Death Among the Doilies Read Online Free Page A

month before the librarian’s death two weeks ago. Cora, Jane, and London spent months in the Lucky Bee hotel, on the outskirts of town, while they worked on getting the house ready. So it was likely Jane had been unpacking then—in truth, Cora was still unpacking.
    â€œCan you prove it?” Cashel asked.
    Jane shrugged. “I don’t know. How would I do that?” Her fingers twitched on the table in front of her.
    â€œDid someone see you?”
    â€œNot if I was in my house. Well, there is London, my little girl,” Jane replied. Fingers still twitching, she folded her hands together.
    Cashel nodded. “So your alibi is you were home with your daughter and your daughter is the only one who knows that?” He talked with a succinct, fast cadence. He wasted no time.
    â€œI’m sure I would have known if they were gone—as would your mother,” Cora offered, but she was uncertain about the exact date. “The houses are all close together and we keep close track of one another.”
    â€œYes, but can you say that you saw her that night, specifically?” he asked.
    Cora clamped her own hands tightly on her lap, and they started to ache from the clenching. “I need to check my journal and my blog and so on to see if there’s a mention of what we did that day. But I’m fairly certain I could testify as to her whereabouts.”
    Cashel gave Cora an appreciative sweep with his eyes. He grinned. “You won’t need to testify. At least I hope not. I hope there won’t be any charges at all.”
    â€œWhy do they suspect me?” Jane asked.
    â€œWhen they entered your fingerprints in the system, they matched some of the prints that they found at the murder scene.”
    â€œHow can that be?” Cora asked, indignant, frightened, and confused all at once. She felt sweat pricking at her forehead. Great.
    â€œDon’t panic,” Cashel said. “The prints are only half prints and Jane’s prints are slight. So they will be calling in fingerprint experts. If you’re not guilty, you’ve nothing to worry about.”
    â€œThere’s a problem with my prints,” Jane said, her eyes shifting back and forth. “I know that. That’s why they called me back for a second round of fingerprinting so I could volunteer at the school.”
    â€œYou’re a potter, correct?” Cashel said, glancing at Jane’s hands. Cora loved Jane’s hands; they were a working woman’s hands, with clean, short nails and long fingers, the sinews and tendons visible.
    Jane’s gaze steadied as her eyes met his, and she nodded.
    â€œThat’s why they will never be able to convict you on your prints alone. Your prints are, in all likelihood, just not that deep from all the clay work you do.”
    Cora started to feel relieved.
    â€œBut let me be clear,” Cashel continued. “This could get serious if you can’t come up with a sound alibi. The town is crying for a conviction. I’ve seen people get convicted on less evidence.”
    Cora felt her breath stop.
    â€œWith your background and this wee bit of evidence . . . it could get bad. So our work is cut out for us,” Cashel concluded.
    â€œYou know about—” Jane began to say.
    â€œOf course,” he said. “My assistant pulled up your files when I received the call.”
    â€œThat was self-defense,” Cora said with a note of belligerence in her voice.
    â€œOf course it was. But she was charged with attempted murder. I know the charges were dropped and she had a sound alibi, with the history of abuse so well-documented,” he said.
    â€œThen they can’t use that against her,” Cora said.
    â€œThey sure as hell can try,” Cashel replied. He glanced at Cora and then back to Jane and softened his expression. “But that’s what I’m here for.”

Chapter 5
    â€œI’m so sorry about all