Читать онлайн «Murder on the Prowl»
Автор Рита Мэй Браун
RITA MAE BROWN
SNEAKY PIE BROWN
BANTAM BOOKS NEWYORK • TORONTO • LONDON • SYDNEY • AUCKLAND
Cast of Characters
Mary Minor Haristeen (Harry), young postmistress of Crozet
Mrs. Murphy, Harry's gray tiger cat
Tee Tucker, Harry's Welsh corgi, Mrs. Murphy's friend and confidante
Pharamond Haristeen (Fair), veterinarian, formerly married to Harry
Mrs. George Hogendobber (Miranda), a widow who works with Harry in the post office
Market Shiflett, owner of Shiflett's Market, next to the post office
Pewter, Market's shamelessly fat gray cat, who now lives with Harry and family
Susan Tucker, Harry's best friend
Big Marilyn Sanburne (Mim), Queen of Crozet society
Rick Shaw, sheriff
Cynthia Cooper, police officer
Herbert C. Jones, pastor of Crozet Lutheran Church
Roscoe Fletcher, headmaster of the exclusive St. Elizabeth's private school
Naomi Fletcher, principal of the lower school at St. Elizabeth's. She supports her husband's vision 100%
Alexander Brashiers (Sandy), an English teacher at St. Elizabeth's who believes he should be headmaster
April Shively, secretary to the headmaster, whom she loves
Maury McKinchie, a film director who's lost his way, lost his fire, and seems to be losing his wife
Brooks Tucker, Susan Tucker's daughter. She has transferred to St. Elizabeth's
Karen Jensen, irreverent, a star of the field hockey team, and lusted after by most of the boys
Jody Miller, another good field hockey player, she seems to be suffering the ill effects of an evaporating romance with Sean Hallahan
Sean Hallahan, the star of the football team
Roger Davis, calm, quiet, and watchful, he is overshadowed by Sean
Kendrick Miller, driven, insular, and hot-tempered, he's built a thriving nursery business as he's lost his family ... he barely notices them
Irene Miller, a fading beauty who deals with her husband's absorption in his work and her daughter's mood swings by ignoring them
Father Michael, priest at the Catholic church, a friend of the Reverend Herbert Jones
Jimbo Anson, owner of the technologically advanced car wash on Route 29
Coach Renee Hallvard, a favorite with the St.
Elizabeth's students, she coaches the girls' field hockey teamMurder on the Prowl
1
Towns, like people, have souls. The little town of Crozet, Virginia, latitude 38°, longitude 78° 60', had the soul of an Irish tenor.
On this beautiful equinox day, September 21, every soul was lifted, if not every voice—for it was perfect: creamy clouds lazed across a turquoise sky. The Blue Ridge Mountains, startling in their color, hovered protectively at the edge of emerald meadows. The temperature held at 72° F with low humidity.
This Thursday, Mary Minor Haristeen worked unenthusiastically in the post office. As she was the postmistress, she could hardly skip out, however tempted she was. Her tiger cat, Mrs. Murphy, and her corgi, Tee Tucker, blasted in and out of the animal door, the little flap echoing with each arrival or departure. It was the animals' version of teenagers slamming the door, and each whap reminded Harry that while they could escape, she was stuck.
