Scots on the Rocks

here, probably between the frangipani and the Venus flytraps.”

“Mummy” was sitting in a white wicker armchair. Her guest apparently was seated across from her, but was concealed from Judith’s sight by the chair’s high back.

“Beth!” Kate Gunn exclaimed. “I didn’t know you were coming. How nice. Do sit.” She peered at Judith. “Is that Mrs….?”

“Flynn,” said a voice coming from the other chair. “Hi, coz.” Renie grinned between the glossy leaves of a fiddle-leafed fig. “Kate and I are being all matey. Sit. You’ll lose a pound a minute in this humidity.”

Kate Gunn laughed. “Oh, Serena, you’re such a tease!” She paused while Judith and Beth sat down on a love seat that matched the other chairs. “I had no idea,” she said to Judith, “that your cousin has special powers.”

“Ah…” Judith was tempted to say, “Neither did I,” but suddenly recalled Renie’s pretense at reading fireplace ashes a few months earlier in an attempt to elicit information from a murder suspect. “She’s a sight, all right. I mean,” Judith amended, “she has the sight.”

Renie shrugged and made an attempt to look modest. “I couldn’t help myself. I felt compelled to study the ashes in the grate at Grimloch and I saw that Kate was in trouble. I had Gibbs bring me over here on his motorcycle. Sure enough, Kate was in peril.”

“Oh,” Kate Gunn said, “it was incredible! Una, my housekeeper, had gone to the market and I was all alone. I looked outside about an hour ago, expecting Una to be back shortly, and I saw a witch! She was bent over my herb garden, sprinkling something on the coriander and dill. I pounded on the window, but she cackled and rushed off. Serena showed up not five minutes later. Imagine!”

Judith could imagine, though she wondered where her cousin had gotten the witch’s costume. “How fortuitous,” she murmured.

“A witch?” Beth sounded skeptical. “Did you call the police?”

Mrs. Gunn frowned at her daughter. “Of course not! They never believe me. You know how they’ve acted in the past when I’ve had to summon them. They think I’m fanciful or just a nuisance.”

Beth smiled wryly. “Well, you have had some odd complaints.”

Mrs. Gunn looked indignant. “Nonsense! The midge attacks were frightful last summer. I wanted the police to spray those pesky insects before they clogged up my ears and nose. As for the deer that ate my plants, I had to threaten to poison them before the police would do anything. Not to mention the car that destroyed my nephrolepis fern—and on the feast day of Saint Therese of Lisieux, God’s Little Flower! Too ironic! That driver should have been arrested for recklessness. If I’d been a heavy sleeper, I’d never have heard the impact and discovered how my poor fern got run over. I’d nurtured it from a small cutting.” Her face softened as she looked at Renie. “As for Serena, we’ve made amends. She said that it was at our awkward meeting in the woolen shop where she sensed my aura and later realized I was in danger.”

“Really,” Beth said, looking benign. “Speaking of the occult, I don’t suppose Master Wass has any insights into Harry’s murder.”

Mrs. Gunn grew serious. “Not precisely. He did mention a conspiracy, but had no specifics. The planets aren’t properly aligned.”

“So,” Beth said, “you haven’t talked to the police at all?”

Mrs. Gunn looked puzzled. “I told you, there was no need to call them. Serena arrived so quickly and quieted my fears.”

Judith glimpsed her cousin’s smug expression. “She has a calming effect on people.” When she isn’t driving them to distraction, Judith thought to herself, and was aware that she’d begun to perspire.

“I meant,” Beth clarified, “have they asked you about Harry?”

“Why should they?” Mrs. Gunn responded, fingering the gold amulet with an odd circular design that she wore on a short chain around her neck. “I hardly knew him.”

“Because,” Beth explained, “Moira was your daughter-in-law when she was married to Frankie. I thought they might have asked if you knew anything about her second husband.”

“I don’t,” Kate declared, sitting back in the chair and clasping her hands in her lap. “She certainly didn’t consult me about remarrying.”

“Hey, Kate,” Renie said, “are there any more of those scones with your divine blackberry jam?” She licked her lips for emphasis.

“Of course!” Kate exclaimed. “Una can bring more and another pot of tea.” She beamed a rather feral smile at Judith. “Your cousin has a wonderful appetite. I like people who enjoy their food.” Turning slightly, she spoke into a large rubber plant. “Una—more tea, scones, and jam. Blackberry and Seville orange marmalade.”

Una’s voice came from somewhere among the plant’s large green leaves. “Of course, ma’am. I’ll be quick.”

Kate’s smile was self-satisfied. “I have speakers allowing me to communicate and monitor what goes on in every room. Very helpful.”

“Modern technology is amazing,” Judith said.

Kate agreed. “I have cameras as well. Much more convenient than the old methods one had to employ. So awkward drilling all those holes in walls when we lived in our previous house.”

“Ah…” Beth said quickly, “maybe I should help Una with the tea.”

“Of course,” Kate said with a fond smile. “You’re a good daughter. Children are a great comfort as we get older, are they not?”

Renie nodded. “But expensive.”

Kate waved a hand. “Why should they not be? How better to spend one’s money? Of course Beth married well. So did Frankie, though…” She paused and bit her lip. “He was a happy boy, more so than my other sons.” She