Murder, Money & Marzipan Read Online Free Page B

helped out the police department on a few cases.  
    Some women took up knitting in their golden years; the Ladies Detective Club liked to find killers and solve mysteries.
    “Ruth found something interesting about your suspect…Aurea Pearce, was it?” Ida continued.
    “Yes. Put her on.” Nans put the tablet back on the table.
    Lexy heard a shuffling sound coming from the device. She saw the screen blur then fill with Ruth’s face.
    “Hi Mona and Lexy,” she said. Without waiting for a return greeting, she got right down to business. “I did a background check on Aurea Pearce. It seems she has some money troubles.”
    “Oh, really?”   Nans exchanged an eyebrow-raised look with Lexy.
    “She’s maxed out on credit cards to the tune of $40,000 and is behind on house payments.”   The older woman leaned in closer, whispering into the iPad. “My sources tell me she has a gambling problem and may have taken out some unconventional loans.”  
    “Excellent. Good work,”   Nans said.  
    “A gambling problem?   Well she’s come to the right place,” Lexy said sarcastically, thinking that Las Vegas was the last place a person with a gambling problem should be.  
    Nans laughed. “Ain’t that the truth. But if she’s taken out unconventional loans, she might be getting pressure to pay them back quickly. Having a big win at the tables might save her from an undesirable fate.”
    “Or stacking the deck in the bakery contest to ensure she wins the $100,000 grand prize,” Lexy pointed out.
    “True,” Nans said. “We have other suspects to look into, though.”  
    “Helen is busy checking out the husband and looking into Judge Saunders’s background. I’ll call you back once we have something.”   Ruth said.
    “OK, I’ll fill you in on what we’ve found here then too. Bye.” Nans pressed a button and the screen went blank.
    She turned to Lexy, a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. “Well, I’d say we just found a more pressing reason for Aurea Pearce to want to tip the scales in favor of her winning the contest. Maybe even one that would justify murder.”

    ###

    “Where are you off to tonight?” Lexy eyed her friend who was dressed in black leather pants, black leather ankle boots and a black T-shirt. Her pink tipped hair spiked up on top of her head like a birds plume.
    “Poker tables,”   Cassie said, poking an earring into her ear to keep the five already there company. “You?”
    “I’m going to play the slots. It will be nice to take a break from baking, but I’m not staying out late. I still have some finishing touches to put on those wedding cakes before the judging tomorrow afternoon.”
    “Yep, I’ll be back early too. See you later then?”
    Lexy nodded, watching Cassie shrug on a leather vest, then head out the door.
    Assessing herself in the mirror she decided her faded jeans,   pink tank top, and pink-striped platforms were perfect for a relaxing evening at the slot machines. Her hair was still a little wet from her shower, so she piled it on top of her head in a messy swirl.
    She applied a few swipes of makeup, then followed Cassie out the door.
    The elevator dumped her off in the casino. Scanning the room for a good place to lose her money, she spied a bank of progressive slot machines in the corner. She started off toward them but was stopped by a vibration in her back pocket. Her cell phone.
    It was Jack. Her stomach clenched. Depending on what Jack had heard about the murder, the call might not go so well.
    “Hi!” She answered with forced enthusiasm.
    “Hey, how’s it going out there?”  
    He didn’t sound mad. So far so good.
    “Great. I’m in second place,” she said proudly.
    “That’s awesome. I’m so proud of you!”  
    Lexy felt her heart soar. He was proud of her!
    “I got a message from a detective I know out there. Nikki Stone. Would you know what that’s about?”  
    Her momentary happiness at his praise turned into dread, causing her