Free Death at a Drop-In by Elizabeth Spann Craig Page A

for the old biddies in the town.  She’d have to make some up.  “Fine.  I’ll email it to you tonight,” said Myrtle. She could put something together in five minutes if she didn’t have to look it up.
    She hung up, and then pulled her phone book out of her desk. If Tobin Tinker had some grievances against Cosette, she’d like to hear them.  It was going to be tricky having a rival yardman come to her house, though.  Dusty wouldn’t like it.  She couldn’t afford to lose Dusty, despite his deplorable work ethic.  He was cheap, did a decent job, and was the only yardman in town who’d trim weeds around her gnome collection.
    But Myrtle saw in the phone book that Tobin also apparently offered tree removal services.  She peered out the back window.  There was a sickly-looking pine tree down by the lake that had been ailing for some time.  Ordinarily, she’d simply let nature take its course, especially since the tree was in no danger of falling on her house or anyone else’s.  But she could always call Tobin to get an estimate for removal.  She picked up the phone again.
    Tobin answered promptly and listened as she outlined the tree problem.  “I’d be happy to come take a look at it.  I’m pretty booked-up this week, though, unless you’re free for me to run by right now.  Since you’re right down the street, I could take a look at the tree real quick before I head out to the next job.”
    “That would be great.  I just want to get an idea how much it would cost to take it down.”
    When they hung up, Myrtle smiled.  Now to get him to rant a little about Cosette.  It should be easy enough to broach the subject since they were both neighbors of hers. 
    Tobin was there in a couple of minutes and went straight to the backyard. He was a solid, big man, well over six feet tall.  He had a broad face and was brown from the sun.  He peered down the hill to the spot Myrtle was pointing at. “That scraggly pine tree down there near the lake?” he asked.  “Ordinarily, it’d be between six hundred and fourteen-hundred to bring her down.  But that pine tree is so pitiful that I’ll take it down for three-hundred for you.  When do you want me to take care of it?”
    He’d given her such a low price that he clearly expected her to jump on it.  Three hundred was really cheap, but it was very expensive if you didn’t really need to have the work done.  “Let me see.  I’ll have to save up for a while to be able to pay you.  Retired schoolteachers don’t make a whole lot, unfortunately.”
    Tobin looked at the tree again.  “That should be fine, since that tree isn’t going to fall on your house or your neighbors’.  Give me a call when you’re ready to cut it down.”
    “I will, and thanks.  By the way, what do you make of Cosette Whitlow’s murder?  You’re right across the street from her, aren’t you?  So shocking!” said Myrtle.
    Tobin flushed and looked away.  “I’ll admit I wasn’t much of a fan of hers.  Although I’m sorry she’s dead, of course.”  His voice wasn’t very convincing.
    Myrtle had hoped he wouldn’t worry about speaking ill of the dead.  She took on a more gossipy tone.  “Did you know that I’m actually the one who found the body?  Such an awful thing.  And I did feel so sorry for Lucas.  He seemed crushed.”
    Tobin nodded and relaxed.  “I always did feel bad for poor Lucas, living with that woman.  I’ve had plenty of run-ins with Cosette, but Lucas has always been a great guy and a good neighbor.”
    “What kind of run-ins did you have with her?” asked Myrtle.  She gave an exaggerated sigh.  “Here at the other end of the street, I can never keep up with all the news.”
    Tobin looked ill at ease again. “Well, I don’t know as I should say anything, Miss Myrtle. Seeing as how she’s dead and everything.”
    Myrtle acted as if she hadn’t heard that mild reproof.  “Cosette Whitlow irritated me too, you