Murder in the Air Read Online Free Page A

nodded, feeling she’d been sworn to a lawyer-client or doctor-patient oath of silence, and walked him to the door.
    *
    Daniel’s birthday party was called for seven o’clock. Lydia slipped into the simple black designer dress she knew did wonders for her figure and scrutinized herself in the mirror. Her light brown hair had been cut and blown that afternoon so it framed her face, making her look years younger. It was a pity Sol Molina couldn’t see her now. Even more of a pity that he wasn’t her date for the evening. Actually, she’d considered asking him to be her escort, then immediately squelched the idea. Not only was it a bad move—such an invitation would probably send him fleeing for his life—but he’d feel ill-at-ease mingling with Twin Lakes residents, all of whom were bound to ask a barrage of questions regarding the unidentified body.
    She finished applying her lipstick and shook her head. She wouldn’t waste time speculating about Sol Molina. Either he’d call when the case was over or he wouldn’t.
    As she lined her eyelids, she ruminated about what Daniel had told her. Clearly, he was disturbed by what he considered to be proof that someone had been murdered. Lydia had assumed this involved the recently discovered body, but now she was no longer sure. Just as Daniel couldn’t decide whether or not to take his suspicions to the authorities. When she’d run into him and Evelyn earlier in the day, he’d greeted her warmly then whisked Evelyn away. She’d heard Evelyn chiding him for being rude and asking where they were off to in such a hurry.
    Lydia didn’t hold Daniel’s behavior against him. He probably regretted having shared what he’d told her, and didn’t want to risk her asking questions. At any rate, he was entitled to enjoy his birthday party without worry. She’d wait a few days then bring up the subject with him in private.
    Caroline and Benny came for her at a quarter to seven. She greeted them and her closest Twin Lakes friend, Barbara Taylor, already ensconced in the rear seat of the Liebermans’ car.
    “Don’t you look stunning!” Benny commented.
    “Well, thank you,” Lydia said.
    Slowly, Benny backed out of the driveway. “Lucky me, escorting the three loveliest ladies to Daniel’s party.”
    “Watch that car speeding toward us!” his wife warned, “or none of us will get there in one piece.”
    “Yes, dear,” Benny answered.
    Caroline, a tall, lanky brunette whose tan and wrinkled face attested to her many years of playing golf, bent over to kiss his cheek. “There’s only one woman you’re escorting, and that’s me.”
    “Yes, dear.”
    “Don’t worry about us, Benny,” Barbara teased. “Lydia and I are sure to hook up with some good-looking friends of Daniel’s before the evening’s over.” Petite and slender, and a widow like Lydia, she appeared to be many years younger than a woman approaching the Age of Medicare.
    “Lydia, why didn’t you bring Detective Molina along?” Benny asked as they exited Twin Lakes. “I noticed his car outside your house the other afternoon.”
    Lydia felt her face redden, but before she could answer Caroline was chiding her husband again. “Benny, watch out for that truck!”
    Benny took the hint and dropped the subject. As they turned onto the main road, he said, “The police say we can resume work on Monday. They’ve investigated the land around the root cellar, but haven’t found anything to give them clues about the body.”
    “Glad to hear it,” Lydia said, though Sol had told her this the day before. Caroline turned around to stare pointedly at the Bertran’s gift bag Lydia had placed on the seat between Barbara and her. “I see you’ve disregarded the invitation’s ‘no gifts, please’ and bought Daniel a present.”
    “It’s only a box of his favorite chocolates,” Barbara explained.
    Benny laughed. “Admit it, Caroline. We have a gag gift in the trunk.”
    “Much as we try, we can’t