Death By Bourbon by Abigail Keam Read Free Book Online

from her first marriage. She had married
     against her family’s wishes by running off with the chauffeur – literally. It turned
     out that the man had a natural ability with money and turned her little inheritance
     into a great big fortune by pulling her funds out of IBM and AT&T and putting them
     into companies like Microsoft in the ‘80s, and then again pulling out before tech
     stocks took a hit. Most of her money was now sitting in long-term CDs with six percent
     or better interest. It is rumored that her big mansion, her expensive cars and her
     jewelry are all paid for – no debt.
    Unfortunately, her wise husband didn’t make it to see his daughter graduate from a
     big ivory tower school before he died of brain cancer.
    After mourning for a suitable period of time, Doreen took up with a handsome TV star
     whom she met at a Kentucky Derby party. He had a bad gambling problem, which was kept
     hidden until he had access to Doreen’s money. After he had paid off his bookies, loan
     sharks and past girlfriends who had given him money, Doreen’s fortune had taken a
     big hit. Needless to say, after receiving a few bank statements, she got rid of him
     quick.
    “Doreen changed after that,” remarked June. “She became obsessed with money . . .
     or rather with keeping it. It has been years since I have seen Doreen pick up a lunch
     tab or give to a charity. I just don’t call her anymore for fundraisers. She is so
     cheap she won’t even give her old coats away to the needy. She goes to Florida for
     a few months every year and that’s the most exciting thing she does. Doreen is a rather
     boring woman, I’m afraid to say. You know, poor is a state of mind but broke is only
     a situation. Doreen is a poor person no matter how much money she has.”
    “What about Addison? I though he was rather dashing. She had to have something to
     attract him.”
    “She brought that man back from Florida complete with a tan, English accent and exquisite
     manners. I don’t know how that charming man stood her,” complained June, ringing for
     her tray to be taken away.
    I heard the elevator switch on.
    “I’d best be going,” I said, putting down my napkin. “Jake is cooling his heels in
     the kitchen.”
    “Thanks for checking on me.”
    “Always, darling.”
    “Josiah, remember my advice about Meriah.”
    “I will. I’ll be good from now on.”
    June chortled, “That will be the day.”
    I wheeled into the hallway and greeted Amelia coming to collect the trays. We spoke
     for a few moments before moving on. Amelia also worked as a docent on the Butterfly
     tours. It was from Amelia or Charles that I got the goodies of what was really happening
     in the “big house.” She had just given me some interesting dope on Doreen DeWitt and
     June’s latest houseguest.
    As I started to get into the elevator, Meriah stepped out of her bedroom and beckoned
     to me. Curious, I pushed myself down the expansive hallway and into her room.
    Unlike June’s girlie motif, Meriah’s room was very masculine with dark green walls
     and heavy traditional furniture. Meriah seemed at ease in it. Obviously her taste
     was more conservative than Lady Elsmere’s.
    “Josiah, can we make peace?” asked Meriah. “This snapping at each other is not good.”
    “I don’t know about that,” I replied. “I feel pretty good insulting you.”
    “You don’t think highly of me, do you?” pouted Meriah.
    “I don’t think of you often, but when I do, it’s not favorable. Over the past year
     or so, you have latched onto an old lady who is lonely and you have played that card
     to the hilt. I understand that you have not paid for one darn thing since you have
     been in this house. The least you can do is take June out for lunch now and then to
     repay her kindness.
    “Then you have tried to interfere in my life by writing about it for your pulp novels.
     Tacky. I also know from a few verbal slips here and there that you tried to