Pecan Pies and Homicides by Ellery Adams Read Free Book Online

think.”
    Ella Mae could feel the younger woman trembling. “Of course. But can’t I do something for you now?” She thought of the hostile glare Robert Morgan had given his wife as she’d left the dance floor. “Do you feel threatened?”
    â€œEveryone here faces the same threat,” Eira said grimly. “My people and yours too. We’re all in terrible, terrible danger.”

Chapter 3
    After uttering this chilling statement, Eira saw her husband beckoning and hurried away to join him.
    Ella Mae watched as Robert Morgan took his wife’s hand in his own and gave her a reptilian smile. His eyes were still dark with fury and Ella Mae could tell that he was squeezing Eira’s hand too hard. His knuckles had gone white with the effort and her pretty mouth twisted in pain.
    â€œThat bastard.” Ella Mae pushed her way toward the couple, intent on rescuing Eira from another second of abuse, but Opal suddenly appeared in front of Robert, a waiter on her heels.
    â€œI tracked down a platter of Thai shrimp just for you,” she said and shot a quick glance at Eira. “Mrs. Morgan, your husband will probably need something to drink. I believe the caterers made these even spicier than the previous batch.”
    Releasing Eira, Robert said, “A member of your household generously offered me whiskey from Mr. Gaynor’s personal supply. I was told to help myself from the decanter in his office.” He gave his wife a tight, cold grin. “Do you think you could find it for me, dear?”
    Eira nodded rapidly and hurried off.
    â€œAm I taking liberties?” Robert asked Opal, whose hostess smile had slipped at the mention of her husband’s whiskey.
    She recovered quickly, however. “Of course not. You’re welcome to anything you find within these walls.”
    Clearly appeased by her solicitousness, Robert eyes roamed up and down Opal’s formfitting dress. “A man does long for the best.” His gaze lingered on her décolletage. “Your husband is a very lucky man.”
    â€œHe is. And he knows it,” Opal said, an unusual hint of playfulness in her voice.
    â€œTraveling for three weeks,” Robert went on. “Quite a lengthy business trip. He trusts you to look after everything while he’s away?”
    Ella Mae saw a flash of annoyance cross Opal’s face. Either Robert Morgan didn’t realize that Opal ran the family business or he preferred to pretend that her husband was in charge. “We’re quite accustomed to being apart,” Opal said airily. “I’ve heard it said that a marriage works better when one spends time away from one’s spouse. For Jarvis and I, that’s certainly proven to be the case. We have our personal ventures and those activities often prevent us from spending a great deal of time together, but when we do, we have a great deal to talk about.”
    Robert raised his brows. “Then you subscribe to the ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’ adage? Perhaps it’s true, but in my experience, distance encourages . . . indiscretion. I like to know where Eira is and what she’s doing at all times. Who could blame me? She’s a beautiful woman. I see the way men look at her. They’d kill to be leaving this party with her tonight. But she belongs to me.” He popped a shrimp in his mouth.
    Smiling politely, Opal excused herself, saying she had to check on her other guests. Robert Morgan murmured something and continued to gorge on shrimp. He then pivoted his wheelchair to better focus on the dancers, and since Eira had yet to return, Ella Mae decided to resume her search for Suzy.
    She found her friend in the dining room, filling a plate with slices of beef tenderloin, roast turkey, smoked salmon, and roasted vegetables.
    â€œYou’ve worked up a healthy appetite, I see,” Ella Mae teased.
    Suzy paused in the middle of digging into