Free 86 Avenue du Goulet (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 3) by Peggy A. Edelheit Page B

down with tea, I came out with it.
    “Since we’re dropping all pretenses here, why didn’t you ever apologize for jumping to conclusions and causing the infamous rift with the Toussouts? There was no proof.”
    She barely blinked in response. “Why should I? That woman should have apologized to me long before that.”
    “Whatever for? She seems like a shy, quiet woman.”
    “Ah, don’t let that façade of hers fool you. She can be quite treacherous, ruthless too. Both of them.”
    “Why do you say that?”
    Her eyes narrowed in anger. “What would you do if one of your neighbors publicly accused your husband of running around with a woman with a known reputation?”
    I didn’t get where she was going with this line of conversation. “What are you talking about?”
    “Monsieur and Madame Toussot’s actions killed Henri.”
    “Wait. What evidence do you have to back that up?”
    “The Toussouts! So righteous!”
    “But how did the Toussouts kill your husband?”
    “They both spread rumors of my Henri going to a house of ill repute!”
    I didn’t get it. “Why would they do that?”
    Madame Sorrel sighed. “To get back at me.”
    “For your accusation and her ultimate embarrassment?”
    Sorrel nodded. “Yes. My Henri spent years dealing with those ridiculous rumors. Finally they disappeared.”
    “But how did the Toussots kill your husband, now?”
    “It all resurfaced in an anonymous note to Henri. Once again those ridiculous rumors were circulating about Henri, now a respected businessman. The stress, and the possibility of blackmail, finally killed him with a heart attack. Those two are the only ones who would have a motive for retaliation and public humiliation.”

 
     
     
    Chapter 38
    Following The Past
     
     
    Now, was there something more than petty annoyances and jealousy going on? Blackmail seemed farfetched. Why was Sorrell tossing my attention to the Toussouts and those rumors, decades old? Were they actually relevant now?
    I sat staring out at the water, sipping my morning coffee and thinking about my visit to Sorrell. Interesting stuff and a possible diversion, but how could I work that into my story? Could I make it have any relevance to my plot? I doubted my editor would think so. I could clearly visualize her comments in the edit sidebar and smiled.
    “…Hello! Are you there? Hello!”
    I jumped at Martha’s touch. She was staring at me, as were Hazel and Betty, hovering just behind her.
    “…Sorry,” I said. “I was thinking about some things.”
    Martha shook her head, but then smiled, knowingly.
    “I’ve seen that look before. Something is up, isn’t it?”
    Hazel was excited. “You’re in another caper, right?”
    I didn’t answer, but she turned to Betty, grinning. “Did you catch that? Sounds like another case.”
    Betty nodded approval. “Hazel, ‘caper’ sums it up just like those old detective novels we both devour.”
    Martha pulled up a chair beside me. “Now, without traveling down that road of yours with all your usual denials, how about you telling the three of us exactly what is going on?”
    Betty and Hazel sat down too and I realized I was cornered.
    “It certainly would save us a lot of time trying to pry it out of you, or following you around, listening and watching your every move, like before,” Betty pointed out.
    I sighed. But they had proven their worth in the past. Maybe they could be extra sets of eyes and ears and help me. What did I have to lose by confiding in them? I smiled, thinking back on all the chaos they seemed to attract.
    …All right, me too.
    “Only if you promise me that you three will not do anything crazy without consulting me first, or no deal.”
    The three of them exchanged excited looks, but then smiled blandly at me and nodded.
    Martha patted my arm. “Great! I was getting a little bored anyway. Inactivity leads to mental rigor mortis.”
    “Personally speaking,” said Betty, “I’ve just about seen enough lace