The Perfect Coed (Oak Grove Mysteries Book 1) (29 page)

“It’s kind of close to Thanksgiving,” Susan protested. “What will we have for Thanksgiving?”

“Why, turkey, of course. But I don’t know what you’ll eat for Christmas. John is taking me on a Caribbean cruise that whole week. You and Jake will have to fend for yourselves.”

Susan’s mouth dropped open. “I had no idea the Caribbean interested you.”

“It doesn’t,” Aunt Jenny said airily, “but if John thinks it does…” She shrugged as though to say, “What else can I do?”

“Aunt Jenny, when you move here… you’re not going to marry Judge Jackson, are you?”

“Why, Susan, he hasn’t asked!”

Susan tried a different approach. “You’re not going to… ah… live with him?”

“Oh, Susan, that’s for young people like you and Jake. No, I thought I could live in a small house in town here a lot more cheaply than in Wichita Falls… and be close to all of you. John likes the idea.”

“I bet he does,” Susan said. Then, not all her questions answered yet, she said, “Aunt Jenny, if you knew Eric had murdered Missy and trashed my plants, killed the kitten, and done all that stuff, why did you keep mothering him?”

“Well,” her aunt drew the word out, “I like to mother people, and Lord knows that poor boy needed love. But I also thought there had to be some spark of good in him… and if I was kind enough to him, he’d finally be remorseful and tell us what he’d done.” She hesitated. “I guess I don’t understand… what’s the kind of personality Officer Jordan talked about?”

“Sociopath,” Susan supplied, “but I’m not sure that fits Eric. Anyway, he’ll probably go to some state or private mental facility.”

“And I’ll send him cookies and things,” Aunt Jenny said.

THE END

Acknowledgments
 

Sincere thanks to editors/proofreaders Mary Dulle and Lourdes Venard, who both probably have read this more than times than they want to remember. And to Lyn Stanzione, who was patient with my indecision about cover art.

As always I owe a great deal of gratitude to Fred Erisman, who read the first draft and made helpful comments.

And of course thanks to my family who are my biggest supporters. I love you guys!

About Judy Alter

Judy Alter is no stranger to college campuses. She attended the University of Chicago, Truman State University in Missouri, and Texas Christian University, where she earned a Ph.D. and taught English. For twenty years, she was director of TCU Press, the book publishing program of the university. The author of many books for both children and adults, she retired in 2010 and turned her attention to writing contemporary cozy mysteries. She is the author of the Kelly O’Connell Mysteries and the Blue Plate Café Mysteries.

She holds awards from the Western Writers of America, the National Cowboy Museum and Hall of Fame, and the Texas Institute of Letters. She was inducted into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame and recognized as an Outstanding Woman of Fort Worth and a woman who has left her mark on Texas. Western Writers of America gave her the Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Achievement. She is a member of the Texas Institute of Letters and Sisters in Crime and a past president of Western Writers of America.

Alter is the single parent of four grown children and grandmother of seven. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her Bordoodle, Sophie.

Also by Judy Alter

Kelly O’Connell Mysteries

Skeleton in a Dead Space

No Neighborhood for Old Women

Trouble in a Big Box

Danger Comes Home

Blue Plate Café Mysteries

Murder at the Blue Plate Café

Murder at the Tremont House

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