Hold Up Hydrangeas: Madis Harrah Mysteries, #4

By Aubrey Elle

In the thick of the summer humidity, Madis is due to start a new project for a rental property at the end of Main Street. After the foundation repairs are complete on the building a grumpy author and whining crafter live in, Madis's crew prepare to plant hydrangeas for some screening and privacy. They don't get far, held up by the discovery of a dead body buried in the plot.

 

While she wasn't well-liked because of her personality and affinity for causing trouble, Sandy Angelan was the town's favorite—if only—maid for hire. With her murder, bitter arguments are recalled, memories from high school years are revisited, and accusations fly from one neighbor to another.

 

When another corpse is tucked in the very same garden bed a week later, Madis has to wonder if these hydrangeas will ever get planted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aubrey Elle
• Release date: Jul 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201224394

Book preview

Hold Up Hydrangeas

Disclaimer

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Other Books by Aubrey Elle

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2021 Aubrey Elle

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions

Chapter One

––––––––

Early on this Monday morning, Kent teased me with big news. Coupling his excitement with Rachel’s unusual behavior, I had one or two guesses, both of which prompted me to get giddy for my best friends.

While his nerves were cute, I was slightly alarmed Rachel wasn’t the one who’d told me she had something important to tell me. Add in the fact she wasn’t here at Derrick Barne’s duplex, waiting for the man himself to show for a new project, and I was more than confused. As soon as I’d pulled into the landscaping garage on Rachel’s property, Kent pulled me aside, saying he had something to share once we left for the day’s work. He has to tell me...behind her back? That didn’t sit well.

Beth stood next to me as we waited near the MH Landscaping trucks we’d parked along Main Street. The duplex Barne rented out sat on the outer reach of the street, and traffic wasn’t as bad this far from the coffee shop and downtown hub. This distant from the busyness, we were encroaching on the suburb atmosphere.

Squinting one eye, she gave Kent a careful, focused one-over. You’re pregnant.

Jon dropped the shovel he was getting out of the bed. The clang of metal on pavement seemed to echo.

Not so loud. I winced, looking around the still sleepy residential area of more homes than businesses.

Frowning, Jon looked pointedly at Kent’s stomach. "He’s pregnant?"

Beth huffed and set her leather gloves on the top of the truck’s hood. "Not him him. Them. Rachel and Kent are pregnant. That’s gotta be it."

I nodded, already having come to that same conclusion, but I held back my excitement until he confirmed it.

"Then you’d say Rachel’s pregnant," Jon argued.

It’s a saying, my trusty, tatted and yoga-teaching employee chided. "The baby is both of theirs and they each play a part in making it. Their baby. It’s how people say it."

I raised my hand, glad Kent seemed amused rather than freaked out by Beth’s guess. Kent, are you—I glanced at Jon, a smile cracking my lips—"or is Rachel expecting?"

My business partner’s grin was infectious. At once, he nodded and then let out a hard breath when I tackled him in a hug. Still mindful not everyone in this area would be awake just yet, I kept my shout of glee mostly quiet.

But that wasn’t what I was going to tell you, he admitted after Beth and I hugged him. Jon shook his hand.

That’s not big news? I asked.

Of course, it is. And I was supposed to let her tell you. But you had to keep looking at me all suspicious on the drive over here, and I caved. She won’t be mad, she’s so over the moon.

How long have you known? I asked as I saw Derrick Barne pull down the street. The Mercedes’s brakes whined as he slowed around the slight curve.

She took the tests last night, Kent said.

Finished with one last sip of coffee, Beth leaned through the open passenger window to set her cup in the holder, asking, "Then what is your big news that could be bigger than a baby on the way?"

Kent draped an arm around my shoulders. I’m going to need that help you promised me. For a ring.

Smiling hard, I clapped silently. Of course!

Aw, man. Jon shook his head. At least wait until payday, Madis.

Beth and I laughed while Kent frowned. Huh?

Fifty bucks, man. Still grousing, my youngest worker began ferrying the hand tools toward the yard. He let out a groan, too.

Jon? Kent called out after him, a frown chasing away his smile.

He called the Fall for you proposing since he doubted you’d ask her before knowing her for a year, I explained. Nick said you’d probably wait ’til the winter. A Christmas proposal since it’s her favorite holiday.

