Donors, Deception & Death (Dogwood Springs Cozy Mystery, #4)

by Sally Bayless

She planted her hands on her hips. “The problem—once again—is the current Mrs. Cordell Calhoun.” I rolled my eyes. Her again. No wonder Imani was upset. Brittany Calhoun was the worst potential donor, or spouse of a potential donor, I’d encountered in a decade of museum work. “What does Brittany want now?”

Oh brotherrrr

“Oh, brother.”

Im crying i missed these books so much i didnt know where i got my oh brother vocal stim from PLS

“What was he thinking?” Imani let out an unladylike snort. “Brittany is twenty-eight, gorgeous, and built like a Barbie doll. The man’s about to celebrate his seventieth birthday, and they’ve been married, what, a year? There was no thinking involved when he proposed.”

Gagged

and Brittany.” I found my name on the seating chart. Oh, goody. A whole meal sitting by Brittany. After a cocktail hour where the entire group of eighteen—including Brittany and six family members who hated her—was supposed to chat amiably. What could possibly go wrong?

Ooof

my surprise, I found real purpose here, as well as wonderful people. Even if a top-tier museum called out of the blue and offered me a job, I’d say no. Dogwood Springs was the place for me. It certainly didn’t hurt that the town offered darling shops, a local winery, a three-story library, and far more upscale restaurants than any other small town I knew. Besides, the place was downright charming.

Real i love it hereeeee

“We have to be very careful of Cleo’s ankle,” I said. “She’s hurt.” Bella tipped her head as if she understood. I wouldn’t be surprised if she did.

Deadass

The material was a silky, finely woven polyester with a bit of stretch in a dark emerald shade.

Green perfect i approve

Heather wore three-inch heels and a ruffled, pale pink dress scattered with huge, dark pink flowers. The dress was too snug, drawing attention to her weight, and, in my opinion, the fabric looked like a wallpaper pattern that should have been discontinued.

Youre being so judgey stop :o

“Mo-m.” Heather drew the word out into two long, disapproving syllables as she brushed a spot of dirt off her dress. She lowered her voice, but I could still hear every word. “I know this week is a trial, but Daddy has enough money to leave each of us a seven-figure inheritance. If you don’t want the money yourself, at least be on your best behavior for me.” She laid a hand over her chest. “I, for one, don’t want to be written out of the will.”

Shes so real for thAT

Nick, Leah’s younger son, the potter, wandered up to hear the fishing story, smiling at both his dad and Brittany. Good for Nick. At least one member of the family could be civil to the third wife.

Hmmmm

Whew. All was well. Finally, the knot in my stomach eased. Only ten more minutes of cocktail hour, and then I could ask everyone to take their seats. I snagged a chicken tender and ate it. And then, like some kind of horror film, Brittany dropped her wine glass and fell to the floor in convulsions. Leah pointed and let out a high-pitched cry, and then the room grew silent. Brittany’s body jerked once more and fell eerily still.

Oh shit

My mind swirled. How could Brittany be gone? Why did she die the way she did? It didn’t seem … natural.

Def not

Paula, who sat beside him, patted his shoulder and spoke quietly to him.

Bffs forever

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you are feeling any ill effects, or if you touched this woman”—Detective Harper gestured to Brittany’s body—“after she collapsed, I want the paramedics to make sure you’re all right. After that, I’m afraid I’ll need to speak with each of you individually about what happened.” The detective moved to block the door to the hall. “While you wait, please remain silent and do not eat or drink anything. Officer Davis will be here in the room with you.”

Damn what A MESS

Despite the ego boost at the thought that Detective Harper valued my opinion, the rest of the night dragged on in slow misery.

Yea:/

“Really? Because from what I saw, it sure seemed like it might be, and—” “I mean no, do not go there,” he said firmly. “I know you’re too nosy for your own good, and I know you’ve had success solving crimes in the past, Libby. But do not start trying to solve this murder. Because that’s definitely what it is. Murder.”

Hahaha goodluck

“I’m sure. We’ll have to wait for a full toxicology report, but the scent of almonds was pretty strong. I’m almost certain that woman was poisoned with cyanide.”

Girl how do you know that

Instead, someone had been murdered at the museum, my hopes of receiving that large check were slim, and the building was closed until the police finished collecting evidence. For now, Alice had urged the board to give Rodney, Imani, and me paid time off until the museum could reopen.

Damn

I hated to be thinking only of myself, but the museum needed that elevator. There had been a time around Christmas when Sam hinted that he could donate the funds for an elevator. I’d told him no.

Take his pocket change

Bella raised one ear and tipped her head at me, then walked back to the other side of the kitchen. She dropped her leash, and it landed with a clunk under the hook on the wall where I usually hung it. She came back to my side and rested her head on my knee.

Bella being all kind eniughhh

“Let’s check the radar and see if there will be a break in the storm soon when we can take that long walk you’ve been wanting.” At the word walk, Bella trotted out of the room and returned with my tennis shoes. See, it wasn’t simply my opinion. She really was the smartest dog in town.

Bella is so real

who had no qualms about using a deadly poison.

The house was probably built in the 1970s and had no grass in the front yard, only low shrubs and hunks of limestone scattered here and there, with pockets of daffodils and

Wahhh i love

The tea at the café wasn’t as good as the Yorkshire tea I kept at home, but it was better than average, and the café’s muffins were fabulous.

I love louis tomlinson

At first, he didn’t look nearly as thrilled to see me. Good manners won out, though, and he quickly rose and gestured to the other chair. Victory!

PLS

her. But was there anyone else on our list who would have the technical knowledge to feel comfortable handling cyanide?

A couple of minutes later I hung up. “Drat. According to Faye, Emmett and Heather left half an hour ago. They didn’t say where they were headed, but Heather mentioned that they wouldn’t be back until late tonight.”

