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Mrs. Filly hiccupped and shook her head. “Forgive me. Now, I will admit I was surprised a couple of years later when Major Trumbo and Lill moved back to St. Lumis to retire here.”
Wilde said, “I know the major died five years ago, right? How did he die?”
“All I know is he and Lill went to visit her son at his vacation cabin somewhere in the Poconos. Her son is a textile artist, creates beautiful pictures with thread on his loom. When Lill came back to St. Lumis two weeks later, she was carrying the major in an urn, said he’d fallen over with a heart attack, died instantly.”
Pippa said, “And over the years you and Mrs. Trumbo have become friends?”
“That’s right. It didn’t take long. We had coffee and talked about marriage to the major, about how he could be mean and nasty as all get-out. There wasn’t much left for us to do but laugh about him and thank the powers that be we didn’t have to deal with him ever again. Now I think about it, having him in common is what made us friends. I made the puzzle to remind us we were free of the old lecher.” She smiled.
Pippa said, “When did you make the puzzle, Mrs. Filly?”
“Ah, I made it shortly after he ended up in that urn on Lill’s mantel, not in the basement, where he belonged. She did it as a joke, I think, although she said it was a fitting place for him. She told me one of the visitors at the B&B asked her about the urn and she told a fine tale about how Major Trumbo was a big game hunter in Africa and he was gored by a rhinoceros.” She gave them a big smile, only to have it fall off her face. “Oh dear, she’s spotted you, Chief.”
Pippa looked up when the shop door opened and Freddie Sleeman burst in like she’d been shot from a cannon. She did not look happy.
Pippa had more questions for Mrs. Filly, and now this. Freddie Sleeman was all she needed. She forced a smile. “Hello, Ms. Sleeman. How are you this chilly morning?”
Freddie ignored her. “Wilde! What a surprise to see you here of all places.”
“Good morning, Freddie,” Wilde said.
Freddie turned to Pippa, sent her chin up. “What are you doing here? And with Chief Wilde? I thought you’d have left town by now.”
“Nope, still here and we’re puzzle shopping.”
“Puzzle shopping? That’s ridiculous.”
“Good morning, Freddie,” Mrs. Filly said. “How is your mother?”
“Mother? She’s like she always is, spends more time with the downtrodden than she does with her own family.” She turned back to Pippa. “Of course you know my name, everyone knows my name, but I don’t remember yours.”
Mrs. Filly tried, she really did. Pippa appreciated her effort. “And your dear brother? How are he and his sweet family?”
“Sweet? How very nice for us. So, what’s your name? And why are you here?”
“I’m Special Agent Pippa Cinelli, FBI.”
Freddie stared hard at her. “You, FBI? An agent? Are you joking?”
Wilde said, “No, she’s not, Freddie. Actually, Agent Cinelli grew up here in St. Lumis. Are you also here to look at puzzles? We were studying Major Trumbo’s puzzle.”
Freddie spared half a glance at Major Trumbo’s puzzle, shook her head. “That ridiculous old man was disgusting. I hate it that my dad has his puzzle in his study at home.”
Wilde said, “If you didn’t come to buy a puzzle, then why did you come in, Freddie?”
Freddie grabbed up a puzzle of Saint Patrick surrounded by snakes. “Anjolina has a birthday next week. This will do.”
“Anjolina’s too young for this puzzle, Freddie. It would give her nightmares. And isn’t her birthday in March?”
“Anjolina’s age is irrelevant. No puzzle in this store would frighten her. No, her birthday is next week. Gift wrap it, Mrs. Filly.”
Mrs. Filly took the puzzle. “Agent Cinelli, let me check how many Major Trumbo puzzles are left. I’ve remembered a couple more people, and I’ll make up a short list.” She turned on her heel and was through the door at the back of the shop fast, as if escaping.
Wilde said, “Freddie, have you seen any men around St. Lumis you didn’t recognize?”
“What is this all about?” She pointed a sharp fingernail at Pippa. “If you are an FBI agent, then why are you all over Chief Wilde? It’s unprofessional. And no, I haven’t seen any strange men. What does that have to do with Major Trumbo’s puzzle?”
