Saint Patrick's Day - The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club Part III: A Dark Comedy Cozy Mystery With A Twist by Duncan Whitehead Page A

of information about the Launer family. You know my mother has never really mentioned her parents nor her childhood. So, I have decided to surprise her. I should be finished in a day or two, before we fly to Savannah I am sure. And then, I am going to present the findings to her. I haven’t had much to go on, but I am getting there. I have found out that she was born in Austria, which I knew of course, but now I have a copy of her birth certificate. The next thing to do on my list is to trace her parents’ birth records and of course death certificates. She will be thrilled once she sees the family tree I am compiling. It will be a fantastic surprise for her, she will be absolutely delighted.”
    Sarah shook her head. She knew Heidi, and was positive that no matter what her son did for her, gratitude was unlikely. Heidi was secretive and Sarah was in no doubt that the last thing Steven’s mother would do would be to thank her son for his efforts. It was more likely that she would be annoyed, probably furious that he had delved into her past. There was a reason, thought Sarah, that her mother-in-law didn’t mention her family. What that reason was, Sarah did not know and had never cared to ask.
    Stephen was well aware that his mother had issues. The fact she had once asked him to organize a hitman to kill someone was, at the most extreme, and at the least bizarre. He had, on her behalf though, made inquiries through some of his less than savory clients, and had organized payment for her ‘contract.’ Of course it had never occurred, to his relief naturally, and he had been told much later to forget about ever asking again. He didn’t want to know who had incurred his mother’s wrath so badly that she would want them dead. He had simply carried out her instructions; the last thing he wanted was to displease her; and then she leave her money to some charity or dog home.
    “Okay dear, you carry on with your genealogy. I have dinner to make, clothes to wash, and a house to clean. Oh, don’t forget to pack your blue suit, you told me to remind you. Why on earth you are going to wear a suit to the parade is beyond me. Don’t you have anything green?”
    “Yes, of course,” replied her husband, not listening to his wife. He had already returned to his computer screen and his new hobby.

 
     
     
    Chapter 11
     
    “You will not believe this,” announced Sam Taylor, as Sabrina entered his study carrying a cup of fresh coffee for her husband. Before she handed Sam his coffee, she glanced at his desk and saw the three books written by Elliott Miller piled on top of each other.
    “Oh come on, you and this Elliott Miller thing…it’s becoming tiresome.”
    Sam looked up at his wife then at the pile of the books. “Not them silly,” he said, “I haven’t had any time to investigate Elliott, let alone read his books yet; what with you giving me errands to run all the time, as well as your daily ‘honey do’ list. I mean this, read this, it’s an email from the city,” said Sam while tapping his computer screen. Sabrina shook her head--she had wondered what project her husband had been working on for the past month. She was relieved to hear that it had nothing to do with Elliott Miller.
    “See, read that, it’s an extract from the city ordinance. See, that grass outside their house? The frontage, they don’t own it. It belongs to the city. According to the ordinance anyone can park there. They have no rights to it whatsoever. They can’t claim that the swale belongs to them. It doesn’t.”
    “What on earth are you talking about?” asked Sabrina, genuinely confused.
    “Donny and Danny,”
    “Who?”
    “Next door. You know. Danny and Donny,” said Sam, becoming slightly exasperated. Had Sabrina already forgotten? It had only been a few months since their confrontation.
    “You mean Robert and Danny,” corrected his wife.
    “Whatever. Them two. Anyway, they are talking baloney. They have no right to tell