The Christie Caper - Carolyn Hart [136]
Annie wasn’t fond of snakes. She didn’t look. “Yes, that snake was in the picnic hamper—and Bledsoe was pathologically terrified of snakes. When he opened the basket, the snake must have slithered over the side, and Bledsoe quite simply went into a state of blind panic, reeling away from the equally frightened snake, running, careening from wall to chair, across his bedroom and out the open French window and onto the balcony—to his death.”
Laurel gasped dramatically.
She stood up, pressed a hand to her heart.
Annie jolted to a stop. “Laurel, what—”
“Oh my dears, I am stricken.” Laurel closed her eyes, then opened them to look piteously about, tears brimming in her huge blue eyes. “To unwittingly cause a fellow creature such horror, such fear—to indirectly be responsible for another’s death—I don’t know if I can bear it.” She pressed a dainty lace handkerchief to her face.
Max jumped to his feet.
“Well, I’ll be double damned!” Emma Clyde exclaimed.
Annie darted across the room, pulled her mother-in-law into her embrace. “Dear Laurel …”
Her mother-in-law lifted her chin, stared bravely at the shocked faces turned toward her. “I had no idea that was Bledsoe’s room.” She pulled away from Annie. “Oh, Henny, why didn’t you tell me you’d changed rooms?”
“Oh my God, so that’s how it happened!” Annie exclaimed.
“Wait a minute.” Posey gaped at them. “You mean she”—and he pointed at Laurel—“put a damn snake in a picnic basket and put it there for this guy to get when he’s scared to death of snakes? Wait a minute!”
“How tragic,” Henny said somberly. “Laurel, I am so sorry.” She turned to Posey. “It’s so simple, really. You see, I was originally in the suite taken by Bledsoe and his aunt. They were assigned to 313, which has a mural with an alligator in it, and it threw Bledsoe into a state of panic. That’s when I offered to trade suites. I took 313 and gave my suite, 315, to Bledsoe. Unfortunately, poor Laurel didn’t know of the room change.” Henny reached out to take Laurel’s hand. “I’ll bet that lovely red rat snake was a present for me, wasn’t it?”
“A present?” A stunned Posey peered toward the cage where the red splotched snake coiled, head up.
Laurel dabbed at her moist eyes. “Moles. Red rat snakes are so effective with moles, and poor dear Henny, a new lawn just filled with mole tunnels. Those pesky little rascals. I took a little picnic over to the forest preserve Saturday afternoon, just for a few moments by myself with nature and I enjoyed it so much—chicken salad sandwich and kiwi—just a light repast …”
“And you got that snake?” Posey eyed her belligerently.
“One must seize opportunity,” Laurel replied with great dignity. “Red rat snakes are great climbers, you know, but this one must have been full, for he was curled up right on the first branch. I saw him and I immediately thought, ‘Henny!’” Laurel clapped her hands together. “It was but the work of a moment. I just scooped this dear fellow right into my basket and popped shut the lid.” She beamed, looking around for approval. Then her lovely face settled into sad and pensive lines. “Such a tragedy that I didn’t know Henny’s room had been changed.”
“So,” Annie concluded heartily, “Circuit Solicitor Posey was absolutely right—Bledsoe’s death was an accident”
Lady Gwendolyn rushed to Annie and gave her a quick hug. Then she turned to the circuit solicitor. “One has to wonder about fate—and the mills of the gods. Don’t you think?”
• • •
The phone rang.
Annie rose stiffly. Shelving books had to be the hardest work ever devised and she’d been at it for days now, replacing the books they’d offered at the book room during the conference. Sales had been excellent, but there were always plenty that came home.
She reached the phone as it rang again.
“Death on Demand.” It felt good once again to be at work in the finest mystery bookstore this side of Atlanta. The Christie conference—aside from the unexpected traumas, and she would be a long time forgetting some of them—had been a fabulous success. But Annie was ready for a little peace and quiet.