Mama Gets Trashed (A Mace Bauer Mystery) Read Free

Mama stood up and snatched the paper away, even before Marty had a chance to sit down.
    “Let me see! Is there anything on that murdered girl?’’
    “Don’t know, Mama. I didn’t even have a moment to glance at it before someone ripped it forcibly from me.’’
    Marty had been the reliably sweet sister since the three of us were girls, but she was speaking her mind more and more these days. It was partly because she had more responsibility at her library job, but I thought it was mainly Maddie rubbing off on her. Mama seemed not to notice Marty’s snarky tone. Picking up on subtle criticism wasn’t her strong suit.
    She took her seat again, and spread the purloined paper on the table. “Yes! Here it is: ‘Murdered Woman was New Resident.’’’
    Maddie an d I angled closer, each reading over one of Mama’s shoulders. Marty moved behind her, peering over the top of her head. “Ohmigod.’’ She barely breathed the words as she gripped the back of Mama’ s chair.
    “What?’’ Maddie and I asked at once. Our sister’s fair skin had paled to alabaster. She clutched a hand to her throat.
    “Th … tha … that picture,’’ Marty stammered, pointing at the article’s photo of a serious-looking young woman with long dark hair and intelligent eyes. It appeared to be a reproduction of a picture on a driver’s license or employee badge.
    “Did you know her?’’ Mama turned in her chair to look at Marty.
    “She works with me at the library. I mean, worked.’’
    “Oh, honey!’’ Mama patted gently at Marty’s arm. “Were you close?’’
    Marty lowered herself into a seat at the table. “Not really. She’s only been with us for a few months. But we just sat together at lunch last week. It’s so weird to think she’s dead.’’
    “What did you have?’’ Maddie asked.
    Mama, Marty, and I looked at her like she’d stepped off a spaceship from Planet Clueless.
    “Is that relevant?’’ I said.
    “Probably not.’’ Maddie shrugged. “I just wondered.’’
    “Veggie pizza,’’ Marty said.
    “This says her name was Camilla Law. She was originally from England, but she’s been in the United States for several years,’’ Mama read from the paper.
    “That explains her accent,’’ Marty said. “A lot of people just thought she was snobby.’’
    “Maybe she came from money. That would fit with the diamond bracelet,’’ I said.
    “What diamond bracelet?’’ Marty asked.
    “She was wearing one when we found her,’’ I said. “You’d never seen her wear it at work?’’
    Marty shook her head. “I’d have remembered that.’’
    Mama tapped the article to get our attention. “It doesn’t mention the bracelet. It goes into a few details about the black leather and fishnets, but nothing about that strange dog collar.’’ She continued scanning the story. “Your fiancé is quoted, Mace.’’
    “Let me guess,’’ I said. “He told the reporter the murder is under investigation, and the authorities will pursue all possible leads.’’
    Mama grinned. “Very close. He didn’t say the word ‘murder.’ He called it ‘the circumstances of the victim’s death.’”
    “Oh, it’s murder,’’ I said, taking a sip of my coffee. “People don’t die of natural causes while they’re out walking in the city dump wearing leather sex clothes.’’
    Mama tapped at the paper again. “Oh, y’all … listen to what our brand new mayor, Big Bill Graf, had to say. ‘The risqué clothing this young woman was wearing in no way reflects community morals in Himmarshee. We’re all about family values here.’’’
    “What a tool.” Maddie stuck a teaspoon into my coffee and stole a swallow. “Needs more sugar, Mace.’’
    I moved the cup out of her reach.
    “Sounds like he’s blaming the victim,’’ Marty said.
    Maddie said, “So a leather … what was it called again?’’
    “Bustier,’’ Mama provided.
    “Right. A leather bustier is a sin, but murder is