A Brush with Death: A Penny Brannigan Mystery - By Elizabeth J. Duncan Page 0,45
now. But, Penny, do hear him out. He’ll probably have some big reason. Men always do.”
Sensing something but not knowing what, she touched Penny on the arm. “What is it?”
Penny shrugged and looked away. “I’m not sure I’d know what to say. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable with that conversation. I think I’d rather just let it go.”
Victoria peered at her. “Well, maybe when the time feels right.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m off. See you tomorrow.”
Penny returned to the living room and stared at the names she had written on the whiteboard: Andrew Peyton, Millicent Mayhew, Cynthia . . . at the sound of her ringing telephone, half expected but nevertheless startling in the stillness, she stopped and turned to look at the phone. She let it ring until it went to voice mail. She looked at the phone for a few more seconds, then returned to her whiteboard and started writing down questions:
Where is Alys’s artwork now?
Did she have any enemies?
Penny thought for a moment and then added the word frenemies? Thinking it was an awful word with even worse implications, she considered the idea that people are usually killed by someone they knew and often that person was a wolf in sheep’s clothing—an enemy disguised as a friend. Someone the victim knew and trusted.
She set the marker down on the whiteboard ledge, then sat down on the sofa that faced it.
And who would Alys have known best and trusted the most? In her personal life, it would have been Emma. In her professional life, it probably was Andrew Peyton, who was preparing the exhibit that would have launched her career.
Penny got up off the sofa and returned to the whiteboard. Picking up the marker, she added to the list:
Did the exhibit go ahead?
The answer to that, she decided, would tell her a lot. She reached for her notebook and made a note to call the Walker Gallery. She doubted anyone would be available on Saturday, and the answer would probably have to wait until next week. But in the meantime, the Llanelen library would be open tomorrow, and she could use the computer there to see what she could find out about the Liverpool three.
The next morning, Penny arrived at the salon almost half an hour before opening time to sort out a box of new samples, and soon after, Eirlys knocked on the door.
“Blimey, Eirlys,” said Penny as she let her in, “you’re early this morning.”
“Morning, Penny,” Eirlys replied brightly. “I was hoping you’d be here. I wanted to ask you something. There’s a fall dance coming up at the school, and I wondered what you would think of the idea of offering a student rate. I know lots of the girls would love to come in for a manicure. Most of them have never even had one, so this would be a good way to introduce them to the idea of coming to the salon, even if just for special occasions.”
“That’s a great idea, Eirlys, and I’ll discuss it with Victoria and we’ll think about it. The problem is that if we offer a student rate, we’ll also have to offer a seniors’ rate, and I just don’t know if we can swing that right now. But it’s definitely something to consider, and I want you to bring all your ideas to me.
“Now, let’s have a look at who’s coming in this morning. I’d like to leave you in charge here while I slip out for a bit.”
“If you’re going to the library to use the computer, why don’t you just buy one?” Eirlys asked innocently as she filled a glass container with cotton balls.
“I want to,” Penny replied, “but I don’t know that much about them. I don’t know what kind to get.”
“You should talk to my brother, then. He’ll help you, and he knows everything there is to know about computers.”
“Of course he does.” Penny smiled. “That’s why you young people are so great to have around.”
She handed Eirlys a small stack of towels and glanced at her watch.
“Anyway, Mrs. Morgan should be here in about ten minutes, so I’m going to leave you to it. I’ll be back at lunchtime to take over, so I’ll see you then.”
Eirlys folded a towel exactly as Penny had shown her, neatly into thirds with the seams and label to the inside, and added it to the stack on the shelf above the sink.
“How about this, then, Penny? We offer the students a discounted