Mistletoe Murder Read Online Free Page A

informed the group, “I think Marcia is the prime suspect.”
    â€œThe wife usually is,” agreed Lucy. “But I can’t imagine her being mechanical enough to rig up a hose. She might have gotten her hands dirty.”
    â€œShe really is a stuck-up little bitch. She thinks an awful lot of herself,” commented Rachel, running the side of her fork around her dessert plate and licking it clean with her little pink tongue. “When I invited her to join the Friends of the Tinker’s Cove Library, she just turned me down flat. Made me feel as if I were social climbing or something. I was just trying to be friendly,” Rachel defended herself.
    â€œThey may live here in town, but the Millers have never really been part of the town,” Sue said. “I mean, there’s a certain distance. You wouldn’t just drop by for a cup of coffee and a chat.”
    Lucy chuckled. “Imagine dropping in on Marcia Miller!”
    â€œOh, Sid got to know her pretty well,” announced Sue. “He’s spent quite a lot of time in her bedroom.”
    â€œOh, really?” inquired Lucy. “How did that happen? Why aren’t you upset?”
    â€œIt wasn’t like that,” Sue admitted. “He installed a closet system for her.”
    â€œTell us more, Sue,” said Lucy. “What did he say when he got home?”
    â€œHe said she had a lot of clothes, and”—Sue stretched the words out, clearly saving the best for last—“they have separate bedrooms.”
    â€œReally?” Lucy was incredulous. “Lydia, you’re always the first to know about these things. Weren’t the Millers happy?”
    Lydia smiled. “It’s not my fault. Kindergartners tell their teacher everything. They just can’t keep secrets. But little Sam seems happy enough. He’s a quiet little fellow. Not abnormal. I thought, well, maybe he’s just a well-brought-up boy with good manners.”
    â€œThat’s not much help,” complained Lucy. “What about your mom, Franny? She always knows everything that’s going on.”
    â€œYou can say that again,” agreed Pam indignantly. “I saw her at the IGA and she told me that Jennifer had gotten her first period, and that was before Jennifer even got home from school.”
    Franny moaned. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. She’s awfully good friends with the school nurse.”
    â€œI dread to think what you’ve heard about my kids,” Lucy worried.
    â€œI don’t listen to her,” admitted Franny. “I’ve got my own life to live.”
    â€œDon’t we all. Too much life, in fact. I’m never going to be ready for Christmas. But I still can’t help wondering why someone would kill Sam Miller,” Lucy said pensively.

CHAPTER FOUR

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    The next morning Lucy made breakfast, kissed Bill good-bye, packed lunches for Elizabeth and Toby, kissed them on their cheeks, and waved them off on the school bus. Then she made the beds, washed the dishes, and swept the kitchen floor. Chores completed, she sat down at the big oak table with a cup of coffee and a pencil and paper to take stock of her Christmas situation.
    Only seven days until Christmas. One week. Yesterday she’d finished the sleeves of the sweater she was making for Bill. Now all she had to do was sew the parts together and knit the neckband. The tools she’d ordered from Brookstone had come, and she’d used her Country Cousins discount to buy some other clothes for him. Bill was taken care of. She put a check next to his name.
    Next on the list was Bill’s father, Bill senior. She had used her Country Cousins discount