Free Vintage Whispers (A Cozy Retirement Mystery Book 1) by Riley Blake Page A

didn’t,” Pearl reminded her. “She died.”
    “Yes, Pearl. She died. I think she died that morning.” His eyes watered. “I think she was dead and someone wanted to set me up for murder. Clarence told everyone she died that night.”
    Pearl inched closer. “But you think she was killed earlier on the same day?”
    “I do, yes.”
    “And did you do it?”
    “Pearl!”
    “I have to know,” she said, leaning forward and ignoring Opal.
    “No, Pearl. I wouldn’t have hurt that woman.” He glanced at Littleton. “Clarence and Samantha were good to me when I was a boy. It was no secret that Dad and Mom used to keep the bar open late and they were their best customers.
    “Thanks to Samantha, I always had a place to stay. I slept on their couch more times than I can count. Samantha made sure I had a hot breakfast every morning and took me to school when it was too cold to walk.” He swallowed once before he gathered his wits and added, “She was like a second mother to me. I loved her.”
    The room fell quiet. Finally, Sheriff Littleton said, “Might as well tell ‘em the rest.”
    Johnny cleared his throat. “A lot of people don’t know this but Oscar Leonardo and Clarence were best friends at one time.”
    “So?” Pearl asked. “What does that have to do with—”
    “Apparently they were buddies until Clarence found out that Samantha and Oscar were also best friends, for lack of a better explanation.”
    “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Mary Louise asked.
    “I don’t believe it,” Opal said.
    Johnny bowed his head. “I’m just tellin’ you what I know. Samantha is dead. I think she was killed. Clarence and Oscar were friends. Then they weren’t. Samantha and Oscar were also friends and then they weren’t. Oscar’s wife Kelly hasn’t lived with Oscar in well over a year. Samantha died on a Monday. Oscar supposedly met his demise the very next day but no one has seen a body.”
    “Wait a minute,” Mary Louise said, turning to Sheriff Littleton. “ You never saw the body?”
    “No,” Sheriff Littleton said. “But we know he’s dead. The coroner did an autopsy and took pictures. We just don’t know what happened to Oscar’s corpse.”
    “What did the coroner tell you?” Opal asked.
    “He said, ‘Sheriff, I need to see you. I believe you may have a homicide on your hands. Can you come over right away?’ And that was the gist of it.”
    “So you went…”
    “So I went.”
    “And?” Mary Louise was as impatient as a toddler waiting for candy.
    “He disappeared.”
    “What?” Opal leapt to her feet. “Are you saying the coroner disappeared or Oscar?”
    “Both,” Sheriff Littleton said regrettably. “Coroner and corpse vanished. And we have no idea where they are or how to find them.” 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    Right before sunrise, they crept along the exterior wall. They slipped inside the service entrance and tiptoed across the main lobby before running for the elevator.
    “Good morning, ladies!” Nurse Waterbury stepped inside the lift. Dressed like a psychiatric nurse from a scary movie, she wore a slenderizing white dress with the cap, tights, and shoes to match. “Fourth floor, right?”
    They nodded in unison. Pearl and Opal swapped their ‘you do it’ looks and Opal finally said, “We meant to thank you.”
    “Thank me? Whatever for?” Nurse Waterbury rapidly blinked as if she were having trouble seeing them. She’d either been there all night or perhaps just arrived.
    “For taking the time to help us yesterday. We appreciate the warm welcome.” Pearl blinked as rapidly as Nurse Waterbury but she didn’t seem to notice.
    The double dings from the elevator announced an approaching floor. A sharp-dressed