Book Club Killer Read Online Free

with one hand. “It’s just been a really difficult day.”
    “I understand, ma’am. And I’m sorry
about what you’re going through.”
    Before I could say another word,
Susie appeared in the entryway.
    “Are you from the police?” she
asked.
    “Yes, I’m Detective Ford,” the man
answered. “I’m investigating the situation involving Rosemary Swanson.”
    Susie lifted her chin and raised
one eyebrow. “Well, come right in and have a seat,” she said. “Because we know
who tried to kill her.”

Chapter 5
     
     
    Once Detective Ford had introduced
himself to everyone in the living room, he briefly explained that he would be
conducting the official investigation. Then he dropped a bombshell that left me
feeling numb and speechless.
    “There’s one more thing I need to
tell you,” the detective said in a calm, steady tone. “This is now a murder
case. I’m very sorry to share such distressing news with you, but the emergency
team at the hospital was unable to revive your friend.”
    My heart shuddered in my chest as
Vanessa gasped and covered her face.
    “This is horrible!” Susie draped
one arm around Dora’s shoulders for support. “Why would anyone want to kill
such a wonderful person?”
    The room plunged into silence as we
contemplated the terrible news. I’d known Rosemary for years, and the cruel twist
of fate seemed incomprehensible. She’d been so alive and vivacious; always
telling a joke, offering help to anyone in need, volunteering each week at one
of the city’s soup kitchens.
    Detective Ford stood quietly,
respectfully giving us time to process the upsetting announcement. After a few
minutes, he cleared his throat and stepped into the middle of the room.
    “I’m truly sorry for your loss,” he
said. “And I hope you’ll understand that I’m simply doing my job by asking a
few questions.”
    Dora blinked at him. “Why are you
questioning us?” she asked in a delicate voice.
    “It’s standard procedure,” Ford
said. “Your friend Rosemary was coming to Mrs. Sullivan’s house today for your
book club. We suspect the dip she ate here may have been poisoned, so it’s customary
to interview anyone who was a witness or may have been known to the deceased.”
    “Did you say she was poisoned?” I
asked.
    The detective nodded. “That’s what
the medical examiner suspects, based on the symptoms that Mrs. Swanson was
experiencing before she succumbed in the ambulance.”
    “What happened?” Susie asked.
    “Respiratory failure,” Ford said.
“The EMTs were able to revive her once, but the spasms became increasingly
violent as she struggled to breathe.”
    The news left us stunned into silence
again. I glanced around the room, but the others were deep in thought. Dora was
shaking her head as tears streamed down her face. Eve stared blankly at her
fingers as they fiddled nervously in her lap. Susie leaned forward, dropping
her head into her hands. And Vanessa was mindlessly flipping through the book
we’d gathered to discuss.
    “When was the last time any of you
spoke with Rosemary?” Detective Ford asked. “I mean, besides you, Jana.”
    “Last night,” Susie said. “I called
to ask if she wanted a ride to book club, but she told me she had an
appointment before this so she’d drive herself.”
    Vanessa sniffled and shook her
head. “We exchanged emails a couple of weeks ago, but I haven’t actually talked
to her since the last time our group met.”
    Ford nodded. “What about you, Miss
Anderson?” he said, turning to Dora. “Have you talked with Rosemary recently?”
    Dora smiled at the handsome
detective. “I haven’t talked to Rosemary since the last book club meeting.” She
lowered her chin and fluttered her lashes. “And you can call me Dora,” she
added. “I’m not one to stand on formality or tradition.”
    Vanessa scoffed. “Or common
decency,” she said. “This isn’t the time or place to flirt, Miss Anderson.”
    Despite the obvious tension