Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

of my business.”
    I waved her apology away. “I don’t know why I wanted to keep it a secret. It’s not as if I did anything wrong.”
    Jenny nodded. “That’s right. You didn’t. In fact, what you did was heroic.”
    “I feel exactly the same way,” Marnie said. “The fact that you turned him in, in spite of the problems it caused you, makes me respect you all the more.”
    “Thank you. That’s nice of you.”
    Marnie got a faraway look in her eyes. “Crazy, isn’t it, the way life is a continuous string of starting-overs? You get divorced—people tell you you’re starting a new life. You go through the change, they say, ‘This will be the better half of your life.’ You make a bad investment—” She shrugged. “They say, ‘Don’t worry. It’s not too late to start over.’ So here I am. I’m fifty-four, single, and looking for a job.” She said all of this with a bright smile, but suddenly the smile cracked and tears hovered on her lashes. She fished in her pants pocket, pulled out a lacy handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s come over me.”
    I looked around for a box of tissues. “Can I get you anything?”
    “I could sure use that cup of coffee. Is it ready yet?”
    “Coming right up.” I hopped off my chair and brought the pot to the table. “Here you go.” I poured coffee all around.
    “I’m sure everything will work out somehow.” Marnie took a deep gulp from her cup. “Doesn’t it always? Anyhow, enough about me.” She looked around as if searching for a new subject to talk about. Her eyes fell on me again. “I know it’s none of my business, Della, but have you ever been married?”
    “No.” I picked up my coffee. “Don’t you just love this coffee?” My attempt at changing the subject was not successful.
    “Ever been in love?” The woman didn’t know the meaning of minding her own business.
    I felt the heat rise to my face.
    “You’re in love right now, aren’t you?” Jenny leaned in as if trying to read me. “I can see it in your eyes.”
    “Not in the least.” I held back from adding that she obviously wasn’t very good at reading auras after all. “My last relationship was a long time ago.”
    “What happened?” Marnie asked.
    I chose an orange-cranberry muffin that looked good enough to die for, and passed the basket around again. “It’s the old story. I loved him, and he loved somebody else.” I said this in a way meant to change the subject.
    “How long exactly?” Jenny was clearly also oblivious to hints.
    I shrugged. “Oh, a couple of years ago.”
    “Does he live in Charlotte?”
Good grief, will she never stop?
    “In Charlotte—yes—and now let’s please change the subject. It’s over and done with and I’m here now. As you said, I’m starting a new life.”
    Jenny poured herself another cup of coffee. “Do you want a refill, Marnie?” The redhead shook her head. Jenny stirred milk into her coffee and said, “Did you know that Matthew is moving back to Briar Hollow and now Della has to find a new place to live?”
    I took another long, steadying swallow of coffee.
    Marnie nodded, her double chins quivering like gelatin. “So I overheard last night. But why would you have to move out? I mean, from what I gathered, you and he are childhood friends.”
    “Where did you hear that?” I asked, surprised.
    “Oh, people talk,” she said vaguely, and I realized my name had already been fodder for the gossip mill. It was a disconcerting thought. “Besides, this house has more than one bedroom, doesn’t it?”
    “It has three bedrooms, but my shop and studio have taken over the living room and dining room, and all the furniture is piled up in one of the rooms upstairs. Unless Matthew spends all his free time in the kitchen and his bedroom, there’s nowhere else for him to go. It just wouldn’t be fair. Besides, it could be a bit awkward for him and me to live together. For one thing,