Marshmallow S'More Murder (Merry Wrath Mysteries Book 3) by Leslie Langtry Read Free Book Online Page A

cookies from my troop last winter. He wasn't a very good spy. In fact, he was pretty awful at it. The man actually showed up in a disguise with a fake name to buy cookies. Who doesn't want anyone to know they like cookies?
    "Because he'd do it for more cookies." Maria grinned. "And his sister works in IT. Could you get your hands on more peanut butter sandwich cookies?"
    "I guess so," I mumbled. "Okay, send it off." Abdul had better not blow this.
    "Pizza!" Mom announced as she walked into the room with six huge boxes. She plunked them down on the breakfast bar and opened them. My stomach rumbled. I never could resist pizza, especially pepperoni. If I could eat pizza for each meal, I would.
    After swiping steaming, cheesy wedges from the box, Maria and I followed Mom out to the pool and set up the food as the girls played quietly in the water.
    Wait, what? The girls were swimming and splashing but calmly. Every few moments, they'd turn their heads toward Liam and giggle. He'd wave back, and they'd swoon. Oh yes. Two hundred dollars at least. I could afford it. My forced retirement brought me a very handsome payout. I wondered briefly if I could export Liam to Iowa for, like, forever.
    "Cannonball!" A roar came from the French doors, and Senator Michael Czrgy, clad only in swim trunks, ran out onto the deck and jumped into the pool, causing a tsunami of water and squealing girls.
    "Dad's home," Mom whispered. Did I detect a note of sarcasm? What was going on with my folks? Well, whatever it was would have to wait. I did not need one more problem on this trip.
    "I think you're right," Dad said an hour later as Maria and I sat in his den. The girls were dried off, dressed, and watching a movie with Liam and Mom.
    "The ambassador wouldn't have anything to do with organized crime. Someone else must be doing this without his knowledge. But I still don't think we should involve him. We'll just stick to the plan tomorrow."
    Maria nodded. "I'll go check on the girls so you two can have a little time together." She smiled at Dad as she let herself out. "Nice to meet you, Senator."
    I hugged my father. "Thanks for helping out, Dad. I really appreciate it."
    "Well, kiddo, anything I can do to help, just let me know."
    Michael Czrgy was every inch as handsome as his wife was beautiful. Sandy brown hair with green eyes, he was a force to be reckoned with politically. His demeanor was a bit different from Mom's. While he could terrify his enemies on Capitol Hill, he was really a big softie with a great sense of humor. They matched each other perfectly. If something was wrong, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was.
    "I'm sorry to drag you into this," I said honestly.
    "Nonsense. It'll be fun!" Dad slapped his hand on his desk, making me jump.
    "Is everything alright with you and Mom?" I asked.
    He frowned. "What do you mean?" I couldn't help noticing his eyes avoiding mine.
    "That you didn't answer 'no' to that question." I folded my arms over my chest.
    "Everything's fine. Don't worry about us." He gave me a look that I recognized as this conversation is over.
    But he'd said, "Don't worry about us," which meant something was wrong between my parents.
    "I hear Mom got to meet Rex and the cats," Dad said. "She likes him."
    "And you're getting one of the kittens," I added, trying to bring the conversation back around to the issue of marital discontent.
    Dad frowned. "So I hear. Oh, well. Your Mom spends a lot of time alone here in this big house. I don't blame her. I just wish she'd asked for a dog."
    "There's still time left for you to change her mind. The kittens aren't weaned."
    My father ran his hands through his hair as he thought about this. "No, that's okay. Let her have it."
    I studied my dad. Throughout my life as an only child, I'd never seen my parents disagree, let alone argue. They always seemed happy. The perfect couple. My mother never said anything derogatory about Dad and vice versa. In fact, they were far more