plan on looking like I was just getting ready to sit for my sweet sixteen portrait. Rosy cheeks and all. Even if I have to apply a little rouge. And not a hair out of place. I’ll make sure of that.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes really,” she said as if it were a fact. “I’m sure God’ll give me the strength to make myself presentable when it’s time for us to meet.” Miss Vivee smiled and patted me on my knee.
I looked up to see Deputy Colin Pritchard standing over me. He smelled all woody and fresh and I took in a big whiff. He was tall and he looked so buff and officious in his tan uniform. But his eyes and awkward smile made him look vulnerable, too. Especially with his hand wrapped in a bandage. I just wanted to kiss his “booboo” and make it feel better.
I wouldn’t mind kissing those lips either.
“Yes,” I said, my eyes meeting his. “You need me?”
“May I speak with you,” he said. “I need to talk to you about where you were this morning.”
“Sure,” I said. “I don’t mind.”
“Looks like you’re a suspect, too,” Miss Vivee said with a mischievous wink.
Chapter Ten
“I’ve decided to solve the murder.”
Vivienne Pennywell made her announcement as she came out the house, followed by her dog, and sat next to me on the porch swing.
“You have?” I asked.
“I have.” She set her lips in a firm line. She seemed quite resolute.
I didn’t say anything at first, making sure she didn’t have any more to say. I had just finished giving my statement to the deputy and thought I’d get away from all the fray that was still going on in the house. The crowd of people outside had nearly dissipated. After Miss Vivee’s comment though, I’d probably would’ve been better off staying inside.
I thought I’d try my “no murder happened” approach again.
“Maybe nothing happened,” I said. “It is possible that she had an aneurysm or a heart attack or something. Something natural.”
“I told you once, there wasn’t anything natural about her death. I know exactly how she died and I aim to find out what caused it.” She paused and threw me a glance. “I might need help, though.”
“You want me to help?” I pointed to myself and shook my head. “No. Not me.” I furrowed my brow.
“Yes you,” she said. “Seems like you got a streak of mischief in you. Thinking you’d make a good partner.”
“A streak of mischief? What makes you say that?” I shook my head. “Not me,” I said again. “I’m as upstanding as you can get.”
“That’s not what I heard.” The edges of her lips turned up in a grin.
That stupid FBI guy.
“What did you hear?” I asked. “I’m sure no one knows anything about me. I just got here.”
“My grandson told me you thought you were Indiana Jones.”
“Indiana Jones? He doesn’t . . . I didn’t . . . I don’t know why he’d say that.”
“Are you? You are an archaeologist. They’re good at digging up stuff and piecing together clues.”
“Am I like Indiana Jones? No. Not at all. How do you know who that is anyway?”
“When you get to be my age all you do is watch TV. It keeps people from thinking you’ve gone daft when they see you staring off into space ‘cause your mind done gone blank. You stare at the TV that way they think you’re engrossed in a show.”
“I’m not anything like Indiana Jones,” I repeated and shook my head. “Nothing like that. Maybe my mother is,” I add under my breath. “But not me.”
“Sounds like your mother is a hoot,” Miss Vivee said with a gleam in her eye. “Believing in Martians. You must have had a ball growing up.” She smiled at me. “Maybe you think outside the box like she does? That’s the kind of thinking you need to solve a murder, you know.”
“That may be a little much for you,” I said. “Solving a murder. Seeing that you’re . . . older,” I said coughing into my hand. “I think that Sheriff Haynes and Deputy Pritchard just might have everything covered. Don’t you?”
“Don’t patronize me,” she said. “If I thought they had everything covered, I wouldn’t say I was going to solve it myself.”
“And why don’t you think they can handle it?”
“Lloyd Haynes is a good man and eventually I think he may get to it, but by that time the Maypop Bed & Breakfast will have a reputation of its food killing its