Part 15 (1/2)
CHAPTER.
21.
Cora c.o.c.ked her head and laid into her niece with elaborate sarcasm. ”So. Staying up to go my bail. That was the first lie. The second lie, closer to the truth, was staying up in case there was a crossword puzzle. Gee, what were the odds of that? When you had it right in your hand.”
”I didn't want to bring it up until you told me your end of the story.”
”Why not?”
”Because I knew you'd react like this, and I'd never find out what happened.”
”Sherry, this is no good. You got married, and you're getting devious. That's to be expected. But you're supposed to get devious with your husband. That's who you need to trick. Not your loyal, trusting aunt.”
”You're going through an alimony hearing, so I can forgive your views on marriage.”
”Oh, bite me! What does the crossword puzzle mean? Why didn't you solve it?”
”I solved it. I duped it in the fax machine and solved the copy. You wanna see?”
”Well, I'm sure not going to solve it myself.”
Sherry took out the solved copy, pa.s.sed it over. ”See, I didn't think it meant anything until you told me about the KenKen. You throw that into the mix.”
”What mix? What does it say?”
Cora looked the puzzle over.
Cora read the theme entry. ” 'Being a bad boy in court cut his life very short.' Great. The guy testifies against me and gets whacked. Is this saying I did it?”
”I don't think so.”
”Well, what else could it mean?”
”Don't forget the KenKen.”
”What about the KenKen? This doesn't have anything to do with the KenKen.”
”No. But look at 20 Across.”
”Huh?”
”Look.”
Cora looked at the puzzle.
The clue for 20 Across was ”With 47-Across, where to look.”
The clue for 47 Across was ”See 20-Across.”
The answer to 20 Across was ”Second.”
The answer to 47 Across was ”Line.”
Cora groaned. ”Oh, h.e.l.l.”
”See?” Sherry said. ”The second line of the KenKen must mean something.”
”Yeah.”
”What's the matter?”
”I gotta figure some way of getting the KenKen away from Chief Harper without seeming too eager.”
CHAPTER.
22.
Becky was p.i.s.sed.
”You didn't call me?”
”At three in the morning?”
”It wasn't to borrow a cup of sugar, it was a murder.”
”I'm not a suspect.”
”So what?”
”What would you have done?”
”Try to figure out who was a suspect, and lock that person up with a retainer.”
”Well, you go, girl. Harper hasn't charged anyone yet, so no harm, no foul.”
Becky looked at Cora thoughtfully. ”Why are you here?”
”Huh?”
”If you're not involved in the case, why are you up so early? You were running around at three in the morning. I'd think you'd need your sleep.”
”Are you saying I look tired?” Cora said acidly.
”I would say you seem mendacious.”
Uh-oh. Mendacious. Just the type of word Cora was always on the alert for, the type of word a crossword puzzle person should know that would give her away if she didn't.