An Anniversary to Die For by Valerie Wolzien Read Free Book Online Page A

take Clue out for you.”
    “Kathleen, Jed’s not at the inn. We both came home. We had to. Ashley was in our bed.”
    Kathleen started to laugh. “You’re kidding me! Was Doug there, too?”
    “No, of course not.”
    “Why of course not?”
    “Because she was . . . She is . . . Kathleen, Ashley’s dead!”
    Kathleen grabbed Susan’s arm. “What did you say?”
    “Ashley’s dead. Someone murdered her. She was in our bed. At the inn. Underneath our gifts. Listen, come into the house and I’ll tell you all about it.”
    “Good idea.”
    Neither woman spoke until they were in Susan’s kitchen. Clue ran upstairs to join Rock and Roll. Kathleen helped herself to juice from the refrigerator, and Susan sat down at the table, her untouched cup of tea waiting for her.
    “Now start at the beginning. You did say Ashley was under your gifts on your bed at the Landing Inn, didn’t you?”
    “It sounds a little weird when you put it like that,” Susan said, getting up and putting the kettle on.
    “That’s how you put it.”
    Susan looked down at her teapot. “I know. And it’s true. Jed and I went up to our room together and discovered the bed piled high with presents. Jed said he would clear the bed while I got a bath. He found Ashley underneath.”
    “What was she wearing?”
    Susan was surprised by the question. “A gorgeous peachy silk dress. It had those little cap sleeves. I can’t wear them—my shoulders are too broad—but on Ashley, they looked stunning.”
    “What she wore to the party.”
    “Yes, of course. Oh, you’re wondering if she had gone home and changed.”
    “Exactly.”
    “No, she looked the same way she had looked at the party—only dead, of course.”
    Kathleen poured herself another glass of juice and sat down at the table. “How did she die?”
    “We think she was poisoned.”
    “Who’s we?”
    “Jed and I. Peter doesn’t agree.”
    “Who’s—”
    But Susan knew what was coming. “Peter Konowitz. I should say Chief Konowitz. He’s the police chief in Oxford Landing.”
    Kathleen frowned. “Is that name familiar for some reason?”
    “It wasn’t to me, but he did work in Hancock for a while. In fact, he was here the summer you and I spent Fourth of July week up in Maine. He must have worked here longer, of course. But I don’t remember meeting him. And apparently he didn’t remember meeting me.”
    “I suppose I heard about him from someone. I assume he’s in charge of the investigation. And you said Brett was there?”
    “Yes. Jed called Brett when he found Ashley. And Brett called Peter.”
    “Of course.”
    “Brett said something about contacting Doug, but I don’t know if he did or not.”
    “Oh, I’m sure he did. Doug is probably somewhere being questioned right now.” She took another sip of her juice. “Why did you think she was poisoned?”
    “Well, she was dead. She obviously had been killed. I mean, if she had died of natural causes she wouldn’t have had gifts piled on her, right?”
    “You think that the person who killed her put her on your bed and then covered her with gifts, right?”
    “Exactly!”
    “Why?”
    “Why what?”
    “Why was she in your room? Why was she on the bed? Why did someone think covering her up was a smart thing to do?”
    Susan looked at Kathleen. “Good questions. Very good questions. I don’t have any idea.”
    “Well, it’s early days yet,” Kathleen said. “You know what I’d really like to know?”
    “What?”
    “Who knew that was your room. There are nine rooms in the inn, right?”
    “In the main building. Eight more in the annex across the street.”
    “And I assume your room is the biggest?”
    “Nope. There’s one suite that’s much bigger. Ours isn’t particularly special—but it’s nice and private on that side of the building.”
    “Was it locked?”
    “Yes, but the inn isn’t exactly up-to-date in that respect.”
    “No little cards with magnetic strips to let you into the