Blooming brilliant
The criminal was quite clever . . . but so was Evie Franklin!
Harriet Wilkins felt pleased with herself as she said to her friend Evie Franklin, “He’s wonderful. Just you wait.”
Q. Why is England the wettest country?
A. Because the queen has reigned for years!
Evie had her doubts, but Harriet, as program director for the garden club, was sure she’d found the perfect speaker. She introduced him to the members once lunch was cleared away.
“Mr. Gerry Holmes,” Harriet announced. “He’s agreed to talk to us about his exciting plans for developing the Johnson farm. Complete with flower gardens!”
She included “with flower gardens” so everyone understood why he was a suitable speaker.
“Oh, and he’s housesitting for the Baileys until he finds a place of his own,” Harriet added.
The part about the Baileys was key, too, since that’s what made Harriet comfortable with him. The Baileys were a great couple. They’d married later in life, each an only child, and they loved to travel.
“Ladies,” Gerry said, “this is an investment project, but naturally I don’t expect any of you to invest. Harriet thought you’d be interested in our plans, especially since flower gardens will be so prominent.”
Harriet nodded in agreement. Evie, as the skeptical one of the two, waited for more details.
Adjusting a portable screen, Gerry projected an artist’s rendering of homes surrounded by a nature preserve with walking trails and flower gardens.
“These are only drawings, but soon you’ll be able to see the real thing,” Gerry said. “My investors are excited about this opportunity. As you can see, it’s possible to combine quality with the preservation of nature.”
After about a half hour, Gerry said, “But enough, I don’t want to bore you.”
Handing out packets filled with drawings, he continued, “I normally give this to investors. It shows what we plan to do.”
He’d been careful to include subscription agreements in the packets. Older women, he found, especially widows, often seemed to have insurance monies in a bank when Gerry had better uses for the funds.
Harriet turned to whisper to Evie. “Isn’t he wonderful? I’m going to invest. It’s a chance to see my money working locally.”
Evie decided to ask the speaker a question. “How long have you known the Baileys?”
“I don’t know them really,” he said. “But my younger sister is best friends with their niece, so when they were looking for a housesitter, I volunteered.”
As dessert was served, Evie retrieved her phone and dialed a number. “Sheriff,” she said, recognizing the voice on the other end, “we need to talk.”
Gerry was answering questions when Sheriff Dobbs arrived. He smiled when introduced to the sheriff but didn’t seem as comfortable as before.
“You probably know Evie?” Dobbs asked.
Gerry said they’d been introduced, growing edgy. He didn’t like the police, and this sheriff was too confident for comfort.
Dobbs nodded. “Evie worked many years for the state. Attorney general’s office. Antifraud division. Investigator.”
Gerry’s eyes darted to the door, where two officers stood.
“You slipped,” Dobbs said, “and that’s not good when Evie’s around.”