Bones & Boxes: a Hetty Fox Cozy Mystery (Hetty Fox Cozy Mysteries Book 1) Read Free Page B
Author: Anna Drake
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adjustment, then.”
“Yes, but Hendricksville has a lot to offer. It’s just of a different sort, that’s all.”
Finished with squaring away our gear, she turned back to us. “Why don’t we go to the kitchen. I’ve made fresh coffee, and there’s a nice cheese danish.”
Once there, she scurried about, collecting cups and saucers and instructing Jennifer and me to make ourselves at home.
We crossed to the kitchen table and sat.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I said.
“I can’t believe Aunt Carrie was murdered. It’s like some kind of nightmare.”
“I’m sure it must be.”
Rose arrived with the tray and settled coffee cups on the table along with a sugar and creamer. Jennifer glanced up at her. “Have you heard anything more from the detective?”
“No, and I really don’t expect to. I’m sure he’ll be more open with you than he was with us.”
“I hope so. I’m meeting him after I leave here. I just thought with you being there last night, you might have picked up more information on how and why this happened.”
She shook her head. “The man was more interested in dragging answers out of us than in sharing his thoughts with us.”
I scooped a spoonful of sugar into my coffee. “He might not be free with his information, but I suspect he’s good at his job.”
“I agree,” she said. “It was such a shock though… finding your aunt like that.”
Jennifer’s face grew pale.
Rose looked alarmed. “Oh dear, I am sorry.” She patted Jennifer’s arm. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No, no. I’m fine,” Jennifer answered. But I could see the tension in the way she held her head and in the tightness of her smile. “I just hope he catches whoever did this.”
She finished slicing the Danish and passed the plates around without saying anything more.
I picked up my fork. “Do you have any thoughts on who might have wanted your aunt dead?”
Jennifer smiled weakly. “I was wondering the same thing all the way here. Unfortunately, I can’t imagine anyone who’d want to murder her. She got along with everyone. The only thing I could come up with is that it had to have been someone who broke into her home.”
I leaned forward. “I doubt it. There weren’t any signs of a burglary. The windows weren’t broken out. The doors were secure.”
Jennifer frowned.
I rushed on, attempting to explain myself. “Please keep in mind I’m just an old woman who reads mysteries. What do I know? But, if asked, I’d say the killer was someone your mother knew and trusted.”
Rose patted her hand. “Don’t give up hope, dear. We all want this killer caught.”
Jennifer sighed and nodded. “In the meantime, I need to get things underway. I thought I’d stop by the mortuary today. Set up whatever plans I can. Then, I have to hurry home. I’m in the midst of a big project at work. Plus, the children are young. And my husband’s a busy man. I can’t afford the time to stay here just now.”
I folded my napkin. “There’s never a good time for something like this, is there?”
Jennifer nodded. “So…. I know this may sound rude, but I was wondering, Rose, if you’d go through Carrie’s house for me? Sort through her things?”
“Oh, my.” Her hand flew to her chest. “I wouldn’t know where to begin. Plus, surely you want to take a look for yourself? Then, what about your brothers? They may want mementos or something.”
“They couldn’t be bothered with Aunt Carrie while she lived. They’ll just have to put up with what I decide. Carrie made it very clear before she died. I’m the administrator of the estate. What I say goes.”
I stirred my coffee. “Maybe, you could give Rose some guidance. Tell her exactly what you want her to toss out?”
Nodding, Jennifer turned back to Rose. “You could start with the clothes. They can all go. Then all the old papers and junk. My aunt was sweet, but she kept everything. There are years of garbage
“Yes, but Hendricksville has a lot to offer. It’s just of a different sort, that’s all.”
Finished with squaring away our gear, she turned back to us. “Why don’t we go to the kitchen. I’ve made fresh coffee, and there’s a nice cheese danish.”
Once there, she scurried about, collecting cups and saucers and instructing Jennifer and me to make ourselves at home.
We crossed to the kitchen table and sat.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I said.
“I can’t believe Aunt Carrie was murdered. It’s like some kind of nightmare.”
“I’m sure it must be.”
Rose arrived with the tray and settled coffee cups on the table along with a sugar and creamer. Jennifer glanced up at her. “Have you heard anything more from the detective?”
“No, and I really don’t expect to. I’m sure he’ll be more open with you than he was with us.”
“I hope so. I’m meeting him after I leave here. I just thought with you being there last night, you might have picked up more information on how and why this happened.”
She shook her head. “The man was more interested in dragging answers out of us than in sharing his thoughts with us.”
I scooped a spoonful of sugar into my coffee. “He might not be free with his information, but I suspect he’s good at his job.”
“I agree,” she said. “It was such a shock though… finding your aunt like that.”
Jennifer’s face grew pale.
Rose looked alarmed. “Oh dear, I am sorry.” She patted Jennifer’s arm. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No, no. I’m fine,” Jennifer answered. But I could see the tension in the way she held her head and in the tightness of her smile. “I just hope he catches whoever did this.”
She finished slicing the Danish and passed the plates around without saying anything more.
I picked up my fork. “Do you have any thoughts on who might have wanted your aunt dead?”
Jennifer smiled weakly. “I was wondering the same thing all the way here. Unfortunately, I can’t imagine anyone who’d want to murder her. She got along with everyone. The only thing I could come up with is that it had to have been someone who broke into her home.”
I leaned forward. “I doubt it. There weren’t any signs of a burglary. The windows weren’t broken out. The doors were secure.”
Jennifer frowned.
I rushed on, attempting to explain myself. “Please keep in mind I’m just an old woman who reads mysteries. What do I know? But, if asked, I’d say the killer was someone your mother knew and trusted.”
Rose patted her hand. “Don’t give up hope, dear. We all want this killer caught.”
Jennifer sighed and nodded. “In the meantime, I need to get things underway. I thought I’d stop by the mortuary today. Set up whatever plans I can. Then, I have to hurry home. I’m in the midst of a big project at work. Plus, the children are young. And my husband’s a busy man. I can’t afford the time to stay here just now.”
I folded my napkin. “There’s never a good time for something like this, is there?”
Jennifer nodded. “So…. I know this may sound rude, but I was wondering, Rose, if you’d go through Carrie’s house for me? Sort through her things?”
“Oh, my.” Her hand flew to her chest. “I wouldn’t know where to begin. Plus, surely you want to take a look for yourself? Then, what about your brothers? They may want mementos or something.”
“They couldn’t be bothered with Aunt Carrie while she lived. They’ll just have to put up with what I decide. Carrie made it very clear before she died. I’m the administrator of the estate. What I say goes.”
I stirred my coffee. “Maybe, you could give Rose some guidance. Tell her exactly what you want her to toss out?”
Nodding, Jennifer turned back to Rose. “You could start with the clothes. They can all go. Then all the old papers and junk. My aunt was sweet, but she kept everything. There are years of garbage