Murder in the Air by Marilyn Levinson Read Free Book Online Page A

side of Evelyn as she waited her turn, behind Daniel’s family members, to cast a shovelful of dirt onto the coffin.
    Lydia, worried that Evelyn might not be up to the task, moved closer in case her assistance might be needed. She watched nervously as Bennett handed Evelyn the shovel. Just then, Arnold strode over to the small group gathered on the verge of the grave, and thrust an angry red face close to Evelyn’s.
    “My father would still be alive if not for your damn party!”
    Evelyn moaned and would have crumpled to the ground if her children and Lydia hadn’t broken her fall. The two women led her to a nearby bench while Evelyn’s son-in-law went after Arnold, who had walked off, oblivious to the effects of his words.
    Roger spun the older man around. “How dare you insult Evelyn like that, after all she’s gone through?”
    “All she’s gone through!” Arnold echoed in disbelief. “It’s my father who’s dead, remember?”
    “Such filial devotion,” Roger said sarcastically. “The way I heard it, you only came around to beg for money. And now you’ll have some, won’t you?”
    Arnold let out a roar and threw himself onto Roger. Roger punched him in the stomach, and he sank to the ground, looking as if he was about to cry. Arnold’s son and son-in-law led him away.
    A hush fell over the mourners.
    “I see it’s true when they say funerals bring out the worst in some people,” Barbara murmured.
    “That was Danny—a life filled with saps and beautiful women,” a male voice behind them commented.
    His companion laughed maliciously. “It must have killed him to have a loser like Arnold for a son. If Danny ever heard the kid talk to Evelyn that way, he’d have wrung his neck.”
    Lydia turned around. Ron Morganstern, an elderly Twin Lakes resident, was speaking to a short, barrel-chested man of his vintage with a drinker’s ruddy complexion. Both had been guests at Daniel’s party. At the moment, she was too upset by Arnold’s outrageous behavior to be concerned that she was intruding on a private conversation.
    “Ron, I didn’t realize you knew Daniel from years ago.”
    Ron nodded. “Sure did. So did Mick, here. Mick Diminio, Lydia Krause and Barbara Taylor. Two fellow Twin Lakes residents.”
    “A pleasure, ladies.” Mick Diminio flashed a practiced smile, then muttered an excuse about having to get home and wandered off.
    “Diminio,” Barbara mused. “That name sounds familiar.”
    “Mick used to be a big political wheel in the county. His son, Michael, is a state representative and moving up.”
    “Of course!” Lydia remembered. “I’ve read articles about him in the newspaper. But tell me, where did you live when you knew Daniel?”
    “Around the corner from Twin Lakes, so to speak. We were friends when we were kids, then we drifted apart. Frankly, I was kind of surprised Evelyn invited us to Daniel’s shindig. So was Mick.”
    Before she could ask another question, Andrew Varig joined them. The retired physician looked fit and tan after his European trip. Lydia decided he’d be downright handsome if only he’d lose his habitual somber expression.
    “I got back last night and heard the news. Awful about Daniel.”
    “We’re all upset,” Barbara said, “especially with it happening right after his party.”
    “All the excitement could have brought on a coronary. Any word regarding the body they unearthed?” Andrew asked. “I find it astounding that someone hid a corpse, and it lay rotting in a cellar until now.”
    “Nothing yet,” Lydia said, “but the police are working on the boy’s identification and cause of death.”
    Ron groaned. Lydia turned to him. “Are you all right?”
    “It’s the sun,” he answered. Sweat was beading along his forehead. “It makes me dizzy when I stay outside too long.”
    Andrew reached for Ron’s wrist to take his pulse, but Ron waved him off. He offered them a wan smile. “I’m all right, thanks. See you back at the