here can order for me. And what’s this leaving a newspaper outside my door? I’m not paying for it. I get my
news on TV. Why are people always giving me things
to read that I don’t want? Even that nice Dade Whoozits brought me some goofy script when he was here, all
about the Mormons. Now why would I want to read
such a thing? I’m not a Mormon. I’m a Catholic and a
Democrat. I just put that script in the barbecue and set
a match to it. I think I’ll do the same thing with that
newspaper. It’s not even local.” Gertrude ran out of
breath, but not for long. She glared at Joe. “Where’s
my breakfast?”
Judith proffered her own tray. “Here. I’ve lost my
appetite.”
As Gertrude sat down in the armchair Joe had va- SILVER SCREAM
343
cated, Judith cast a longing look at her husband. Joe
simply shook his head.
“Hey,” Gertrude cried, “where are my dentures?”
“In your mouth,” Judith responded a bit testily.
“Oh.” Gertrude began to eat. After swallowing a
mouthful of omelette, she stared at her daughter.
“Where’s that danged cat?”
“In your room, remember?” Judith said.
“Maybe not,” Joe put in. He gestured at Judith.
“Let’s go look for him.”
Judith started to protest, caught the gleam in Joe’s
eyes, and agreed. They’d search for Sweetums.
“Take your time eating, Mother,” Judith called over
her shoulder as they headed for Gertrude’s adjoining
room.
Hand in hand, Judith and Joe hurried out of the
suite.
If life wasn’t perfect, this was the next best thing.
About the Author
Seattle native MARY RICHARDSON DAHEIM began
reading mysteries when she was seven. She began her
writing career about the same time, but after getting a
journalism degree, she put her skills to use on
newspapers and in public relations. Publishing novels
was always her goal, and she finally hit the racks with
her first B&B mystery in 1991, adding the Alpine series
the next year. Daheim received the Pacific Northwest
Writers Association’s Achievement Award in 2000. She
lives with her husband, David Daheim, in Seattle.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information
on your favorite HarperCollins author.
Praise
“MARY DAHEIM
IS THE REIGNING QUEEN
OF THE COZIES”
Portland Oregonian
“Delightful mysteries.”
Kansas City Star
“Daheim writes with wit, wisdom, and a big heart . . .
Judith and Renie are sleuths to treasure.”
Carolyn Hart
“Silver Scream is a pleasing addition to a joyous series.”
Romantic Times
“Like Joan Hess’ Maggody series, Daheim’s bed-and-breakfast mysteries show a funny and often stinging
insight into people’s relationships and behavior.”
Houston Chronicle
“Rife with loony Hollywood types, Mary Daheim’s
latest is a ‘Scream.’ ”
Stuart News (Fl.)
“Mary Daheim is one of the brightest stars in our
city’s literary constellation.”
Seattle Times
“Silver Scream is a must read . . . If you’re not
familiar with award-winning author
Mary Daheim, become so.”
I Love A Mystery
Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries by
Mary Daheim
SILVER SCREAM
SUTURE SELF
A STREETCAR NAMED EXPIRE
CREEPS SUZETTE
LEGS BENEDICT
SNOW PLACE TO DIE
WED AND BURIED
SEPTEMBER MOURN
NUTTY AS A FRUITCAKE
AUNTIE MAYHEM
MURDER, MY SUITE
MAJOR VICES
A FIT OF TEMPERA
BANTAM OF THE OPERA
DUNE TO DEATH
HOLY TERRORS
FOWL PREY
JUST DESSERTS
Available in hardcover
HOCUS CROAKUS
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents,
and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and
are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual
events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SILVER SCREAM. Copyright © 2002 by Mary Daheim. All
rights reserved under International and Pan-American
Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees,
you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable
right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen.
No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or
introduced into any information storage and retrieval
system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or
mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without
the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader February 2007
ISBN 978-0-06-135935-4
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
About the Publisher
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Document Outline
Title Page
Dedication Page
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
About the Author
Praise
Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries by Mary Daheim
Copyright Notice
About the Publisher
Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
About the Author
Praise
Other Books by Mary Daheim
Cover
Copyright
About the Publisher
Bed-and-Breakfast Mysteries by
Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN