’re things in the city, Casper?” Orion selected a working pen from the jelly jar on his desk and turned to a clean sheet on his yellow legal pad.
    “I’ve got a line on a potential investor.”
    “Oh?”
    “A car distributor with a place on the Vineyard wants to communicate fast from the Island with off Island dealerships. He’s willing to invest, but he wants a share in the company.”
    “What’s his name?”
    “Paulson. Roger Paulson.”
    “I’ve heard of him.” Orion noted it on his yellow pad.
    “Also, I’ve located a buddy of Angelo Vulpone’s who has a line on a couple of venture capital firms. Says he can come up with eight million within six months.”
    “What does that mean?” said Orion. “That the guy has contacts? That’s no good, Casper.” Orion looked down to see the maroon SUV drive up and the same man get out and go into the house. Orion checked his watch. Ten-thirty. What was the guy doing home this time of day?
    Casper said, “He’s got a track record.”
    “I don’t like it, Casper. Have you met the guy?”
    “His name’s Finney Solomon, and yeah, I’ve met him. He claims he was mentored by Angelo Vulpone. Want me to set up a meeting with the three of us?”
    “I thought you said Angelo didn’t work with anyone other than his sons.”
    “I didn’t know about Finney Solomon at the time.”
    “Sounds as though he’s nothing but a broker.”
    “Claims he encouraged Angelo to invest with us.”
    Orion sighed. “Set up the meeting, then. Here at the office at his and your convenience, any time this week or next. I suppose he expects us to pay travel and expenses?”
    The man next door came out of the house carrying another Cronig’s bag, again slung it into the backseat, got in, and reversed out of the drive.
    “He pays his own way, he says.”
    “Well, that’s something,” said Orion. “Call me on my cell when you’ve got it set up. I’ll be in the field most of today and tomorrow.”
    *   *   *
    After lunch, Casey helped Victoria stow poetry books in her cloth bag, and carried it out to the Bronco.
    “What are you reading today, Victoria?” Casey asked when they were heading toward the hospital.
    “It doesn’t matter what I read. They’re glad to have anything to break the monotony. A voice, a face. I’ll read bits and pieces until they fall asleep, then stop.”
    “You seem down, Victoria. Are you okay?”
    “I feel a