Murder Is Private by Diane Weiner Read Free Book Online Page A

mind to her daughter.She couldn’t resist.
    “I think he beat her,” said Gabby. “Celia wouldn’t admit it––but come on––a sudden black eye, a sprained wrist? The bum even showed up drunk at one of the chorus concerts. She didn’t deserve that.”
    “Why did she stay with him? Why not get a divorce?”
    “Celia was a close friend of mine, Mrs. Wiles. Between you and me, she was planning on leaving him.”
    “She said that?”
    “She’d finally met a man who treated her like a princess. She wouldn’t tell me his name. I wondered if it was because he was married or something.” Gabby blew her nose and wiped her eyes.
    “I’m sorry for your loss, Gabby. I hope they find her killer soon.”
    “I don’t know why they haven’t arrested that bum of a husband, Derrick. It’s clear to me it was him who killed her. If he couldn’t have Celia, then nobody could.” Gabby stood up. “Got to get back; I have a class.” Gabby quickly ran off.
    Susan got up and suddenly slipped on the leaves cluttering the path. Embarrassed, she brushed herself off and looked around to make sure no one had seen her fall. Audrey’s son George had to be the most incompetent gardener she’d ever seen , she thought. How hard is it to pass through the campus with a leaf blower?
    The violinist from last night, Kymani with the dreads, brushed right past her. He was walking toward the arboretum with long, deliberate steps. He wasn’t carrying his violin. Isn’t there an orchestra rehearsal this afternoon? she wondered . She looked at her watch and realized she had some time before chorus rehearsal. I wonder where that Kymani is going in such a hurry.
    Susan followed him toward the arboretum, keeping her distance so he wouldn’t notice her. Leaves crinkled under her sandals. She froze, worried he’d heard her footfalls, but he showed no indication that he had. As she approached the arboretum, she spotted someone in a blue hoodie and jeans leaning against a flowering tree. Kymani approached him. Susan ducked behind the bushes.
    Hoodie boy reached into his backpack and took out a wad of cash which he fanned in front of Kymani’s face as he handed it to him. They huddled up to each other, their backs to Susan. Susan pushed the leaves apart, scratching her hand as she strained to see through the densely packed hedge. Kymani handed something to hoodie boy. If only they hadn’t turned away from her , she thought. The encounter was over in a flash, with the two parties barely uttering words. Kymani left the arboretum the same way he’d come in, and hoodie boy walked off in the opposite direction. Susan looked at her watch and realized her chorus rehearsal was about to start.

Chapter 11

    After chorus rehearsal, Susan locked the room and started home to Audrey’s. This Kymani fellow was surely hiding something, she thought. Was he selling pot? Running a gambling service? Maybe he was selling research papers. Nah, doubtful.
    When she arrived at Audrey’s, Detective Kevin was sitting on the sofa next to Lynette.
    “Hello, Mrs. Wiles,” he greeted her. “How do you like being back in the saddle?”
    “It’s great. Kind of like being a grandmother––play with the baby, then hand her off to her parents when you get tired. I’ll enjoy my teaching at Hemingway High, then retreat back to retired life when I go home. What brings you out here, Kevin?”
    “Just running some ideas by Lynette. Spring Breakers have hit the town big time and most of my colleagues are up to their gills with drunken college students.” He put his arm around Lynette. “Lynette’s a great sounding board. It helps going over the murder case with fresh eyes.”
    “You know,” said Susan, “I’ve been told I’m pretty good at solving mysteries too.” Lynette shot her a dirty look. “For instance, did you know that Celia and her husband were having problems?”
    “We always suspect the spouse first,” replied the detective. Why was Kevin’s arm