Beth giggled and elbowed me as Kent released me. Us girls are wiser. We said before the end of August.

Shaking his head, Kent joined us in gathering our tools and gloves. I’m hoping the end of this week. With the baby coming and all. The sooner, the better.

I can’t wait, I told him, walking toward Derrick as he exited his car and approached us on an angle. He waved, his white button-down straining at his shoulder where the seams seemed to want to break. Straightening, he smoothed the shirt over his belly.

A wedding. A baby. Beth sighed, then gave another squee of excitement. It’s going to be so much fun watching it all!

But first, let’s get this over with. Kent grimaced, glancing at the front window to the house on the left half of the building. And maybe resume this chat where we won’t have to whisper.

As I glimpsed the window, I caught the scowling tenant, Ryan Ward, letting the curtain back in place. The local grouch—a writer. Made sense he was a morose guy, penning biographies about war criminals.

It’s not like it’s dawn, Beth teased.

But not everyone wants to get up at seven during the summer. Especially the tenant opposite Ryan. Jody Crawer was probably still sleeping in, off from her part-time secretary position at the elementary school. A break from daily wakeups, and here we were, starting early just outside her dark-curtained but open window.

Morning! Derrick called out as we met on the dewy grass of the front lawn.

I bit my lip at the volume of his voice. Sure, he was the owner of the property, but sheesh. Not so loud.

A light popped on in Jody’s half of the duplex, and someone next door hollered out their open window, You’re going to wake the baby!

Sheepishly smiling, Derrick shrugged and reached up to tug at his collar. Whoops. I forget how sleepy this end of the street can be.

Even though you’ve owned this place for several years? Derrick had rental properties all over our small hometown of Payton. I’d never really hung out with him in high school, and I’d certainly lost track of what he’d done during the years I was in Columbus, but since I’ve been back, I noticed he self-proclaimed himself the landlord of most of the rentals. Monopolized the non-homeownership part of Payton, perhaps. If so, he should know this wasn’t an area to shout about.

Seems like a nice place away from the hustle and bustle, Beth said.

Derrick smiled. Well, sure. As much as Payton’s ever hustling and bustling.

Kent raised his brows, leading our walk toward the backyard where our project would begin. I don’t know if the chief would agree on that note.

Not with the way you stir up trouble, Madis, the landlord teased.

Oh, stop. I rolled my eyes at this critique that was becoming quite common.

All that hubbub with Sam, then Rosie’s petunias last month... Derrick said.

Which wasn’t my fault. I’d merely been there to witness the attempt on her life.

I meant the petty thefts for businesses on Main, Kent said.

Derrick nodded and sighed. Yeah, I bet Nick’s getting fed up with that. I heard it all happens when the cameras are cut from power.

No breaking and entering, either, Beth added. That’s what stumps me.

It was an enigma, that was for sure, how someone could be knowledgeable about so many different businesses on Payton’s single busy road. No rhyme or reason to any of it, cash from drawers, some items of value. Worst, though, no clues or witnesses for the string of thefts.

And then here I was causing more disruptions. Derrick exaggerated a sarcastic groan. Because I dared to fix that water damage in the foundation. He pointed at the base of the duplex, the white concrete unblemished and new from Parker’s crew with Cassidy Construction fixing it. Fresh dirt had been partly raked smooth from where they’d backfilled from the repairs. I still say the town should pay for a big chunk of the damage.

I frowned as we came into the backyard, the extremely barren backyard, save for a couple of oaks still hanging in there at the corners. A few bushes gathered along the back edge of the mostly narrow space, but nothing else waited for us. Tire and track marks from the water department’s equipment were pressed into the dirt, and the mesh of struggling, flooded grass and dirt didn’t appeal.

The town? Why? I asked.

Derrick slanted his brows at me. Well, because if they’d updated the pipes back when they did that big construction ordeal near downtown, maybe this wouldn’t have been as bad.

Looking to mooch for the bill of your duplex flooding?

Or if not the town, then Mr. Sarnow back there should pay for it all. Now, he cast the blame toward the house that backed up to this one. It was Payton’s fault or his neighbor’s, I mused, but obviously not his.

He had that big, fat maple he refused to cut down.

Jon nodded. That’s why it looks so different around here...

Derrick grumped. "Sure, it was nice for shade, but it