Free Trouble in the Tarot by Kari Lee Townsend Page A
Authors: Kari Lee Townsend
said, You really don’t have a clue when it comes to women, buddy .
Then he turned to me and said in a soft tone, “Unlike Detective Stone, I am fully aware of how much your abilities have helped this department, Sunny. However, in this case, I agree with him. You’re too close to your grandmother to be impartial. It was the same way with Mitch when Isabel died. He was more of a hindrance than a help. You have to trust Mitch to do his job, okay?”
I nodded, still too angry to speak. I trusted Mitch to do his job, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t help as well. I would simply do it unofficially. The person who was sabotaging the carnival was somehow connected to the death of Bernadette, and I wouldn’t rest until I found out who that person was. I would not let my granny take the fall for something she didn’t do.
“Can I see her?” I asked.
“Not until the morning,” the captain said with no nonsense in his voice. “While I don’t believe either of them is capable of murder, I can’t prove it. Besides, they do need to be taught a lesson. A night in jail will be like a big time-out for both of them. Let’s hope they reflect on the consequences of their actions. I’ll talk to the judge about bail in the morning. Come back then.”
There was no avoiding it. Granny Gert needed help, all right, and that started with a good lawyer. Like it or not, we all knew who was the best. I groaned just thinking about what I had to do, and my empty stomach turned sour.
It was time to call my mother.
* * *
“Well, it wasn’t easy, but I think I’ve worked it all out,” Vivian Meadows said after walking through my front door and air-kissing my cheek, with my father Donald hot on her heels.
They’d hopped on the first flight from New York City to Divinity the second I called them. As much as we might butt heads, they were always there for me when I needed them. Same for Granny.
My mother’s golden blond, chicly styled hair and size-two frame fooled many people, but she was actually a ruthless lawyer and queen of high society. If anyone was able to get Granny Gert off, it would be her. Meanwhile, my father Donald Meadows, the world-renowned cardiologist and king of his domain, had come along for moral support and most likely to gloat.Not to mention he had to be a part of everything, control everything.
I couldn’t believe they were here again. After Easter, we had agreed not to see each other until Thanksgiving. They’d grudgingly left Granny Gert here against their better judgment, and now their smug I told you so expressions said it all. They might be here for me, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t relish telling me exactly what they thought.
My mother looked around warily. “Where’s the rat?” A door slammed, and a gust of wind whipped through the house. “You should close your windows when it’s that windy out.” She patted her hair.
“There aren’t any open,” I said, trying not to smile as I glanced outside at the still trees. “Morty’s a cat, Mother, and I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”
“Just so long as he doesn’t come near me,” Dad thundered, turning in a full circle. Yet his gray-streaked, perfectly coiffed, brown Ken-doll hair didn’t move an inch. “I don’t trust the look in his devil eyes. He’s just plain creepy.”
“What exactly did you work out, Mom?” I asked, weary already though we’d barely seen each other.
“Well, darling, your father paid Granny’s bail. I had hoped that would mean she would be set free. But because of the seriousness of the crime she is accused of, the judge ordered her under house arrest.”
“I guess that’s not so bad. At least she’ll be able to come home and stay out of jail.” I shudderedjust picturing my sweet little granny in a cell with real criminals.
“Ah, if only it were that easy,” Dad added. “You’ve got to love small-town judges. They always have conditions.”
“Such as?” I
Then he turned to me and said in a soft tone, “Unlike Detective Stone, I am fully aware of how much your abilities have helped this department, Sunny. However, in this case, I agree with him. You’re too close to your grandmother to be impartial. It was the same way with Mitch when Isabel died. He was more of a hindrance than a help. You have to trust Mitch to do his job, okay?”
I nodded, still too angry to speak. I trusted Mitch to do his job, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t help as well. I would simply do it unofficially. The person who was sabotaging the carnival was somehow connected to the death of Bernadette, and I wouldn’t rest until I found out who that person was. I would not let my granny take the fall for something she didn’t do.
“Can I see her?” I asked.
“Not until the morning,” the captain said with no nonsense in his voice. “While I don’t believe either of them is capable of murder, I can’t prove it. Besides, they do need to be taught a lesson. A night in jail will be like a big time-out for both of them. Let’s hope they reflect on the consequences of their actions. I’ll talk to the judge about bail in the morning. Come back then.”
There was no avoiding it. Granny Gert needed help, all right, and that started with a good lawyer. Like it or not, we all knew who was the best. I groaned just thinking about what I had to do, and my empty stomach turned sour.
It was time to call my mother.
* * *
“Well, it wasn’t easy, but I think I’ve worked it all out,” Vivian Meadows said after walking through my front door and air-kissing my cheek, with my father Donald hot on her heels.
They’d hopped on the first flight from New York City to Divinity the second I called them. As much as we might butt heads, they were always there for me when I needed them. Same for Granny.
My mother’s golden blond, chicly styled hair and size-two frame fooled many people, but she was actually a ruthless lawyer and queen of high society. If anyone was able to get Granny Gert off, it would be her. Meanwhile, my father Donald Meadows, the world-renowned cardiologist and king of his domain, had come along for moral support and most likely to gloat.Not to mention he had to be a part of everything, control everything.
I couldn’t believe they were here again. After Easter, we had agreed not to see each other until Thanksgiving. They’d grudgingly left Granny Gert here against their better judgment, and now their smug I told you so expressions said it all. They might be here for me, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t relish telling me exactly what they thought.
My mother looked around warily. “Where’s the rat?” A door slammed, and a gust of wind whipped through the house. “You should close your windows when it’s that windy out.” She patted her hair.
“There aren’t any open,” I said, trying not to smile as I glanced outside at the still trees. “Morty’s a cat, Mother, and I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”
“Just so long as he doesn’t come near me,” Dad thundered, turning in a full circle. Yet his gray-streaked, perfectly coiffed, brown Ken-doll hair didn’t move an inch. “I don’t trust the look in his devil eyes. He’s just plain creepy.”
“What exactly did you work out, Mom?” I asked, weary already though we’d barely seen each other.
“Well, darling, your father paid Granny’s bail. I had hoped that would mean she would be set free. But because of the seriousness of the crime she is accused of, the judge ordered her under house arrest.”
“I guess that’s not so bad. At least she’ll be able to come home and stay out of jail.” I shudderedjust picturing my sweet little granny in a cell with real criminals.
“Ah, if only it were that easy,” Dad added. “You’ve got to love small-town judges. They always have conditions.”
“Such as?” I