THE ONLY POSITIVE PART of the night was that the combination of fattening Southern food and boring conversation had given Myrtle her first good night’s sleep in a long while. The next morning Red greeted her at the breakfast table with a smile. “Just got a call on my cell from the air conditioning people, Mama. They’re going to be at your house in twenty minutes. I’m going over there to let them in and talk with them about the system.”
He looked pleased as punch. It made Myrtle feel a little sour. She hadn’t even gotten the information she wanted on the case, yet. It was all very discouraging.
After she’d eaten and gotten dressed, she looked out the window and saw Red talking with the repairmen.
There was a rap at Elaine’s front door. She pulled it open and saw dumpy Puddin standing o
