Cover Story by Erika Chase Read Free Book Online

sunglasses. “Have you heard how Molly is doing this morning?”
    â€œShe had a good night. I’m still hoping she’ll be released this afternoon.”
    â€œWell, shouldn’t you be at home preparing or something?”
    â€œI’ll be staying with her at her place.” Lizzie was about to tell him she wasn’t going anywhere just yet, not while they were still searching for clues, but decided against it when she noticed the dark look in his eyes. He was quite serious about this.
    â€œGood. Now I’ll watch while you drive away from here to make certain you’re not being followed.” He kissed her on the forehead and opened her car door.
    He’s kidding, isn’t he?

Chapter Seven
    And he never saw his killer.
    DOG TAGS
—DAVID ROSENFELT
    L izzie glanced at the dashboard clock as she stopped at the next intersection. Noon already. She’d meant to stop in at the school board office this morning and check if the books she’d ordered for the first term had come in but that would have to wait. She decided to stop at the hospital and just make sure Molly would still be released as planned. Of course, she had no intention of burdening her with the news of the death of Orwell Rivers.
    â€œHow are you, Molly? You’re looking much better,” Lizzie said with relief once she’d passed through the gauntlet of medical staff and police guard. “Hey, Bob.”
    Molly waved the observation away. “I’m feeling great and I can’t wait to get out of here.”
    â€œMolly, you’ll never guess what’s happened,” Lizzie began then realized this was exactly what she’d pledged not to do. She tried to backpedal. “I thought I’d just check in and see if it’s a go this afternoon.”
    Bob stood and walked around the bed to stand next to Lizzie. “It is and she’s doing quite fine. Of course, she’ll have to be watched. The doc said he’d give me a list of things to be aware of. Now, what’s going on?”
    Lizzie sighed. “I hadn’t meant to bring this up here but . . . Anyway, I went out to Riverwell Press this morning to try to get a copy of Teensy’s book. And, well, I found Orwell Rivers’s body.”
    Molly gasped. “By body, you mean that he’s dead?”
    â€œMurder?” Bob asked.
    â€œIt looks to be,” Lizzie answered. “I didn’t stick around very long after the police arrived so I don’t have many details.”
    Bob went back to his chair. “Now, that’s right puzzling. Just too many things connected to Teensy Coldicutt’s book. Do you know any more about its contents?”
    â€œJust what Teensy said, and she swears there’s nothing in it that would result in all this. No secrets revealed, for instance.”
    â€œWell, something’s going on. Molly, maybe you should just stay right here in the hospital for a few more days. The police might have some answers by then.” The look on Bob’s face reflected the concern in his voice.
    â€œDon’t talk nonsense,” Molly retorted. “I’m not in any danger. They’ve had their go at me. And they’ve got the books, so I couldn’t be safer. But if you’re concerned, Lizzie, you don’t need to stay with me.”
    â€œYou can’t get rid of me that easily, Molly. What time do you want me over?”
    Molly looked at Bob, who shrugged and checked his watch. “What, say, three?” Molly nodded.
    â€œOkay. I’ll be there.” Lizzie gave Molly a quick kiss on her cheek and waved good-bye to Bob.
    Out in the hall she thought about Bob’s suggestion. Was Molly still in danger? Maybe Mark would post a guard at her house.
Here we go again.
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    L izzie sat in her car in the hospital parking lot for several minutes trying to decide what to do next. She wanted to head right back out to