Chocolate Covered Murder by Leslie Meier Read Free Book Online

sending a plate with a muffin sliding across the table to Rachel. “ It’s better in the Bahamas. ”
    â€œNo, no, no.” Pam picked up her spoon. “It’s best on the coast.”
    â€œYou’ve been listening to Corney,” said Lucy.
    â€œThat woman is trouble,” said Sue, twisting her glossed lips into a scowl. “Somehow she convinced me to organize a Valentine dessert contest.” She took a sip of coffee. “I’m counting on you all to enter.”
    â€œI’m awfully busy with the committee,” said Pam. “I don’t see how I’ll have the time.”
    â€œMe, too,” said Rachel, using her tongue to whisk a muffin crumb from her lip. “The Harbor Players are putting on A. R. Gurney’s Love Letters and I’m directing.”
    â€œThat’s a first for you,” crowed Lucy. “Congratulations.”
    â€œYeah, I’m really enjoying it,” said Rachel. “But the rehearsals are very time-consuming.”
    â€œThat leaves you,” said Sue, narrowing her eyes and pointing a perfectly manicured finger at Lucy.
    Lucy shook her head. “I told you. I’m on a diet.”
    â€œYou don’t have to eat it,” said Sue. “You just have to make it.”
    Lucy switched to Plan B. “I guess Sara and Zoe can whip something up.” She drained her mug and signaled for a refill. “I bumped into Barney Culpepper the other day. He said Eddie’s coming home. Permanently. He’s done with the marines.”
    â€œThat is a relief—now I won’t have to worry about him.” Rachel let out a big sigh. “They were so cute, weren’t they? Those boys: Richie and Tim, Toby and Eddie. Remember how Eddie was the catcher, at Little League? That funny squat he had, with one leg stuck straight out?”
    Pam nodded, smiling nostalgically. “They were so cute in those Cub Scout uniforms. Remember, Lucy?”
    â€œI wish I could forget,” said Lucy. “I was the den mother. They led me a merry chase. Those boys were a handful.”
    â€œThey all turned out fine, though,” said Pam. “My Tim’s helping to rebuild New Orleans, Richie’s going to make a big archaeological discovery... .”
    Rachel smiled at the reference to her son. “We’ll see.”
    â€œOh, yes he is,” said Pam. “Toby’s a fine father... .”
    â€œAnd someday he’ll actually get that college degree,” said Lucy, fretting about her son.
    â€œHe’ll be a captain of industry,” said Rachel. “And Eddie.” She paused, thinking, while Norine refilled their mugs. “Do you think he’ll become a cop like his dad?”
    Lucy bit her lip. “You know, I think he may need some time to figure out what he wants to do. I said the town would probably have a welcome home parade and Barney said he doesn’t want a fuss.”
    Rachel’s face clouded. “Oh, dear. I hope he doesn’t have post-traumatic stress syndrome like so many returning vets.”
    â€œAnd I hope he gets started on something pretty quick,” said Sue. “It’s no good for these kids to hang around aimlessly. Before you know it, they’re in the court report for drunk driving or drugs.”
    â€œI know,” said Lucy, with a grim nod. “We got one at the paper yesterday and I had to format it. I was shocked at the number of drug cases.”
    Rachel shook her head. “It’s an epidemic.”
    â€œWhere does it all come from?” asked Sue.
    â€œThat’s a good question,” said Lucy, checking her watch. “Gosh, I can’t believe the time. It’s back to the salt mines for me. I’ve got a budget meeting at ten.”
    The ten o’clock news budget meeting had been Ted’s idea and Lucy didn’t like it much. Deadline was noon Wednesday and the paper came out on Thursday mornings, which meant she