Euphoria Lane by Tina Swayzee McCright Read Free Book Online Page A

women scrambled for the plastic margarita glasses lining the pool’s edge, just out of reach of the splashing water. They held their drinks high while bouncing back to their exercise area in the center.
    They chanted together, “Right foot, kick. Take a sip. Left foot, kick. Take a sip.”
    Luke’s jaw dropped.
    Since when had water aerobics become a drinking game?
    “You have got to be kidding,” Andi whispered.
    He found, to his dismay, that Meg and Andi had moved to his side. If Valerie spotted them, Harry would fire him.
    “The Water Guppies are drinking strawberry margaritas,” Meg said. “Notice Valerie’s drinking out of crystal, NOT plastic like the rules dictate. Hurry, take a picture before she sees us.”
    Andi positioned the camera and pushed the button. After handing the camera back to Meg, she shot Luke a look of satisfaction. She must have felt like she was finally taking back control of her life. He was happy for her, although the ridiculous nature of the scene lingered in his mind.
    “Right foot, kick. Take a sip. Left foot, kick. Take a sip.” The entire group lifted their drinks and Meg snapped off two more pictures before anyone noticed they hadn’t turned off the flash.
    Luke grabbed for the camera, but missed when Meg dodged his efforts and hid the camera in her pants. He peered back through the fence, hoping no one had noticed.
    Valerie squinted in their direction. “Hey, you! What are you doing? Are you spying on us?”
    “Run!” Luke ordered as softly as he could manage under the circumstances. “She’s coming after you.”
    As they raced over the grass, Luke waved over the fence. “It’s just me, Valerie. No need to be alarmed. I’m checking on the property as usual.”
    “Oh, okay. I’m conducting my water aerobics class,” she said, sliding the margarita glass behind her. “We’d like some privacy, please.”
    “No problem.” He waved his good-bye and strolled back to his car.
    No problem? Who am I kidding? The problems here are going from bad to worse. And we still have a murderer on the loose.
    He glanced over his shoulder to make sure he was still alone.

* * *
    On the way back from the pool, Andi spotted a small, wire-haired terrier. He darted across Meg’s driveway, dragging a string of sausages behind him.
    “That’s Bernice’s dog.” Meg whistled. “Toto! Come here, boy.” She crept closer when he stopped to consider her, the sausages still hanging from his mouth. “Come here, boy. I’ll take you home to Reverend Nichols.”
    “Reverend Nichols?”
    Didn’t Jessie say Bernice’s last name was Nichols?
    The dog backed away on his tiny paws. His ears pointed upward, ready to detect any movement in his direction.
    Meg glanced in her direction. “Bernice’s son is a minister. Sort of. He left his position after a minor ‘situation’.” She held her palm out for the dog. “You poor thing,” she cooed, edging closer. “I bet you miss your mommy, even if no one else does.”
    She took another step closer and the terrier took off like a tiny greyhound. Meg raced after him.
    Andi raced after Meg. “Wait a minute!” This conversation was too interesting to let it drop. “The witch gave birth to a religious man?”
    “Stranger things have happened . . . and usually do around here.” Meg followed the dog onto the grass, between two bushes, then back onto the street. They passed one building after another.
    Toto dodged every attempt they made to capture him. Just when Andi decided to give up, the dog ran under a garage door that had been left open a few inches.
    Meg gasped for air, then bent at the waist to whistle under the door. “Come here, Toto. I’ll take you home, boy.”
    Both women crawled over the cement to spy under the garage door. An overhead bulb illuminated the inside. Professionally finished garage cabinets lined the wall. A work area and sink in the back appeared neat and tidy.
    The aroma of a strong cleanser penetrated Andi’s