Scones, Skulls & Scams by Leighann Dobbs Read Free Book Online Page B

under her arm on the center of the table.
    “What have you got there?” Victor asked.
    “These are the blueprints for the old sewer system.” Ruth unrolled one of them, spreading it on the table and holding down the ends with her hands while Nans, Ida and Helen rummaged in their purses for something to weight it down.
    “You don’t say?” Victor pushed his glasses up on his nose and leaned over for a better look at the print. “Where’d you get those?”
    “Down at the town hall,” Nans said producing a small stapler from her purse and plunking it down on one corner of the blueprint.
    “Oh, I thought you had to wait ages to get those old prints run off down there.” Victor returned his attention to his scone.
    “Normally you do,” Ida said placing the small rock she’d taken out of her purse on another corner of the print. “But it turns out someone had just recently gotten a copy of these, so Meredith had them right on her desk, waiting to put them away.”  
    “’Course it helps to know someone down there.” Helen threw down her purse and grabbed a stoneware mug from the self-serve coffee station, then placed it on the third corner of the blueprint.
    “What do you plan to do with them?” Victor asked.
    Ruth plunked her smartphone down on the last corner. “We’re investigating the murder.”
    “Murder?” Victor’s gray brows met his hairline.
    “You know. The skull they found out there.” Nans tilted her head toward the end of the street where the sewer work was still ongoing.
    “I didn’t realize there was an official murder investigation going on about that.” Victor narrowed his eyes at Nans.
    “Well, there isn’t … I mean not officially. The police don’t seem interested in investigating. They said the murder was too long ago. But Ruth, Helen, Ida and I run our own detective agency, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to find out the truth.” Nans reached into her purse and pulled out a business card, which she handed to Victor.
    Victor looked down at the card. “‘Brook Ridge Falls Ladies Detective Club.’ That’s impressive … and sounds like fun. Have you solved any good cases?”
    Nans nodded. “We work with the police all the time and have helped them solve lots of cases. But, of course I can’t be more specific due to confidentiality and all that.”
    “Of course, I understand,” Victor said, “but what makes you so sure the person who belonged to the skull met with a suspicious death?”
    Nans glanced at the others. “Well, we’re not entirely sure, but we have it on good authority the skull had a bullet hole in it.”
    Victor gasped. “A bullet hole? Well, that sure does sound like foul play … or maybe suicide.”
    “Either way, we need to investigate,” Helen said. “He could have family members that have been wondering about him all these years.”  
    “Of course.” Victor slid his chair over next to Helen and bent his head over the blueprints. “So you’re looking for a way into the old sewer system then?”
    Ruth nodded. “We’re hoping we can find some clues as to what happened back then.”
    “But how will you get in? I hear all the entrances are being sealed off with this new sewer project,” Victor said.
    “They are,” Ida answered. “But we’ve learned there are some underground entrances and we plan to find out exactly where they are.”
    “Do you have any idea who the victim is?” Victor glanced at Helen out of the corner of his eye.
    “None at all,” Helen said. “We only know he’s been down there for decades … maybe sixty or seventy years even.”
    “Well, this sounds kind of dangerous,” Victor said.
    “And exciting,” Nans added.
    “It does sound rather exciting. An old buck like me could use some excitement. But you ladies could get hurt.” Victor put his hand on Helen’s arm. “Maybe I should accompany you.”
    “Maybe …” Helen, Nans, Ruth and Ida exchanged uncertain glances. Lexy could tell they were torn