Authors: C.S. Challinor
Tags: #mystery, #murder, #cozy, #amateur sleuth novel, #amateur sleuth, #fiction, #mystery novels, #murder mystery
Phi Beta Murder (17 page)
The coast road along
Ponte Verde Beach was clear of traffic at this hour of the morning. Rex drove with one eye on the Atlantic Ocean, already glimmering with the first rays of sun beyond the swaying stalks of sea oats, the view intermittently interrupted by stilt homes backing onto the sand.
His mind dwelled on Helen. He was still kicking himself for telling her that Moira’s visit wasn’t important. That was always a mistake to say to women, who apparently thought everything was important, however trivial-seeming to men. They had not spoken since he had called her from the waiting room at the hospital when Moira was first admitted. She had not returned his messages. In spite of his determination not to let it spoil his trip, he could not help but feel a cold dread in his heart that Helen had dumped him.
“Did you get an exemption from your Monday class?” he asked Campbell, to get his mind off her.
“You already asked me that. I’m clear through Tuesday.”
Campbell’s phone
dringed
. He read the text message and beamed.
“From Melodie?” Rex asked hopefully.
“How did you know?”
“Because when you get a message from Consuela, you usually scowl.”
“Melly has invited me to stay in Nantucket over the summer vacation. She says she took Dix’s Easter bunny back to college with her, and that it’s a relief to look at it and know her brother didn’t take his own life.”
“Did she knit that bunny?”
“Aye.”
Rex would bet his bottom dollar that Consuela did not knit. “Will you still be seeing Miss Cuba in Miami?”
“I may stop by and tell her I want to take time out of the relationship.” Campbell sighed blissfully at his cell phone. “I should add being in love to my list of natural highs. I never knew what it felt like before.”
“And you were just saying how grand it would be to take a break from women and go fishing,” Rex teased. “Will you be okay driving back all this way by yourself?”
“I’ve made the trip before.”
“I know, Son … Sometimes I don’t give you enough credit.”
“You’re going to love the wildlife in the Keys, Dad. Picture this.” Campbell motioned with his hands. “A bat-shaped manta ray jumping out of the waves. An osprey soaring through the blue sky. It’s the real Florida.”
Campbell was in his element, relaxed and animated, the way the sea always made his feel. Rex realized now that he had been wrong to try and push Campbell into studying law.
“And just wait ’til you see a sunset on the west coast. The sun just melts into the sea.”
“It all sounds amazing. That reminds me—I promised I’d call your grandmother when we were on our way. I should make sure Moira is all right.”
Mrs. Graves assured Rex that Moira had arrived safely and was comfortably installed at Heather Sutherland’s house. “Where are ye now?”
“We’re headed down to the Keys.”
“I hope you’re not driving and talking on the phone at the same time!”
“Campbell’s SUV is an automatic. It only requires one hand to drive, and we’re on a straight road. Mother, I have another call coming in … I’ll call you back.” Rex pressed the incoming call button. “Helen! How are you, love?”
“Is this a good time?”
“It’s a perfect time!”
“I got your messages. Sorry I didn’t call sooner. I needed to think things through.”
“Is everything okay between us?”
“Yes, and I realize I should have been more supportive.”
“Och, you’re a wonderful woman, d’you know that?”
A pause from Helen. “Is she back in Edinburgh?”
“Aye, I just spoke with my mother. Moira’s doing fine. I had to promise to visit her, just to get her on the plane. I hope you know it means nothing.”
“I do, and I shouldn’t have doubted you. Did you get to the bottom of the boy’s suicide?”
“It wasna a suicide, as it turned out. He was murdered by another student, possibly accidentally. The good news is a boy who was wrongfully accused of a crime relating to the murder is being re-enrolled at the university. And Campbell has found himself a new love interest.” He smiled across at his son, who was rereading his text messages. “It’s the deceased boy’s sister.”
“That’s sweet. It must be a relief for the parents to find out their son didn’t take his own life after all. That’s a terrible burden for any parent to bear. So what are you doing now?”
“We set off early for Islamorada. The property manager has left the key under the mat at the cottage where we’re staying and said she stocked the refrigerator, since we won’t be getting in until late.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“Aye, we’re both ready for some rest and recreation. It’s been a long week.”
“How’s it going with Campbell?”
“Just grand. He was a great help in the case. The lad has talents I never knew he possessed.”
“Just wait until you see me hook a big tarpon,” Campbell interjected.
“He says he’s going to hook a big tarpon.”
“What’s that?” Helen asked.
“It’s one of those monstrous fish they have here in Florida. I’ll get it stuffed and bring it home with me.”
Helen laughed. “A picture will do. Make sure you take lots of photos.”
“For once I remembered to bring a camera.”
“Are you still coming down to Derby next weekend?”
“Come Hell or high water.”
As he and Helen said their fond goodbyes, he passed the sign for Interstate 4.
“We’re making good time,” he told Campbell. “We could take a detour into the Everglades when we get to the Sawgrass Expressway and see if we can spot some alligators. What do you think?”
“Let’s do it, Pops!”
“Pops?” Rex asked in surprise. Glancing round, he saw that Campbell was grinning at him.
Grinning back, he tuned into the rock station he had discovered on the way north and turned up the volume on a song by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. “I feel like singing,” he said.
Campbell groaned dramatically and, slumping in his seat, covered his ears.
About the Author
Born in Bloomington, Indiana, and now residing permanently in Florida, C.S. Challinor was educated in Scotland and England, and holds a joint honors degree in Latin and French from the University of Kent, Canterbury, as well as a diploma in Russian from the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. She has traveled extensively and enjoys discovering new territory for her novels.
Visit C.S. Challinor on the web at www.rexgraves.com