Gone With the Win: A Bed-And-Breakfast Mystery by Mary Daheim Read Free Book Online Page A

kitchen with Ruby, but recognized the voices of the officers talking to Joe in the entry hall. “These cops are rather young, but they know what they’re doing,” she assured her bleary-eyed guest. “I’m glad they didn’t use their siren. Are you sure I can’t get you something to drink?”
    “I feel like I’ve had plenty to drink,” Ruby replied, “but I don’t remember doing it. If I’m hungover, I’d like to know if I had fun.”
    “Don’t push yourself,” Judith cautioned. “You may be in shock. After a good night’s sleep, things may start coming back to you.” She paused, hearing the voices of the trio grow fainter. “Joe must be going around the house with them. I wonder if they went into the living room or upstairs.”
    Ruby looked up at the kitchen’s high ceiling. “Can you hear them walking around up there?”
    Judith shook her head. “Not unless they tromp. As you may’ve noticed, the hall is carpeted.” She paused again. “Yes, they have gone upstairs. If they’d stayed on this floor, we could still hear them. I imagine Joe checked out the parlor and the living and dining rooms while he was waiting, so I assume nothing was amiss. I wonder if I should check on Mother. Do you mind if I run out to make sure she’s okay?”
    Ruby shrugged. “Go ahead.”
    Judith grabbed her jacket to ward off the rain. To her relief, Gertrude was at the card table, playing solitaire. “Well?” the old lady said. “To what do I owe this dubious pleasure?”
    “I just thought I’d see if you were all right,” Judith explained. “Sometimes an accident like yours has a delayed reaction.”
    Gertrude narrowed her faded blue eyes. “Like death?”
    Judith expelled an exasperated sigh. “No, Mother. You know I worry about you.”
    “Okay, Toots, I’ll give you credit for that much.” She slapped an ace on a deuce and palmed a string of clubs. “Gotcha! I win this game.”
    “Good for you. It’s been quiet around here tonight, right? I mean, so you could focus on the cards.”
    Gertrude scowled. “I can always focus on the cards. It’s your aunt Deb who drives me nuts when we play bridge. She likes to gab, and then we get into it when she’s my partner. I’m not there to visit, I’m there to . . .” Her eyes narrowed. “What’s going on? You find another stiff on the front porch?”
    “Of course not!” Judith winced. Gertrude was the only person who could see through her daughter’s so-called fibs. “Okay, okay. Someone apparently came in the back door and walked through the house. It could’ve been a guest, but they usually use the front door because they have a key and know we don’t lock up until ten.”
    “Did you call the cops or is Lunkhead pretending he remembers how to figure out how his pants got stolen while he was wearing them?”
    “Two patrol officers are going through the house now.”
    “So Dim Bulb doesn’t remember,” Gertrude said, putting the deck into her card shuffler. “I hope he’s not running around in his BVDs.”
    “He’s not.” Judith remained patient. “Just make sure you’re locked in, and if you hear anything unusual, let me know.”
    “Like your so-called better half’s brain working? If that happens, I won’t call you, I’ll call the Times and the TV stations. That’s news .”
    Judith leaned down to kiss her mother’s cheek. “Fine. Just be careful.” She hurried out of the toolshed, but made sure that the door was securely locked behind her.
    When she returned to the kitchen, Joe was coming through the half doors from the dining room. “I used your master key so Smith and Wesson could check all the rooms,” he said, looking grim. “Only one was disturbed.” His gaze turned to Ruby. “You’re in Room Two, right?” He didn’t wait for a response. “It’s been trashed. What have you got that somebody wants?”
    Ruby looked startled. “Nothing. I travel light. Besides, I don’t have anything worth stealing. Not even