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through the aftermath of revelations about her deceased husband.
    The Molly who had emerged was a transformation. Her shoulder-length gray hair had
     been swept up in a haphazard bun on the top her of head. A number of black chopsticks
     held it precariously in place.
    “Are you okay?” Lizzie ventured, dying to know what had been going on in Molly’s life
     all these weeks.
    “Of course I am, honey. Can’t you see? I’ve had a reawakening, is what it is. Now
     stop gawking and tell me what happened over at your house.”
    Lizzie gulped. “It was just awful, Molly. I was hanging Christmas decorations and
     had my back to Derek Alton, and then I heard a gunshot and glass breaking. I turned
     as Derek yelled out but he was already collapsed on the floor bleeding.”
    Molly patted her hand. “Just what was he doing at your place anyway?”
    “He dropped in out of the blue. He said we could talk while I continued decorating.
     I was hanging the mistletoe.”
    Lizzie’s eyes narrowed. “That’s what Mark is thinking, isn’t it? Not who killed Derek,
     but what was going on in my house? I don’t believe it.”
    Molly sighed. “Mark’s a man, honey, and I’m certain he has strong feelings for you,
     so of course, he’s likely to be a tad jealous. Especially since you’ve been out on
     a date with Derek.”
    Lizzie jumped up and started pacing. “It wasn’t a real date. Derek wanted to talk
     about the book club, so sure, I had dinner with him.”
    “It’s not me you have to convince.”
    “And how did you know about it anyway?”
    Molly sighed. “Lizzie, you should realize by now that nothing goes unnoticed in Ashton
     Corners and also, that since I’m friends with the manager of the Shasta Room, I hear
     all.”
    Nathaniel appeared, carrying a tray of tall glasses and a plate of sugar cookies.
     “This should help,” he said, setting it down on the coffee table. “I did detect a
     decided chill in the air when you were being questioned, Lizzie. I think Molly is
     right. As are you, my dear. Chief Dreyfus needs to focus on the murder, not the setting.”
    “Oh boy,” Lizzie whispered as she sank back against the pillows on the couch.
    “Indeed,” Nathaniel said, and he passed the cookies.

Chapter Four
    Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.
    ALL ABOUT EVE
—JOSEPH LEO MANKIEWICZ
    “H ow long have you had a relationship with Derek Alton?” Officer Craig asked Lizzie.
    Lizzie looked over at Mark, sitting in Nathaniel’s navy leather recliner beside the
     dark oak fireplace. Because of the usual moderate temperatures in central Alabama,
     the fireplace was seldom used. A tray of candles decorated the hearth, although they
     were never lit, either.
    She addressed her answer to Mark. “I did not have a relationship with Derek Alton.”
     She directed her gaze to Officer Craig in time to see a small smile disappear. “I
     met him at the Book Bin on Saturday and Jensey Pollard told Derek about our mystery
     book club and one thing led to another . . .” She paused to stare down Craig’s smirk.
     “I mean, she suggested he should be our guest at the next book club meeting. He agreed.
     I bought his book, which he signed. Then he left.”
    “And next thing, he’s in your living room being shot?” Officer Craig asked, her left
     eyebrow arched. Lizzie found it as annoying as her smirk.
    “That’s it exactly. He came to my house to talk about the book club.”
    “And you just happened to be hanging mistletoe?”
    Lizzie sat upright. “Yes. He came in and said to go ahead with what I was doing, he’d
     just ask me some questions. He wanted to know more about the people who’d be at the
     meeting. He said it would help him tailor his talk. I had been hanging the mistletoe
     so I continued. I didn’t stop to think, should I really be hanging mistletoe when
     this man is in my house, if that’s what you’re getting at. I had been struggling with
     it, so I hung the damned