Free Death in a Family Way by Gwendolyn Southin Page B

head, “what if Mother finds out?”
    â€œBarbara told me just the other day that it was time I found something useful to do. As for your mother . . .”
    â€œDon’t you dare say anything about my mother,” he said, picking up his briefcase, “after all she’s done for us.” Margaret thoughtfor an awful moment that he was going to cry, but he continued, “You’ve changed, Margaret. You’ve changed.” He stalked out of the room and she heard the door slam.
    It was well into the morning before her depression lifted and she could concentrate on the job of filing. “Mr. Southby, what are we going to do with all these notes on Collins?” she asked. “Do you want me to throw them out?”
    â€œDon’t you think it’s about time you called me Nat, Maggie? And regarding the files, I’ve a hunch that we haven’t heard the last of him,” he answered. “No, we’ll keep them just in case.”
    â€œThese files are a disgrace,” Maggie said, slamming another pile onto her desk to be sorted and reorganized. “How you ever manage to find anything beats me.”
    â€œWhy do you think I hired you?” he said with a laugh.
    Margaret found herself grinning as she reached to answer the telephone. “Southby’s Investigations.”
    â€œJohn Cuthbertson here. Would Nat be around?”
    â€œA Mr. John Cuthbertson?” she said as she handed the phone to her boss.
    â€œHi, Cubby. You’ve got some news for me?”
    â€œI may have seen that missing boat you were asking about.”
    â€œWhere? In the marina?”
    â€œI think it passed me last night when I was coming in from fishing. It was being towed in by the Coast Guard.”
    â€œYou think it was the
Seagull?”
    â€œIt was getting dark, but it was blue and white and I caught part of the name Sea-something. It seemed to be in bad shape.”
    â€œYou may be onto something, Cubby. Where can I get a look at it?”
    â€œUm . . . ,” Cubby answered. “Aw, what the heck, it’s Friday. Can you make it to the marina by two?”
    â€œSure can. Thanks, Cubby.”
    â€œDon’t bury that Collins file too deep,” he said, turning to Maggie. “My friend Cubby thinks he saw the
Seagull
being towed in last night. He’s taking me to see it.”
    â€œDid he say whether Collins’ brother-in-law was on it?”
    He shrugged. “Didn’t sound like it. He said the boat was badly smashed up. Want to come along?”
    â€œI’d love to, but . . .”
    â€œGot something more exciting to do?”
    Maggie thought about the previous night. “No, not really.”
    â€œThen come on. We won’t be back late.”
    â€œBut,” Maggie said sweetly, “I thought you were off the case.”
    He winked at her. “I am, officially. So you’re coming?”
    Maggie thought for a minute. “Yes.”
    â€œGreat!” he exclaimed. “Let’s go. I’m starved. I’ll buy you a hamburger on the way.”
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    CUBBY’S BOAT, SLEEK AND FAST, didn’t offer Maggie, sitting on the long seat in the stern, much protection from the cold wind that was blowing down Howe Sound and churning up white-caps. Cubby had offered her the protection of the cabin, but she had declined, opting instead for fresh air and being able to see where they were going. But although it was a sunny day, she had to snuggle down inside her coat and hope to God she wouldn’t lose the lunch that her boss had treated her to. He, on the other hand, sitting next to Cubby in the console, was protected by the windscreen.
    â€œBe there in half a minute,” Cubby yelled back to her over the noise of the powerful engines. “Just beyond that point. See?”
    Maggie stood up and poked her head, turtle-fashion, out of her collar to peer between the two men through the