Snow Place to Die : A Bed-and-breakfast Mystery

restroom. She looked absolutely furious.

“I hate everybody,” she announced. “I wish I could shoot

you all.” For good measure, she jiggled her suede bag, then

glanced at the elk antlers, as if she were envisioning one of

her co-worker’s heads in the same place.

“There must be a reason for your hostility,” said Renie in

a strange, strangled voice. “You might feel better if you talked

about it.” She turned to Judith, speaking in a whisper. “Do

I sound like Bill?”

“You sound like hell,” Judith shot back. “But go for it.”

Ignoring Renie, Margo stalked past the cousins and went

to the near wall which was decorated with Haida masks and

jewelry. With her back to the others, Margo stood rigidly,

one hand clenching at her side, the other clutching her suede

bag.

“What happened to the buddy system?” Judith murmured.

Renie shook her head. “I don’t know. Who’s missing?

Frank and Russell?”

She’d hardly finished speaking when both men entered

the game room. Frank Killegrew looked distraught and

Russell Craven appeared miserable. Max whirled around,

unleashing a dart that sailed between the two men’s heads.

“We’ve got to calm down!” Killegrew cried, jerking around

to watch the dart land out in the hall. “A mutinous crew can

cause a shipwreck.”

“Sorry,” Max mumbled. “That was an accident.”

Margo turned her head. “The ship has sunk, Frank. Glub,

glub, glub. That was my point. That’s why I’m quitting.

Don’t you get it? I’m not going down with your stupid S.S.

OTIOSE.”

“Now, now,” Killegrew began, “you’re considering just the

short term…”

SNOW PLACE TO DIE / 225

“Don’t start again!” Ava cried. “I can’t stand it!” She buried

her face against a side pocket.

“I’m confused,” Russell said in a disconsolate voice.

“Margo, I thought you liked Alan Roth. I’m the one who

should be upset. I am upset. My career is over.”

“Now, now,” Killegrew repeated, “you don’t know that for

sure, Russell. If the board agrees to change the by-laws and

I stay on as CEO, it won’t matter if we merge with WaCom.

I’ll still have an oar in the water.”

“But you won’t!” Ava declared, attempting to sit up on the

pool table. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you! That’s why

it doesn’t matter if you name me as Ward’s successor. Do

you think Alan Roth will want any of us working for him

after what happened to his wife this weekend?”

Judith and Renie glanced at each other. “Ava as executive

vice president?” Judith said under her breath.