Cleaning is Murder : Myrtle Clover #13

Chapter Twenty-One

Myrtle slumped in relief. "That must have been a record for an Erma encounter."

"Well, we couldn't exactly get up and move to another seat," said Miles, rubbing his temples. He gazed at the people walking past the tent. "Looks like Sloan did take your advice and bring Sally here on a date." He paused. "I can't say it's the most thrilling of dates, though. And it looks as though he might even be working. He sure is taking a lot of pictures, if not."

"It's a better date than discussing the updates for the newspaper website," said Myrtle. She peered across the tent. "It looks as if Josephine is taking a break. This might be a good time to go talk with her." She then frowned as she surveyed the food line. "But there's Alice Porper. It might be good to talk with her, too."

Miles said, "Isn't that the benefit of having two of us here? We can split up." He looked especially pleased with himself for the idea.

Myrtle considered this. "You don't ever speak to suspects one-on-one, though."

Miles said with dignity, "Only because I don't have the opportunity."

Myrtle tilted her head to one side, thoughtfully. "The only problem with that is that Alice is an unattached female of a certain age. You might blind her with your aura of distinguished attractiveness and make her stammer."

"All the better to catch her off-guard," said Miles.

Myrtle said, "Or I could send you to talk to Josephine. She's likely too young for you to set her heart aflutter."

"Thanks," said Miles, making a face.

"All right, I'm decided. You speak to Josephine and I'll speak to Alice. We're just talking about the event and then seeing if they've remembered anything else that might be helpful regarding either Amos's or Gabriel's death," said Myrtle. "Try to stay focused."

Miles said with a shrug, "Josephine has already disappeared while we were talking. And, now that I glance at my watch and my program, I see that it's time for Wanda's lecture."

"You could always skip it. They'll stream it online later," said Myrtle.

Miles raised his eyebrows. "And Wanda would watch that . . . how?"

It was true. Wanda wasn't exactly set-up for technology at the hubcap shack. Myrtle sighed. "All right, then. I'll go speak with Alice and you go tape Wanda's lecture."

Miles reached in his jacket pocket for his phone and then frowned. He pulled out a small piece of paper. "What's this?"

Myrtle peered at it. "Considering the chicken-scratch, it must be a note from Wanda."

"How on earth am I supposed to read it?" asked Miles. He turned it from side to side and then upside-down.

"Here, give it to me," said Myrtle impatiently, pulling it from his hand. "For heaven's sake. Alice is likely to disappear in the interim." She studied the paper for a few seconds. "It says for you to remember the ginger ale for your headache."

Miles said, "This must be the second or third time I've heard this from her. And I don't even have a headache."

"It sounds as if she's keeping an eye on you and your headache as well as Puddin's safety. She'll be exhausted by the end of the evening," said Myrtle.

Miles glanced at his watch and said, "I need to get going to that lecture."

Myrtle said, "I'm going to try to talk to Alice. And I need to talk to Puddin if I see her. See you later."

Miles walked toward the lecture tent and then turned around, the faintest of headaches starting up. "Myrtle! Do you still have the ginger ale?"

But his voice was swallowed up by the crowd and the music as Myrtle continued walking away.