Read Online Cancelled by Murder by Jean Flowers - Free Book Online Page A

controversies as I understood them. I did my best to play down the part where Cliff had almost hooked me into playing detective or, at least, security guard.
    Quinn let out a long breath and I knew I’d said too much. “Do I need to come home and make sure that doesn’t happen?”
    â€œNo, no.”
    â€œAs if I could stop you. Just—”
    â€œI know. I’ll be careful.”
    When we hung up, I realized that I’d unintentionally begun leaning toward a decision. One more plea from Cliff, or one tiny clue that might surface, and I’d end up helping him look into his wife’s murder. The best I could hope for was that Cliff would forget he’d ever asked that favor.
    As if I needed a prod in the opposite direction, my next call was from Chief of Police Sunni Smargon.
    â€œDid you and Cliff have a good visit?”
    â€œUh, yes. He’s having a tough time with Daisy’s death, as to be expected.” Clinical enough, I hoped.
    â€œI noticed you extended the visit to your place.”
    I should have known that Sunni would have seen Cliff’s car outside my house. She saw everything. She probably knew he’d stopped to pick up dinner, and what kinds of sides were included.
    â€œExcuse me? Is this the NSA or CIA calling?” I asked. Humor was always worth a shot.
    â€œDon’t be cute. And don’t tell me the incompetence of the North Ashcot PD didn’t come up in your conversation.”
    â€œHe needed consoling.”
    â€œAnd second-guessing us, I’ll bet.”
    â€œIsn’t it only natural that he’d be questioning everything and wondering how it happened that his wife was murdered? He hasn’t said so directly, but I think he feels guilty that he wasn’t home to protect her. He’s a guard, after all. In the protection business.” I left out “like you.”
    â€œHe was at your house a long time.”
    â€œYou really are the NSA.” Still keeping a smile in my voice. “I suppose you won’t believe that we talked about the parade next weekend and whether we’d wear costumes.”
    She shook her head. “All of a sudden you’re both big fans of General Knox and his ox?”
    Finally, a chuckle, at the rhyme. “Did you know that Knox and the load of cannons crossed the state line from New York into Massachusetts at Alford, and probably sledded right through what is now North Ashcot?”
    â€œFascinating,” Sunni said. “Here’s another thought. Maybe what happened tonight was that the widower Harmon has made a complete and swift recovery, and you’ve dumped the antiques dealer for the local security guard.”
    â€œYou got it,” I said. “Cliff and I are eloping at midnight. In fact, maybe you can help. Aren’t you legally certified to perform a marriage ceremony?”
    â€œTouché. Do you stay up thinking of ways to annoy me?”
    â€œAre you still patrolling around town?”
    â€œYes, and I could use some coffee.”
    â€œHow about some chicken and mashed potatoes?”
    *   *   *
    It was worth my getting out of bed to be able to give some comfort to my hardworking friend. Either Sunni was tootired to issue her usual warnings about my snooping (she called it “obstructing”) or she was too hungry to care. After polishing off the chicken dinner in record time, she moved to the living room and leaned back in one of my glide rockers, feet up on the matching ottoman.
    â€œI may be getting too old for this job,” she said.
    â€œWhat is it? Only another twenty-five years to retirement?”
    She gave her forehead a slap. “Thanks for the reminder. The worst part is that I have to look at everyone as a suspect and every situation as a potential for crime. People I deal with every day. Last week, I walk into Andy’s Dry Cleaners and I find myself looking more closely at the equipment. That hot,