Murder on a Starry Night: A Queen Bees Quilt Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum Page B

shadows across the recently mowed grass.
    “This backyard is awesome,” Phoebe said, walking up beside them. “So cool! If we put in a slide and wading pool, it would be a perfect park for Emma and Jude.”
    “It doesn’t have a wading pool, Phoebe, but there’s a pond down beyond that clump of trees,” Kate said, pointing to the flagstone path that led to Joe’s pond. “Joe Bates— the gardener—tends to it so lovingly you’d think Monet was going to show up to paint lilies any day,”
    “I want to see it,” Phoebe said. She looked back toward the French doors. “Let’s go look. Adele is still inside.”
    “I’m sure she’d be happy for us to admire the grounds,” Po said. “She’s put so much effort into cleaning everything up.” The three women walked down the steps leading into the backyard and walked slowly toward the pond, admiring the touch of color in the tips of the Japanese Maples. “I came out here a few times with Oliver and Joe Bates to see the pond—it was lovely then, but now the yard is so green and lush you want to roll on it.”
    “This will be a magical place next spring when all the hydrangeas and dogwoods bloom,” Kate said. “I think you’re right about it being an ideal spot for a wedding.”
    “Maybe you and P.J. can tie the knot here,” Phoebe said.
    Kate laughed. “Do you know something I don’t, Phoebe?”
    Po listened to the banter, wondering if Phoebe’s prediction would come true any time soon. Things seemed to be heading in that direction, and having Kate and P.J. married would certainly fill her with joy. She thought of her dear friend Liz, and knew Kate’s mother must be watching over this relationship with a bit of joy herself.
    “This is wonderful,” Phoebe said, walking around a shade grove of hydrangeas circling a clump of towering pine trees. “A pond in the park.”
    “Looks like Joe beat us out here,” Kate said as they neared the pond. She pointed to a thermos lying by the rocks.
    “I wonder if he’s around,” Po said. “I don’t want to frighten him. His hearing isn’t very good anymore.” She looked over toward the gardens as Phoebe and Kate rounded the mound of rocks on one side of the pond.
    “Po,” Kate said, staring into the pond. “Po, come here.” Her voice was urgent.
    Phoebe followed the point of Kate’s finger down toward the edge of the pond where a clump of lilies fanned out, separating from one another. A faded blue KC Royals cap floated between the leaves.
    Po stared down into the water. And as the lilies moved in the chilly breeze, she spotted what caused the urgency in Kate’s voice. The blue ball cap moved slowly away, and beneath it, a school of brilliantly colored koi swam in and out of the waving strands of Joe Bates’ thinning white hair.

CHAPTER 15
    Going to Marla’s bakery and café Sunday morning with Leah Sarandon was a tradition as old as Po and Leah’s friendship, and it was in keeping with that tradition and nothing else that found the two women sitting in the busy bakery the day after finding Joe Bates’ body. They were surrounded by gossip thicker than the syrup Marla served with her blueberry pancakes.
    “Everyone and his brother will be in here this morning,” Po said, looking around at the nearly full breakfast spot. The line was beginning to form outside the windows and would soon be winding down Elderberry Road, people coming from church or home or a college dorm, enjoying the crisp fall day.
    “Bad news seems to bring out everyone,” Leah said. “I guess they just want answers. But gossip is such a bad place to look for them.” She sat back as a young waitress put a platter of eggs down in front of her.
    “It’s so ugly. All this mess,” Po said, the experience of finding Joe’s body still tightly wrapped around her heart. Adele had spotted them out at the pond, staring at the grisly sight. She’d rushed across the lawn, her face a portrait of horror and shame.
    Phoebe and Kate