LITMIR.BIZ

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almost three-thirty on the dot when Mimi returned from her luncheon date. Charlotte was loading her vacuum cleaner and supply carrier into the back of the van when Mimi drove past her, waved, then turned the corner leading to her driveway. If nothing else, her new employer was punctual, Charlotte thought, as she slammed the door to the van. It was a trait that Charlotte admired and adhered to herself.

      By the time Charlotte finished putting her things away, Mimi was already waiting for her in the kitchen. “Would you like to inspect everything before I leave?” Charlotte asked.

      Mimi shook her head. “Heavens, no. I’m sure everything is just fine. But I would like to ask if you’d mind staying late on Friday. A group I belong to—the HHS—is meeting here Friday afternoon.

      “Is that the Horticulture Heritage Society?”

      Mimi smiled. “You’ve heard of it?”

      Charlotte nodded. “It’s a garden club that specializes in the propagation and preservation of heritage plants, isn’t it? At least that’s what the write-up in the Picayune said.”

      “Well it’s good to know that someone actually read that article. And you’re right. That’s exactly what we do.”

      “I always try to attend the annual spring and fall charity sales each year,” Charlotte said. “I’ve picked up some really nice plants in the past and always look forward to it.” Charlotte laughed. “But then I should have guessed that you would be involved.” She spread her hands out as if to encompass the house and grounds. “You have such beautiful landscaping and so many lovely plants inside and out.”

      Mimi beamed. “Why, thank you. I don’t really like to brag about it, but I actually founded the HHS.” She momentarily averted her eyes as if embarrassed by the admission. Then, she glanced back at Charlotte. “Guess that’s what I just did, though, didn’t I? Brag about it, I mean.” She laughed and waved a dismissive hand. “Anyway, we’re having a meeting on Friday afternoon. It starts at two, so do you think you’ll be finished cleaning by then?”

      “Shouldn’t be a problem,” Charlotte answered. “Today took a little longer because I waxed the floors, but I won’t be waxing every week.”

      “Good. I really could use some help during the meeting. We’re electing officers, but we also have to decide on a charity to sponsor for our fall event.” She paused, her brow wrinkled, and then she said, “I have to confess that I’m a bit nervous about this particular meeting. For the first time in the almost ten years that I’ve been president, there’s actually someone running against me.” Her expression turned fierce. “I still can’t believe it. And after all the time and money I’ve spent.” She shook her head and sighed. “In any case, I’ve got a really bad feeling that I’m going to need all the help and support that I can get.”

      Chapter 3

      Fifteen women showed up for the HHS meeting at Mimi’s house on Friday afternoon. Charlotte knew there were fifteen because, at Mimi’s request, she’d been instructed to greet each one of them at the door and escort them to the front parlor.

      With the arrival of each member, it quickly became obvious that the women had been there before and already knew their way to the parlor. Greeting Mimi’s guests at the front door was one thing, but personally escorting each one into the parlor was an unnecessary and pretentious gesture at best, simply a way, Charlotte realized, for Mimi to show off her new maid.

      By the time she had escorted the last two women into the parlor, her face ached from maintaining a smile, and the decibel level in the parlor had risen sharply.

      The noise reminded Charlotte of a swarm of bees, each trying to outbuzz the other. Buzzing bees was a fitting description, she decided, as she placed cups and saucers on the buffet in the dining room for the refreshment break. After all, the HHS was an organization for the propagation and preservation of heritage plants, and bees helped propagate plants, didn’t they?

      Snickering at her private little joke, Charlotte checked the silver coffee urn, made a mental note that it could use a good cleaning and polishing, and then arranged the crystal wine glasses that she’d set out earlier on the buffet. Charlotte held up one of the delicate, paper-thin glasses to the light. The pattern of the crystal was one that she recognized as being very old and rare…and very expensive.

      Carefully placing the wine glass back on the buffet, she frowned. Mimi had only set out one bottle of wine. One bottle wouldn’t go very far. As she made a mental note to search the pantry for more, she turned to inspect the table one last time.

      Like most of the other furnishings in the house, the buffet, the china cabinet, and the table and chairs were beautifully preserved antiques that fit the era in which the house was built.

      An ivory-colored, intricately crocheted tablecloth covered the large, oblong table. In the center of the table was a large vase overflowing with zinnias, marigolds, and salvias that Mimi had grown in her greenhouse and arranged herself that morning.

      At one end of the table Charlotte had placed linen napkins, crystal dessert plates, and silver forks. At the other end she’d set out two small crystal bowls: one she’d filled with mixed nuts, and the other, mints. She’d purposely left both sides of the table clear for the trays of pastries she had yet to prepare.

      Satisfied with the appearance of the table, Charlotte headed back to the kitchen. Though the voices in the parlor were somewhat muted, even in the kitchen she could still hear bits and pieces of the chatter.

      On the cabinet countertop were several white boxes from Gambino’s Bakery, filled with assorted pastries. Beside the boxes were four crystal platters.

      Charlotte had just finished arranging the fourth platter when the sound of the back door opening gave her a start. With a puzzled frown, she turned to see June Bryant enter the kitchen. In June’s arms was a bulky sack.

      “Hi, Charlotte,” June said. “Hope I didn’t startle you.”

      “Just a little,” Charlotte admitted, with a forced smile. “I guess I just assumed that the back door was locked.”

      June laughed and set the sack down on the table. “It probably should be, but Mimi rarely locks it when she’s home.” She pulled a bottle of wine out of the sack. “I was supposed to have brought these over earlier, but I’ve been running late all day long.” She removed two more bottles. “I figured that the meeting would already be well under way by now, but judging by the noise, I guess they haven’t gotten started yet.”

      June pointed at a drawer near the sink. “The corkscrew is in there,” she said. “Just uncork these, if you don’t mind, and put them on the buffet. The bottle of white wine should go in a wine bucket with ice. I think Mimi has one stored in the cabinet beneath the sink. I’d do it myself, but I’m sure that Mimi’s probably having fits wondering where I am.”

      “I’ll take care of it,” Charlotte told her.

      “Great! And thanks.” June folded the sack, then shoved it into the trash can. “Now—” She dusted her hands and drew in a deep breath. “Guess I’d better get in there before Mimi has heart failure.”

      At least the wine problem was solved, Charlotte thought, as she watched June hurry from the room. Charlotte stepped over to the drawer that June had pointed out, and, sure enough, there was a corkscrew inside, along with various serving implements.

      “So what about the red wine?” she murmured. “I thought red wine was supposed to have time to breathe.” At least that’s what she’d heard. She inserted the corkscrew into the cork of the first bottle. When she’d twisted most of the cork out, she placed a dish towel over the top of the bottle and finished working the cork out with her fingers. A soft pop sounded, and Charlotte repeated the process on the second bottle. Charlotte was working on the cork of the third bottle when she heard a loud rapping sound in the parlor. The abrupt silence that followed was startling and a bit eerie after all of the noise.

      Charlotte raised an

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