Thats kinda suspect

Instead of my enormous tote, I’d wedged my phone and a few items into an evening bag the size of a paperback novel. Seriously, how did women manage with small purses? I had to leave all sorts of things I considered essentials behind. Just one more way we women suffered for beauty.

Real

“What did you think of Dallas?” Sam grinned at me. “A force of nature?” I said. “She makes Cleo seem shy.” Sam laughed. “She does indeed. I never met a woman who could talk that fast. It’s like she doesn’t need air.” I turned to him. “I know. How does she do that?”

As I expected, attendance at the museum was low that morning, with low equaling zero guests.

Damn

“I think it’s pretty well gotten around town that Brittany was trying to convince Cordell to change his will. Given how wealthy he is, people seem to think everyone in the family had some degree of motive for killing her.” Emmett gave a half shrug. I guess when a man had as much money as Cordell, his family expected such speculation. “Anyway,” I continued. “They said that you’re a research chemist and that, of all the people who were at the reception, it was most likely that you killed Brittany because you’d know how to handle a chemical like cyanide.”

They really are dangerously direct bro

“Of course it’s okay. We encourage people to view the exhibits.” I grinned. What he’d done seemed like such a nerdy, scientist thing to do—avoiding the social event and looking at museum exhibits instead.

Helpppp

Then we found Faye and told her about our lie about the Chamber of Commerce. I suggested that if she ran into Emmett, she should mention that at the last minute she was unable to attend because of a crisis in the kitchen.

Smart covering your tracks

“Libby? I tried to catch you before you left the bed-and-breakfast, but I missed you. The woman at the desk said you were in your office.” She glanced at the nameplate by my door and tipped her head toward it. “Could I speak with you privately?” “Uh, sure.” But, with what I’d learned about the scene she made at Cordell and Brittany’s wedding and her possible motive for killing Brittany, that door was staying open in case I needed to call for help.

Libby you worry me fr. But if she was the murderer she wouldnt kill you with witnesses

She rested one perfectly manicured hand on my desk. “I overheard you talking with Emmett back at the bed-and-breakfast. I wanted to set the record straight.” Her tone didn’t sound threatening, and I relaxed a little. “Go on.”

Damn

“Oh, you think because Brittany had a law degree, she was some class act.” Leah let out a sharp laugh. “Hardly. She was sharp enough, but her law degree came from some third-rate school down in Arkansas. I shouldn’t say this, but I heard from the wife of one of the partners that Brittany only got the job at that elite firm because of her other assets.” Leah looked pointedly down at her own breasts.

Okay relax. Not very girls girl of you

Interesting. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be surprised if every time Leah said, “I shouldn’t say this,” she followed it with a catty comment.

Shes the type for sure

“Playing devil’s advocate,” I said, “you could be hiding something. For instance, you could have killed Brittany to keep her from convincing Cordell to change his will.”

Help me libby you dont know these people

“Believe me, I’ve got nothing to hide.” Leah ran a hand over the back of her neck. “And when Cordell and I divorced, I got a nice settlement. Equally important, Cordell recommended I keep using our financial adviser. Thanks to some amazing trades she made this past year for me, I’m very, very comfortable.”

So shes fine with money tbh

“Frankly, I think Emmett’s trying to divert suspicion away from his mother.

Oh this is funny how they are coming for each other

“Heather.” Leah nodded. “Brittany was horrid to her, making fun of her for being overweight, saying the most awful things about the way Heather dressed.”

Cunt

“I know Heather didn’t have a really classic style,” Leah said. “But so what if she considered pink her signature color and wanted all of her dressy clothes to be floral and frilly?” Leah huffed out a breath. “It was her choice.”

Yea lets keep this energy for all women leah

“You didn’t hear what was said. Trust me, every drop of Brittany’s nasty character came out when she attacked Heather. To be honest, if Heather did kill Brittany, someone should give her a medal for waiting as long as she did.”

Damn

Quite the interesting visit. Were mean-girl comments enough to make a grown woman commit murder? I had my doubts. But it wouldn’t hurt to have a chat with Heather.

Oh god

After Leah left, I sat at my desk, trying to work. After fifteen minutes, I knew it was useless. Every time I tried to focus on something for the museum, all I could think about was the call I’d had with a potential donor earlier. Our budget required public support, but no one was ever going to contribute to the museum until the murderer was caught.

The thing is yea

Inside, the lobby looked as restful as ever, but it was completely empty. How was I going to engineer an opportunity to talk to Heather? It was bad enough I’d come here on my own. Knocking on the woman’s door and accusing her of murder didn’t seem like a good plan.

And youre alone girl

Heather tapped the screen, drawing my eye to the last item on the list, jewelry manufacture. Our eyes met. “I wasn’t really trying to pin the murder on someone else,” she said. “I didn’t know much about cyanide, and so I looked it up online. You know what Brad does for a living, don’t you?” “I do.” And I remembered how calm he seemed after the murder. Calmer than anyone else in the room. Was that because, as the killer, he wasn’t shocked by the murder?

Is that too obvious though

The trunk from Ivy’s friend arrived! The owner said he had to come back to town for a work meeting and had time to drop it off. Rodney and I put it in your office.

Omg slayer

Sam pointed to the envelope. “Why doesn’t it have a return address? Was Ivy trying to hide where she went?” “Possibly, but in 1905, using a return address wasn’t that common,” I said. “Most people didn’t use them until the 1960s.” Sam looked over at me. “I never knew that.”

Mm i didnt knkw either

I am determined to make a new future for myself, one where I can make my own decisions. I pray I will find good people, people far kinder than my stepmother, and perhaps, if I am lucky, I will find a friend almost as dear as you.

Im starting a rumor that they were lovers