White Colander Crime by Victoria Hamilton Page A

kill yourself, you know.” Valetta had a table in front of the chairs with pamphlets from the Queensville Inn, a local winery, the
Wolverhampton Weekly Howler
and the local bed-and-breakfast society.
    Jaymie added a stack of the historic manor pamphlets to the collection. “I guess I can take a break.”
    Valetta hauled out a thermos and poured a steaming cup of tea, handing it to Jaymie. “This is better than the cider, trust me.”
    â€œI’m not such a big fan of warm apple drink,” Jaymie admitted. She sipped, relishing the peculiar taste of “thermos tea,” the flavor a combination of being made hours before and taking on the essence of the thermos. It tasted like camping to her, because most summers since she was twenty she had ventured north to a campground in Canada to meet with friends. One staple they enjoyed was tea out of a thermos as they ventured out on a road trip, sat on the dock fishing or took a long hike in the woods on a chilly Ontario morning.
    Valetta asked about the meeting among Jakob, Jocie, Mrs. Stubbs and the others, and Jaymie told her what was said. As they talked, she noticed Lori Wozny strolling along the main street with her daughter. Even from a distance it was clear the two were mother and daughter, with the same blond hair, a little frizzy, and slight frames. There was even something in their stance, the way they stood and walked, that was similar. But Lori had on her red plaid wool coat and Shelby wore a smart but too thin leather jacket.
    With them was a young man, taller, but probably a brother, given his resemblance to Shelby. Jaymie reflected on her confrontation with Lori, and later with Shelby and Cody. Heidi’s information about Shelby dating another man shed some light on her wish for distance from Cody, but why did she keep dating him if he was so dangerous to her? Cody appeared genuinely confused by Shelby, as if her actions were contrary to what he had been led to believe they would be. Still, he wouldn’t be the first guy who refused to take no for an answer when a woman attempted to break off their affair. Jaymie tried to keep from judging other women’s choices. No one knew what another went through, or how their life affected them.
    â€œI’d better get going,” Jaymie said, standing and brushing down her cloak. “If I sit too long, I’ll be here for the night; you’ll find me here in this chair in the morning, asleep.”
    â€œ
I
won’t find you. I’m off tomorrow!”
    â€œOh yeah!” Jaymie said. “I must be tired not to remember that. You found that new fellow from Wolverhampton to fill in every other Saturday. Good for you!”
    â€œI need to do a little shopping,” she said. “It’s strange having someone to rely on, though. Thad will be working the pharmacy, and Gracey Klausner is at the cash desk . . . A whole new generation at the Queensville Emporium!” Valetta said, patting the clapboard wall behind her.
    Taped to the wall were a number of public notices, one about the missing young woman from Wolverhampton. It was a solemn reminder that in their own community was a family dealing with sorrow and uncertainty at a time of year meant for festivity and happiness.
    â€œOnce more into the breach for me,” Jaymie said, grabbing up what was left of her pamphlets and descending the stairs. She turned at the bottom and looked back up at her friend who had stood and was folding the blanket she had wrapped around herself. “Will you be coming to the manor opening tomorrow?”
    â€œI’m not sure. I’ll try to be there, but not in time to watch Mayor Fletcher bluster.”
    Jaymie descended the slight incline to the main street as Valetta packed it in for the night and headed home to her cottage two streets over. A caroling group from the heritage society strolled toward her and she stopped to listen to them. They sang “It’s