A Box Full of Trouble
Page 99
I relax in a spot of sun on the dock, watching the insects on the water or napping. Jocko dashes up and down the dock for a while, occasionally barking at nothing as though he's lost the plot, poor sod. Finally, he settles in the shade on the bank.
To my surprise, Noah and Erin catch a pair of striped bass despite engaging in plenty of kissing and cuddling as they fish. We return to the house just as Tammy Lynn pulls in the driveway, and while I pride myself on not displaying undignified demonstrations of affection, I make sure she knows I'm quite chuffed to see her.
We enjoy a delightful evening. While everyone else is on the patio having drinks, I discover Shelby Rae in the kitchen filling a plate with chicken, cornbread, and chocolate chip cookies. She snags a bottle of wine, too, to take back to her room, thus depriving us of her company. As she leaves the kitchen, she spies me in a corner observing her. Her eyes narrow and she makes a noise that’s a sad cross between a meow and a hiss. I will not be provoked, and only blink. Perhaps I'll leave a special gift for her in one of her sheepskin mule slippers tonight.
Noah's mother has come for dinner, and she looks much less weary and overworked than she did the first time I saw her. Erin and Noah are rather sweet with her, and when Bruce announces that he's arranged with his accountant to pay any bills Noah incurs to earn his undergraduate degree, to thank him for all he's done, she bursts into happy tears that give her the hiccups. Everyone laughs.
Bruce does not forget my contribution. He tells Tammy Lynn he will donate five thousand dollars to the Wetumpka animal charity of her choice because of my fine detective skills. The assembled humans toast my success, but I pretend not to notice as I enjoy my fine dinner of asparagus tips and fresh grilled bass.
About the Author
Laura Benedict is the Edgar- and ITW Thriller Award- nominated author of seven novels of suspense, including the forthcoming The Stranger Inside (February 2019). Her Bliss House gothic trilogy includes: The Abandoned Heart, Charlotte’s Story (Booklist starred review), and Bliss House. Laura’s short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and in numerous anthologies like Thrillers: 100 Must-Reads, The Lineup: 20 Provocative Women Writers, and St. Louis Noir. A native of Cincinnati, she lives in Southern Illinois with her family.
www.laurabenedict.com