Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews (read aloud txt) 📗

didn’t you think so, Corrie?” Byron folded his hands together in front of his hips.

Virtual steam wafted from Corrinne’s ears, seeming to increase the heat in the crowded lobby. It was disconcerting to see someone who was usually so coolly serene on the cusp of erupting in anger. “Mayor Flowers, I’d prefer you address me as Corrinne. And no, I didn’t think the meeting was running long. Were you late for a hair appointment?”

I caught my breath. Corrinne had asked the question with the feigned sincerity for which Southerners were famous. Now I wanted to pull up an armchair beside Floyd and share his make-believe popcorn.

“Touché, Corrie—Corrinne.” The golden-blond hair currently under discussion glinted beneath the bronze lantern chandeliers. The mayor smoothed a hand over its perfection. “I’m sorry you’re disappointed—”

“I’m not the only one who’s disappointed. My team and I asked our patrons to attend tonight’s meeting to show their support for our budget request.” She threw both hands out to encompass us. “My team’s here tonight because of that agenda item, and yet you insisted the council remove it.”

Byron’s gaze remained on me. “You must be Marvella Harris from New York City. I’m Mayor Byron Flowers.”

I inclined my head in greeting. “Do you support increasing the library funding, Mayor Flowers?”

The mayor seemed taken aback by my directness. In my peripheral vision, I saw Viv and Adrian send me a quick look. Floyd smiled. Too late, I recollected Spence’s numerous lectures on “easing into a discussion.” This probably would’ve been a good time to practice that.

Byron bounced on his toes. “I understand you’ve been doing some amateur detecting, Ms. Marvella.”

Proceed with caution. “What makes you think that, Mayor?”

“Oh, I hear the rumors that get around town.” Byron clasped his hands behind his back and puffed his chest forward. “A good mayor keeps one ear to the ground. Now, I don’t know how things operate in a big city like New York, but here in Peach Coast, we have plenty of law enforcement types. We don’t need any more help.” He winked. I could envision him, standing in front of a mirror, practicing the gesture.

I tried to arrange my features to convey clueless innocence. My older brother, DeAndre, insisted I excelled at that. “I don’t know what you consider ‘amateur detecting,’ Mayor. I’ve only been asking a few questions out of curiosity about my neighbors.”

Byron looked skeptical. “There’s no need for that, Ms. Marvella. I assure you, our law officers don’t need any help.” He shifted his attention back to Corrinne. “In fact, I’m surprised you’d let her get involved, Corrinne. Why, it gives the impression your staff doesn’t have enough to do.”

Let me get involved? Byron’s words stirred me to introduce him to a side of me he probably wouldn’t enjoy meeting. I was aware of Viv and Adrian giving me more distance. Floyd seemed almost gleeful.

I opened my mouth to set Byron straight about my needing anyone to let me do anything, but Corrinne spoke first.

Her gaze continued to blast the mayor. “Are you attempting to tie the budget of the town’s library and resources to our individual behavior, Mayor Flowers?”

Beside me, Floyd grunted. “Sounds like it.”

Viv crossed her arms over her flowing silver blouse. “Voters, especially women, will have a problem with your implication that a woman needs permission to exhibit intellectual curiosity, Mr. Mayor. What do you think, Adrian?”

The librarian assistant seemed surprised to be brought into the conversation, but quickly rallied. He shoved his large hands into the front pockets of his tan Dockers and rocked back on his brown loafers. “Beggin’ your pardon, Mr. Mayor, but I think you’re outside of your mind with that kind of talk.”

Even I could figure out the gist of Adrian’s response. I struggled to contain a smile as I turned back to Byron. His face was flushed with embarrassed color. His gaze bounced from Floyd, to Viv, to Adrian, then me before returning to settle on Corrinne.

“That’s not what I meant.” Byron’s voice stalled. He appeared to search for an explanation. The future of five votes depended on it. “I mean, all I meant was that…citizens can’t take matters into their own hands. I mean, the deputies are responsible for the investigation, Ms. Marvella.”

“I didn’t mean to imply otherwise, Mayor.” I widened my eyes to emphasize my clueless innocence. “But I’d really like to know whether you support the proposed increased for the library’s budget next year.”

Byron cleared his throat. “My staff and I are looking into that. Please excuse me. I have to have a few more words with the town council president. Have a good night.” His eyes locked with Corrinne’s before he spun away.

I watched him walk off in the opposite direction from the council president. “Why would the mayor be opposed to increasing our funding?”

“It’s an election year.” Floyd sounded disgusted, as though he’d gotten a dry pastry. “He probably doesn’t want to have to defend supporting a bond issue on the ballot.”

Adrian nodded. “Or explaining to us why he doesn’t support it.”

I hid a smile behind my hand. Was he anxious about explaining his lack of support to all of us…or just Corrie?

Chapter 18

They say authors should write what they know. If that bit of conventional wisdom held true for Fiona’s debut mystery, the novel may have prompted the sheriff’s department to open an investigation into Buddy’s death. In fact, several people may have recognized themselves in the story and had their feelings hurt. The narcissistic ex-wife whose every conversation was a ballad of self-pity. The stepson who drifted through life without direction or goals. I wondered about the “dangerously attractive” business partner. Was there anything personal between Fiona and Nolan, or was their relationship all about business?

I rolled off the puffy seafoam sofa, where I’d sprawled with a copy of Fiona’s In Death Do We Part shortly after returning from the town council meeting Wednesday night. Earlier, I’d changed into baggy sapphire cotton shorts and an oversized navy T-shirt. Grabbing