Read and Buried Read Online Free Page B

mistletoe.”
    “We’ve got that, Lizzie,” Mark said unexpectedly.
    She looked over at him but couldn’t read his expression. Those dark eyes, usually
     so expressive, could be quite unreadable at times. Like now. She wondered if he could
     read the anxiety in her face. She must look a mess. She’d been wearing a Jaguars team
     sweatshirt that had seen many washings, jeans and thick socks when Alton arrived.
     She’d added pale blue Keds sneakers when she left the house. Her face lacked makeup
     and her long, dark brown hair had been pulled back in a casual ponytail.
Real enticing. You can see why Derek would try to seduce me right then and there.
    Officer Craig cleared her throat and spoke. “And you hadn’t met him before that day
     in the bookstore?”
    “No. Now wouldn’t it be more productive to ask if I saw anything or anyone outside
     my house?”
    Craig looked annoyed but asked, “And did you?”
    “No.”
    Craig’s look of annoyance deepened. “Just what are you trying to say, Ms. Turner?”
    “That I know nothing about this man and why anyone would want to kill him. Nor am
     I a good witness because I didn’t see anything. I had my back to him when he was shot.”
     Lizzie could hear murmurs of Nathaniel and Molly talking softly in the next room.
     She wished she were in there with them.
    Officer Craig looked over at the chief, then flipped her notebook shut and stood up,
     straightening her trouser legs as she did so. “That’s all for now. But we’ll want
     you to stop by the police station tomorrow and bring down your statement. You know
     the drill.”
    Mark stood and said, “I’m afraid you won’t be able to stay at your place tonight.
     You can come back now and get what you’ll need. We’ll still be looking around for
     a few more hours and we’ll board up the front window when we’re finished. My office
     will let you know when you can get back in.” He turned to go.
    Lizzie asked, “And don’t leave town?” That had been Mark’s line the last time a murder
     had brought them together. He’d been quick to smile after saying it.
    This time he gave her that unreadable look . . . and left.
    * * *
    T he last time. That had been only a few months ago. And now a second murder in quiet,
     sleepy Ashton Corners.
It’s like a bad dream.
Lizzie shook her head and tried to pick up on the conversational thread taking place
     around her. She looked around Nathaniel’s living room, grateful to have her book club
     friends with her.
    “This is unbelievable,” Sally-Jo Baker said, dropping onto the couch beside Lizzie
     and patting her back. “What a terrible shock for you. You’re so lucky not to have
     been hurt.”
    Lizzie nodded and took another sip of her wine. Maybe she should lay off it. Her mind
     felt wrapped in gauze and she didn’t feel quite as upset as the other members of the
     Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society.
Must be shock.
    The others had readily accepted Nathaniel’s invitation to gather in his house that
     evening. They all wanted to hear the details of the demise of their anticipated guest.
     So, Sally-Jo Baker, Bob Miller, Jacob Smith and Andrea Mason had arrived in short
     order. Only Stephanie Lowe was missing.
    “I do hope Stephanie is keeping her cell phone handy,” Molly commented.
    Stephanie had been in town for a short while but hadn’t divulged much about her background
     to anyone, even though it was increasingly obvious the unmarried nineteen-year-old
     would soon be giving birth. She’d eventually told them about the abusive boyfriend
     and his threatening phone calls, and her grandfolks who’d thrown her out. That was
     just over a year ago and she’d moved to Ashton Corners. The book club members had
     enveloped her into their protective fold and were eagerly awaiting the arrival of
     the baby.
    Andie nodded enthusiastically. “I’m so excited. She should be having her baby any
     day now. Or maybe that’s any week