About the Author: Tim McDaniel teaches English as a Second Language at Green River College, not far from Seattle. His short stories, mostly comedic, have appeared in a number of SF/F magazines, including F&SF, Analog, and Asimov's. He lives with his wife, dog, and cat, and his collection of plastic dinosaurs is the envy of all who encounter it. His author page at Amazon.com is https://www.amazon.com/author/tim-mcdaniel and many of his stories are available at CuriousFictions.com.
Mr. Swettenham paused at the low gate to admire the roses. So many varieties, so artfully planted, so lovingly cared for. But the garden was now showing signs of neglect—dead flowers which had not been trimmed from the vine, weeds creeping in among the roots. Unthinkable, that she could allow the garden to go unkept. It was in this very garden, Mr. Swettenham recalled, in which Miss Dalyrimple had overheard a murder being plotted. How exciting to think of it! But her detection days were over now. Her long career was finally at a close, her end becoming frightfully near. He sighed, tenderly disengaged a thorn which had caught his coat, then stepped in and closed the gate behind him.
Hat in hand, he knocked gently on the front door of the cottage. There was no answer, or no audible answer. He eased the door open.
“Miss Dalyrimple? Mr. Swettenham here for a visit?”
“Yes? Hello? Who’s there?” called a thin voice from within the darkened home.
Mr. Swettenham came in and softly closed the door behind him. “Mr. Swettenham, Miss Dalyrimple,” he said. “I’ve come to see how you’re getting along.”
“Oh, yes. Of course. Come in, vicar, do come in.”
Mr. Swettenham crossed the parlour to the bedroom. The door was open. The bedroom was dim; thin curtains had been drawn over the window. The window that looked over the garden. But Miss Dalyrimple was visible in the bed, a small outline, nearly hidden under the bedclothes.
Wonderful! A delightful read to warm up this cold and rainy day!
An absolute delight to read. Clever and entertaining from beginning to end. Well done. I wonder now when Jessica Fletcher will confess.
Well written. Fun to read!
Really engaging and well written, bravo!
Clever, and a fun read.
Wonderfully engaging characters from beginning to end in this delightful read.
Loved the ending--savaging the roses. A good read.
Brilliant story. Love the last line.