Mary Daheim - Saks & Violins

Sak s

Violin s

A B E D - A N D - B R E A K F A S T M Y S T E R Y MARY

DAHEIM

Contents

ONE

JUDITH MCMONIGLE FLYNN gnashed

her teeth, slammed the front door

TWO

NURSE PRACTITIONER DAVIS could find

nothing seriously wrong with Gertrude.

THREE

RENIE ARRIVED AT five minutes to seven,

just as the

FOUR

JUDITHS ANXIETY TEMPORARILY

turned into outrage. She took one look

FIVE

AT THREE OCLOCK that afternoon,

the medical examiner informed the

SIX

CAT! MORGENSTERN CRIED.

SEVEN

WHAT, JUDITH DEMANDED on the

phone, did you do with

EIGHT

SUZANNE REQUESTED A bowl of

soup for her mother. Homemade,

NINE

DONT SAY WE could have another

dead body! Judith cried.

TEN

GREGORY WAS STARING into space

when Judith brought him his

ELEVEN

JUDITH REALIZED SHE could be

wrong. If she hadnt quite

TWELVE

SUZANNE WAS SCREAMING at Gregory.

Gregory was screaming right back

THIRTEEN

THE COUSINS WAITED to finish their

discussion until they returned

FOURTEEN

MORGENSTERN AND OGRADY came

back downstairs twenty minutes later.

Judith

FIFTEEN

JOE HASNT TAKEN down the porch

swing, Judith said thoughtfully.

SIXTEEN

ARE THEY THERE yet? Are they there

yet? Are they

SEVENTEEN

JUDITH WAS STUNNED. She stumbled

against the table that held

EIGHTEEN

I SUPPOSE, ROSEMARY ventured,

you should give the bracelet back

NINETEEN

JUDITH WAS ASTONISHED by Suzannes

jubilation. Are you sure youre

TWENTY

JUDITH WAS JOINED by Renie

and Olive.

TWENTY-ONE

I WAS ABOUT to call the cops, Renie

said from

TWENTY-TWO RENIE REPORTED THAT Estelle was

still alive and snoring.

TWENTY-THREE STANDING BY THE front door, Judith

couldnt hear any noise

About the Author

Praise

Other Books by Mary Daheim

Cover

Copyright

About the Publisher

ONE

JUDITH MCMONIGLE FLYNN gnashed her teeth, slammed the front door so hard that the screen rattled, and decided to call the police. She had gotten as far as the kitchen when her husband, Joe, sauntered in from the pantry.

Whats wrong? he inquired, noting his wifes grim look.

Rudi, Judith snapped. Rudi and his violin. I cant stand it another minute. And neither can the BB guests. Id like to strangle your first wife for renting her house to that awful man.

Come on, Joe said, trying to sound reasonable. You were elated when Vivian decided to stay year-round in Florida. Face it, youve never really liked having her live so close to us in the cul-de-sac.

Judith admitted that was true. The situation had always been awkward, though in fairness, Vivian Flynn hadnt turned out to be as big a pain as Judith had feared. For one thing, Vivianor Herself as Judith had nicknamed herspent at least half of the year in a condo on Floridas Gulf coast. When she was in residence on Heraldsgate Hill, Vivian was usually too busy drinking her way through the day to pester her ex-husband and his second wife. Herself was a creature of the night, and whatever 2 Mary

Daheim

she did after hours seldom disturbed Judith and Joe or the guests at Hillside Manor BB.

But Rudolf Wittener had brought a new element into the cozy cul-de-sac of agreeable neighbors. Im talking about her choice of a tenant, Judith declared. You know many of our guests complain about Rudi practicing his damned violin or playing his own recordings at all hours. The last straw was during that hot spell in August when he rehearsed outsidein the nude. That poor woman from Vermont fainted.

No wonder, Joe remarked, his green eyes mischievous.

Shed probably never seen her husband in the nude. I might faint if I saw that guy naked. Hes so skinny that she could have shipped him here from Vermont in a mailing tube.

