Рита Браун - The Purrfect Murder

“Now what?” Harry, like everyone else in Crozet, was accustomed to family spats.

“Little Mim won’t make a statement declaring a woman has a right to choose and this murder is horrible.”

Harry was incredulous. “I can’t believe that.” She thought a minute. “Well, no one has come forward to say they shot Will because he terminated pregnancies. She may be prudent.”

“Prudent! She told Big Mim she’s the vice mayor of Crozet, elected as a member of the Republican Party, and her mother knows perfectly well the party plank about overturning Roe v. Wade. Now, mind you, I am very uncomfortable with this, and as you know, the Church of the Holy Light is dead set against abortion.” Miranda was a member of the small charismatic church. “But I’m not eighteen. I’m far from the danger of an unwanted pregnancy. Well, anyway, you know what I think about all this. It’s Little Mim who’s the fly in the ointment. Mim says if her daughter doesn’t make some kind of statement, she is all but countenancing such a dreadful deed.”

“Mim’s right. There’s no reason that Little Mim can’t say she feels deep sympathy for the Wylde family and she finds such an action repugnant. She doesn’t have to go on about Roe v. Wade.”

“She’s dug her pointy toes in. Of course, her father made a statement immediately.”

“Saw that.”

Jim Sanburne was the mayor of Crozet and a Democrat. It complicated family life as well as the running of the town.

“And Mim says that Little Mim and Blair can’t sit at her table for the Poplar Forest fund-raisers. So Little Mim said she wouldn’t go, and Big Mim about tore her hair out by the roots. I mean, I never heard such a thing, and the only reason I heard it is I was at Mim’s to discuss her zinnias as well as this new kind of chestnut tree she is determined to plant, but that’s neither here nor there. I tell you what, sweetie, it was scalding.”

“Sorry I missed it.”

“My ears are still ringing. Anyway, Big Mim said if her daughter and her son-in-law missed the fund-raiser—one dear to Mim’s heart—that she would cut her off without a penny.”

“Big Mim said that?”

“Did. Indeed she did, and I tell you what, we’ve been friends for all of our seventy-some years and I have never, ever heard Mimsy threaten her child like that. It’s beyond comprehension. I mean, over this?”

But it wasn’t beyond comprehension. Harry, Little Mim’s contemporary, knew that Little Mim had had an abortion in her sophomore year at college. No one knew except Susan and Harry, not even Miranda.

“This is pretty upsetting.”

“Yes it is, because for one thing, how can Little Mim sit at anyone else’s table? Whoever invites her will be in her mother’s bad books, and no one is that foolish.”

“What a mess.” Harry sighed. “It’s a week until the ball. Maybe it will work out.”

“I hope so, because it will cast a pall over the whole evening. As if what’s just happened isn’t bad enough.”

“Can’t you talk to Mim?”

“I can and I will. Will you talk to Little Mim?”

Harry gulped. She hated to get in the middle of things. “Yes. I’m not very persuasive, but I’ll try.”

“It’s so important. For everyone. This is a time when we all must stick together.”

After hanging up the phone, Harry regretted her promise. A promise made must be a promise kept. The rain accentuated her unease.

“I can’t just sit here. Come on. To the truck. Make a run for it, kids.”

They dashed out, splattering as they ran. Harry opened the driver’s door and lifted up Tucker as the two cats hopped in. She sat where wet paws had marked the seat, but so what.

Within twenty minutes she had pulled into the crowded parking lot of Keller George on Millmont Avenue. Other people must have decided to use a rainy day to shop.

Harry had left off her father’s old rectangular Bulova watch for repair. It was the only watch she wore.

As she breezed through the doors, she saw Marilyn Nash from Waynesboro, talking with Kylie Kraft. Both women did rescue work for their county’s respective animal shelters.

“Harry.” Marilyn waved.

“What made you come over the mountain in the rain?” Harry smiled.

“Present for Lauren.”

Lauren was Marilyn’s teenage daughter.

Kylie kept admiring the watch on her wrist, as Bill Leibenrod, the manager, folded his hands behind his back.

“I just love it,” Kylie gushed.

Marilyn, who had been admiring the gold Rolex with the heavy gold link band, said, “Fits you.”

“I have to have it.”

Harry, knowing full well that watch cost at least nineteen thousand dollars, couldn’t restrain her shock. “Kylie, do you know how much that costs?”

“I do. My boyfriend told me to buy whatever I wanted, and he gave me a blank check. Can you believe it?”

“Best to keep that boyfriend,” Marilyn noted wryly, a slight Texas twang to her speech.

She wasn’t raised in Richardson, Texas, for nothing. But there a Rolex was called a Texas Timex.

As Kylie squealed and hugged herself, red curls bobbing, Bill winked at Harry and Marilyn, moved from behind the counter, and motioned for Kylie to follow. He headed for the cash register.

“Jesus H. Christ on a raft,” Harry said under her breath. “I could build a big new hay shed for that.”

“You could. Most people couldn’t.” Marilyn laughed, because she knew how practical and tight with money Harry could be.

Harry smiled. “Marilyn, not three days ago she was flattened with grief because Will had been shot, and here she is all giddy and silly over a watch.”

“It is a very nice watch. Common enough but nice, and they do last.”

“I’ll never know,” Harry flatly stated. “I came to pick up my dad’s watch. Howard is back there somewhere.” She nodded in the direction of the closed door where the “surgeons,” as she thought of them, worked.

Both Marilyn and Harry knew Howard because he was a bird aficionado, raising many with the help of his wife. He was also a Vietnam vet and tough despite his mild exterior.

“If anyone can fix your dad’s watch, it’s Howard.” Marilyn took a deep breath. “A terrible thing, what happened to Will Wylde.” She glanced at Kylie leaning over the counter as Bill rang up the sum. “No one has ever accused Kylie of being a deep well.”

“I don’t know why I’m surprised.”

“Well, will I see you at Poplar Forest?”

“You will. Can’t wait to see what you’re wearing. I know what Urbie will wear.” Harry grinned, because the men would be in black tie.

“Men have it so easy.”

“They sure do. One good tux, one good dinner jacket, white for summer, one set of tails for white tie, and, if he’s really social, a morning suit.”

“And if he’s not social, all he needs is a pair of jeans. Doesn’t even need a shirt.”

“Marilyn, we’re being abused.” Harry affected anger.

“I don’t think the men would mind if you just wore jeans.”

Harry laughed. “Well, my husband would pitch a fit, but how wonderful it must feel on a hot day to be out there without your shirt, sweating, and a soft breeze comes up. Must be heaven.”

The two women caught up, compared notes, then Marilyn walked over to the repair section of the store with Harry. They both waved as Kylie skipped out.

On the way back to Crozet, Harry’s mind returned to what she’d promised Miranda. Despite Pewter’s begging for Harry to stop at the market and pick up treats, Harry kept her mind on her worry.

Harry’s husband had been covering for another vet who was on vacation. When Fair came home, she recounted the conversation. In fact, she was so focused on talking about Little Mim, she forgot to tell him about Kylie buying a gold Rolex. He listened intently.