Treacherous Tart by Ellie Grant Read Free Book Online Page A

Donald—that he set his sights on one woman at a time, building up her trust. She wondered if Donald was courting a better prospect than Aunt Clara because he realized she wasn’t as vulnerable as he’d thought. Maybe he’d already given up on her.
    â€œI’m going to powder my nose.” Aunt Clara had stopped eating after a few bites of her chicken sandwich. “I’m afraid I’m not hungry right now. I hope Betty won’t take offense.”
    â€œWe’ll get it to go.” Maggie tried to be upbeat. “Maybe it will seems better for dinner.”
    As soon as Aunt Clara was gone, Maggie tackled the subject of Donald’s philandering, her tone muted.
    â€œYou think Donald was worried that he couldn’t get anything from her?”
    Ryan shrugged. “It’s possible. Maybe he was trolling for his usual lonely widow. You wanted to convince him that Clara wasn’t alone. Maybe he took the hint.”
    â€œThat might mean that Donald’s killer doesn’thave to be someone from his past,” she theorized. “It could be someone trying to protect their mother, grandmother, et cetera, right here in Durham.”
    â€œWe could look into it.” He took another bite of his cheese-and-jalapeño sandwich, chewed, and swallowed it. “If that’s the case, it could be a reader of the Weekly . I’ve been running those articles about him, without using his name, for a while. Maybe this morning was the last straw. What I wrote may have had an unexpected impact.”
    He seemed almost buoyant about it.
    â€œDon’t be so happy about it.” She stared at him. “Maybe Donald’s death is your fault, like Frank said.”
    â€œMy fault? I was trying to save someone from getting killed. That’s my responsibility , not my fault.”
    She sucked the last of her drink from her straw. “Whichever it was, you were plain enough in the paper today that your readers knew what Donald looked like. He, or she, could’ve been stalking him.”
    â€œYes.” Ryan wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I suppose that’s true. The papers had been out on the street for hours at that point.”
    Maggie nodded at him when she saw Aunt Clara approaching. “I’m not saying anything about this to her.”
    â€œShe’s gonna see it sometime.”
    â€œI’ll deal with it then.”
    Maggie and Ryan were done eating. Maggie asked for a to-go box for Aunt Clara’s sandwich, and told Betty how much they had enjoyed their lunch.
    â€œYou’re very welcome.” Betty wiped her hands on a clean towel. “Would you like me to give you a call if that other woman shows up again?”
    â€œThat would be great!” Ryan immediately took her up on her offer.
    â€œShe might not come back again without Donald. But if I see her, I’ll call you.”
    Ryan scribbled down his cell phone number on a napkin. “Thanks.”
    â€œWill do.” Betty put the note in her pocket.
    Aunt Clara walked out of the sub shop with Maggie. “I hope they’re finished with the pie shop. Making some crust right now would do me a world of good.”
    â€œThey said they’d call. I haven’t heard anything. Maybe Ryan could drop us off at the house. We could always make crust there and freeze it for tomorrow.”
    â€œFreeze it? Bite your tongue, Maggie Grady! Frozen crust never tastes the same. I thought I taught you better than that.”
    â€œSorry. I was only thinking you’d have something to do.”
    â€œI have to get back to the office,” Ryan interrupted. “Do you want me to take you home?”
    â€œYes, please.” Aunt Clara glared at Maggie. “It looks like someone needs further instruction on the fine art of pie making.”
    Ryan smiled at Maggie. “You got it. I’m sure Maggie would be a much better pie maker if she made a few pies for dinner