Death in a Summer Colony by Aaron Stander Read Free Book Online Page A

crowd.” He moved closer to Hanna, tipping his head in her direction. “I’m sorry I didn’t quite get your name, Miss, when you came in. I have trouble hearing when there’s a lot of background noise.”
    “Hanna Jeffers,” she responded.
    “And what do you do?”
    “I’m a cardiologist.”
    “Well, welcome. It’s good to have a doctor in the house, or on the deck in this case. Especially given the age of this crowd. Maybe you can tell me what’s current medical theory,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. “Most of us here believe that having a few drinks before dinner is enormously heart healthy.”
    Hanna considered his statement and caught herself just before she launched into a discussion of diet and exercise, her usual mantra with heart patients.
    “I think we’re pretty health-conscious as a group,” said Grubbs. He turned his attention to Ray, “That young assistant of yours, what’s her name again?”
    “Sue Lawrence. She’s going to be here before the curtain goes up.”
    “I’ll entrust the tickets to you, then,” said Grubbs, fishing them out of an inside pocket. “They’re center seats ten rows back from the front.” Grubbs’ final words were almost drowned out by a helicopter coming straight in from the lake, slowing and banking in the direction of the cottage, and then disappearing over a neighboring dune.
    Grubbs, his eyes turned toward the craft, mouthed what appeared to be a short string of obscenities, his words drowned out by the scream of the jet engine and low, percussive pounding of the whirling blades.
    “Malcolm always makes a dramatic entrance, doesn’t he,” said a short, portly man coming to Grubbs’ side, “even if he’s not invited. What do you think, Grubby, was he really coming this direction or did he have his pilot do a flyover to remind us of his importance.”
    “Well, at least you know your leading man has returned to the area in time for the performance.” He gestured toward Ray and Hanna. “I’d like to introduce our local Sheriff, Ray Elkins and his guest, Dr. Hanna Jeffers. And this is Sterling Shevlin, who has directed our annual summer colony play for what…?”
    “This is my thirty-third year,” answered Shevlin. “My grandparents had a place in the colony, and my first stage experience was here in the children’s drama program. I made a trip back here in my thirties as a one-summer replacement for the long-time director, and the rest is…”
    “And a very good history it has been,” interrupted Grubbs. “You see, Sheriff, and Dr. Hanna, the summer play pulls together so many talents from our group. Costumes get made, sets get built—and then we have actors, light people, properties—the whole community gets involved, more so than anything else. And then we have this cocktail party and dinner, followed by the grand performance.”
    “How do you decide what play to produce?” Ray asked Shevlin.
    “I look for something that’s fairly light. I want a play with lots of parts, both genders, and a big age span. In this one we’ve got a rangefrom teenagers to people in their eighties. Fifteen years ago we did a Christie play, and it was hugely popular. People have been pestering me to do another. So I looked at her other plays and selected Murder at the Vicarage.”
    “He’s just wicked,” said Grubbs. “He’s got Malcolm Wudbine cast as Colonel Protheroe, a man loathed by everyone in St. Mary Mead.”
    “Wicked, no,” said Shevlin. “He told me he had to have a part, but he didn’t want to learn any lines this year. So I accommodated him, like we always accommodate Malcolm. He gets to wear a period costume, and all he has to do is slump over a desk and try not to move too much for a few minutes. It’s just a perfect part for him. And a great plot. Everyone in the village wanted old Protheroe dead, and the audience gets to try to solve that mystery before dear Miss Marple sorts it all out just before the final curtain.”