Death With An Ocean View (A Kate Kennedy Mystery Book 1) by Noreen Wald

deafened, and the lights went out.
    At that very moment, feeling a fury that more than matched the raging storm, Kate demanded, “When, exactly, did you arrive in Palmetto Beach, Mr. Sajak?”
    And Detective Carbone, who’d reached the table, said, “Yes, Mr. Sajak. I’m curious about the answer to Mrs. Kennedy’s question too.”

Twelve

      
    They hadn’t heard Joe Sajak’s response because, before he could even open his mouth, Detective Carbone had invited him down to the police station to take his statement.
    To get away from the dining room, abuzz with chatter and filled with curious stares, Kate had invited Mary Frances and Marlene to her apartment. She, too, was dying with curiosity and felt certain that those two would have some answers.
    Sitting in Kate’s living room, holding Ballou in her lap, Marlene said, “Is Sajak a snake? He seemed so sweet at first blush.”
    Wanting to say, “And don’t they all, Marlene?” Kate instead nodded and waited for her former sister-in-law to continue.
    “I know. I know,” Marlene said. “You don’t think I’d recognize a snake if it slithered up my arm.”
    Kate smiled. “Well…”
    Mary Frances, who’d been pacing, stopped and pointed a finger at Marlene. “Did you believe that cock-and-bull story that Joe Sajak told that nice Mr. Oberon?”
    Kate pounced. “Did Joe Sajak say where he’d been before he showed up at Stella’s this morning?”
    “Since you have such a low opinion of my judgment in men, Kate, why are you asking me about Joe’s whereabouts?” Marlene raised her voice. “Aren’t you afraid that my propensity for snakes will color my reportage?”
    “Kate asked me, Marlene, not you, so why don’t you just keep quiet for once?” Mary Frances stopped pacing and perched on the edge of the off-white couch. Kate wondered how many condos in Ocean Vista had off-white couches, probably two out of three.
    The storm ended as abruptly as it had begun. Sunlight streamed through the glass doors that led to the patio, and though the plastic furniture still glistened with raindrops, all would be dry in a matter of minutes.
    “Speaking of reportage,” Kate looked at Marlene, “I have an appointment with Nancy Cooper at three, so whoever wants to tell me about Joe Sajak had better talk fast.”
    “Nancy seems to have the goods on David Fry,” Marlene said. “Though all smug hints and no hard facts—if you can believe anything that woman says—her story in tomorrow’s Gazette should expose him.”
    “Good,” Kate said. “Maybe she’ll give me a preview.”
    “I wouldn’t count on it.” Mary Frances shrugged. “Why don’t you start the Sajak saga, Marlene? As a former teacher, I have an ear for details. I’ll fill in what you leave out.”
    Giving Mary Frances a dirty look, Marlene said, “Well, when the undead husband walked through the door—he had a key—we were already in a state of shock. You wouldn’t believe the weird stuff that Stella bequeathed to me, Nancy, and Mary Frances.”
    “Nancy Cooper was in Stella’s will?” Kate asked.
    “Yes,” Marlene said, putting Ballou down. “The three surviving members of the lonely Hearts club are now heiresses. Unfortunately, all we inherited was Stella’s flotsam and jetsam.”
    Kate glanced at her watch.
    “Okay, here’s the abridged version.” Marlene went into speed mode. “Joe Sajak arrived in Fort Lauderdale late Tuesday afternoon.”
    Kate’s heart jumped. “Just in time to kill Stella.”
    “You betcha.” Marlene fumbled in her tote bag and pulled out a Milky Way. They hadn’t had dessert, and since they’d been kids, Marlene never considered a meal complete without a sweet. “Sajak told Oberon he’d borrowed a boat from an old friend who kept it berthed at the local marina. Joe claims that he flew into Fort Lauderdale, went straight to the store, loaded up on groceries, then boarded the boat and took off Tuesday night around eight. That, of course, would be