Take a Dive for Murder by Millie Mack Read Free Book Online Page B

tuition.”
    “That’s wonderful. Good luck with your studies and thanks for the coffee.”
    “Thank you, miss.” As Mary left, Carrie found herself thinking about Mrs. Faraday. Here again was Mrs. Faraday doing something nice for another person. Mrs. Faraday, whom Carrie always thought of as cold, was sponsoring Mary in this country and providing for her education.
    Carrie took a quick shower and then sat down wrapped in her robe to savor Mary’s coffee and think. She initially thought she might be jumping to conclusions that Jamie’s death was murder, but his letter validated that she was on the right track. She would have to stay alert and be careful as she followed in Jamie’s shoes. She finished her first cup of coffee and thought about a second, but then decided, nothing is going to be accomplished with me sitting here drinking coffee. I wonder what you wear to the reading of a will.
    ***
    Two hours later, Carrie knew she made the right decision about what to wear. Her smoke blue dress with her navy blazer blended in nicely with Mrs. Faraday’s charcoal suit and the other assortment of dark suits worn by the men. Only Suzanne showed up in a brightly colored flowered dress, with little-girl lace trim on the collar and sleeves.
    The first order of business was to see how Simpson was feeling. Carrie thought he looked rather intriguing, with the white bandage cocked over his left eye.
    “Really, folks, I’m fine. These things happen all the time when you live in a city.” He seemed embarrassed by all the attention. “Perhaps if you could all find seats…”
    Carrie took a seat at the back of the room and left the chairs closest to Simpson’s desk for the family. Joel started to take the chair next to Carrie, when Charles slipped in next to her.
    “I’m sorry, Joel, did you want to sit here?” Charles asked innocently.
    “No, no, it’s fine. I’ll sit next to Stone,” Joel responded.
    Carrie turned to look at Charles, but he never turned his head to meet her eyes. Nothing was said between them, and they both sat silently as the proceedings started.
    Carrie was surprised by the lack of anticipation from the group because she was certainly experiencing a sense of excitement. She could feel her rapid heartbeat and there was an empty feeling in her stomach.
    “It looks like everyone is here, so let’s get started.” Simpson took his place behind his massive mahogany desk, opened his center drawer, and broke the seal on an oversized blue envelope. He carefully unfolded the legal-size paper and began to read. “I, James Wesley Faraday, being of sound mind and body…”
    Sometimes the strangest thoughts would come to Carrie at the oddest moments. She realized she never knew Jamie’s middle name was Wesley. She also knew his classmates at college would have teased him mercilessly if they had known this piece of information. She focused back on Simpson’s reading.
    The first bequests were items Carrie classified as mementos rather than items of real value. Jamie left his boxes of personal photos and a Scottish tea set of Emma’s to his mother, a chess set and watch to his brother, his beer stein collection to Joel, several first-edition books to Stone and a small bequest to Mrs. Cavanaugh. Then Simpson proceeded to the more substantial bequests. Suzanne was left a sum of fifty thousand dollars, with a thank you from Jamie “for giving up her career to be my companion.” Carrie thought this was a generous sum of money, but Suzanne showed no emotion. Simpson continued the bequests by announcing that all of Jamie’s remaining assets, including life insurance, investments, any royalties from his writings, plus Jamie’s share of his father’s estate, were left to Christopher. Charles was named as guardian of Christopher and his newfound wealth.
    “I name my brother , Charles, as administrator of Christopher’s money, until he reaches the age of twenty-five. I know Charles would accept this duty without