Judith tried not to smile. Im serious. Talking to Rudi didnt do any good. We both tried that. He knows youre a retired policemanthat doesnt bother him. Some of the other neighbors have complained, too, including Carl and Arlene Rankers. I even spoke to his wife or girlfriend or whatever she is. Zip. He just keeps sawing away.

I thought the girl was his daughter, Joe said, taking a gingersnap out of the sheep-shaped cookie jar on the kitchen table.

Judith shook her head. Definitely not. At least she doesnt call him Daddy. She uses his first name. Hers is Taryn, I think. She gives music lessons in the basement, but luckily you cant hear that.

Joe poured himself a mug of coffee. If its true that hes taken on a job as assistant concertmaster with the symphony, the seasons under way. Didnt they already have their big gala about a week ago? Hell be playing or at rehearsals most of the time. Besides, were into fall. The weathers changing. Doors and windows will be closed. Ill bet you fifty bucks we wont be hearing much of Rudi for a while.

Youd better be right, Judith said. Id bet a lot more than fifty that weve lost several potential return visitors in the two and a half months since Rudi moved in.

SAKS VIOLINS

Munching on the gingersnap, Joe shrugged. Youve got to admit, he plays well.

Judith shot Joe a dirty look. Yes. But even if he doesnt actually practice more than an hour or so a day, he plays those tapes or whatever over and over again, and theyre way too loud. Id like to kill him.

The gold flecks that had danced in Joes eyesmagic eyes, Judith called themfaded. Dont say things like that.

Judith grimaced. No. No, I shouldnt.

You do have a history when it comes to dead people, he said, and though he tried to keep his voice light, his expression was somber.

I know. Judith put a hand on his arm. I swear to you, I dont want history ever repeating itself.

Joe tried not to look dubious.

Im calling from our new slum, said the muted voice at the other end of the line.

Judith frowned. It sounded like Cousin Renie, but the words didnt quite fit. Yes? Judith replied in a noncommittal tone.

Bill and I have to sell the house.

It was definitely Renie. What? Judith practically shouted. Renie sighed loudly. How else can I pay off those bills from the San Francisco trip? When Cruz Cruises went bellyup after the homicide investigation last March, I not only lost their graphic-design account, but I never got reimbursed for myourexpenses.

Judith thought back to the longvery longweekend she had spent with Renie in San Francisco. They were supposed to go on a cruise to the Cook Islands, but on the night of their departure, murder had intervened. The trip was eventually canceledand so was the cruise line, which had more problems than a dead owner.

Surely, Judith said wryly, youre not including all those clothes and shoe bills you ran up at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. I assume they werent business expenses.

4 Mary

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Well... Renie paused. They are. Ive tried to deduct my clothes from our income tax, but the IRS is so unreasonable. Dont they realize that I cant meet clients in the old crap I wear around the house?

That, Judith had to admit, was true. Renies at-home wardrobe consisted of ratty T-shirts, baggy sweatshirts, and tattered pants. She lookedas Renie and Bills children insistedlike a bum. You spent a grand on shoes alone at Neiman Marcus, Judith pointed out. And I know you must have shelled out five times that much at Saks. You even bought me clotheswhich Ive finally paid you back for.

Yes, yes, Renie said impatiently, but there are other considerations. Like food and clothing and The Children.

Judith hung her head. She really didnt want to hear any more complaints about the three married Jones children and their spouses. They all lived in distant locales, but were constantly short of funds. Tom, Anne, and Tony Jones had decent jobs, but none of them made big salaries. Annes husband was still studying to be a doctor; Toms wife was involved in Catholic charities in Guam; Tonys spouse had turned her law degree into a virtual charity, too, devoting her practice to pro bono work with Native Americans in New Mexico. All of the in-laws parents had sufficient money to helpbut they werent saps like Renie. Despite Bills solid, sensible advice, Renie had always spoiled their children. And now she was paying the priceusually a big one.