Streak of Lightning by Clare O'Donohue Read Free Book Online

that restaurant. It was the only Chinese takeout close to town. But on this menu, there was what seemed like a phone number written at the top. I grabbed a pen from my purse and searched for a piece of paper, but no luck. So I rolled up the sleeve of my sweater and wrote it on my arm, then walked back outside, leaving the door unlocked but closed, just as I had found it.
    Then I went next door to Everything Pizza. The CLOSED sign was on the door, and there seemed to be no movement inside. I tried to look in the window, but the restaurant was dark. If Lori was in there, she was in back.
    I walked around the block to the alley. As I did, I saw Violet and Lori chatting quietly in the parking area between the back doors to each of their businesses.
    â€œLori,” I said, when it was clear that they saw me, “I’m so sorry about your husband.”
    â€œThanks, Nell. It’s very kind of you. I’m still in shock. I warned Joe over and over that the anger would give him a heart attack one day.”
    â€œIs that what it was?” I asked.
    â€œWhat else could it have been?” Violet jumped in. “He was alone in a jail cell.”
    â€œYes, he was,” I agreed, but turned my attention to Lori. “You brought some medication to the police station last night.”
    â€œFor Joe’s blood pressure.”
    â€œWas he in bad health? I mean aside from high blood pressure.”
    â€œLike a heart condition or something? No, and if there was, Joe wouldn’t have done anything different. Whenever I’d nag him about his health, he’d say he was too stubborn to die.”
    â€œYou had a lot to deal with,” Violet said, patting Lori’s shoulder. Violet was about Lori’s age and quite petite. She was strong, though. I’d seen her carry huge potted plants from her truck.
    Violet and I glanced toward each other, both thinking, I’m sure, how much easier Lori’s life would be now.
    â€œMy grandmother wanted to stop by . . .”
    Lori blushed. “I’m so sorry. I . . .” She stumbled on her words. “I just felt like I needed to check on the restaurant.”
    â€œYou’re closed of course,” I said.
    She nodded. “Violet and I were just discussing what I’m going to do now. I can run a business, but Joe was the chef.”
    â€œHe made a wonderful pizza,” I agreed. “Do you want to keep the place? It seems like a lot of work for one person.”
    She nodded. “Joe had ideas to make it more profitable, and I’d like to keep his dream alive.”
    â€œI suppose you’re used to how hard it is. You must have had to work late last night to close up the restaurant on your own,” I said. “You probably did that a lot.”
    â€œNo,” she said. “Hardly ever. And last night we were closed before . . . well, before all the excitement. I was already home making dinner when Joe attacked Violet’s shop.”
    â€œYou were home? And you stayed home all night?”
    â€œNo. You already know that I went to the police station with Joe’s pills.”
    â€œBut Greg called your house twice. The first time you didn’t pick up, so he called again a half hour later.”
    â€œThe first time he called, I must have had the water running or the TV on or something. Why?”
    â€œYou know me,” I said. “I’m always trying to solve puzzles.”
    She smiled. “Luckily, this isn’t a puzzle. I brought Joe the pills, but it was too late. He’d gotten himself worked up once too often. I was barely back at the house when Greg called me to tell me what had happened.”
    â€œThe state police think Greg . . . ,” I started, but I didn’t know how much I wanted to reveal, so I stopped.
    Lori looked genuinely distressed. “I’ve known Greg since we moved to town, and he’s a kind, sweet man. He wouldn’t