Read Online Mind Over Murder by Allison Kingsley - Free Book Online Page B

want to know if he has an alibi.”
    Clara leaned her face into her cousin’s. “I am not going out with him. You go out with him.”
    “I can’t. I’m married.” Stephanie half closed her eyes. “Though if I weren’t, I wouldn’t mind—”
    “Cut that out!” Clara pulled in a deep breath. “Let Molly go out with him.”
    “He’s too old for Molly. He has to be at least thirty-five or so. You have to do it.”
    “I don’t have to do anything.”
    “You promised to help find the murderer. How can we do that if you turn down the first opportunity to get some important information?”
    “Listen, I questioned John Halloran, didn’t I?”
    “And found out exactly nothing.”
    “That wasn’t my fault! I can’t force him to tell me something he doesn’t want to tell me. Any more than I can force Rick Sanders.”
    “You don’t have to force him into anything. Just make casual conversation. If you’re shy about asking him out, I’ll drop a broad hint or two for you.”
    “Don’t you dare!” Thoroughly flustered, Clara wagged a finger in her cousin’s face. “Listen to me. I’m not going to throw myself at a man just to get information out of him. That’s not fair to him or to me.”
    “I’m not asking you to sleep with him for pity’s sake; I just—” Stephanie broke off as a quiet cough sounded from across the store.
    Clara swung around to see Frannie standing in the doorway, eyes blinking behind her glasses and her hands dug deep into the pockets of her brown cardigan.
    Neither one of them had heard the doorbell. Feeling foolish, Clara smiled at her . How long had the woman been standing there? How much had she heard? She started backtracking the conversation in her mind while Stephanie left the counter and hurried forward.
    “Frannie! How are you?”
    Frannie sent a worried glance from her to Clara then back to Stephanie again. “Is this a bad time?”
    “Oh, goodness, no!” Stephanie laughed and waved a hand at Clara. “Don’t take any notice of us. We argue back and forth like that all the time, and we’re still the best of friends.”
    “That’s good.” Frannie pulled her hands out of her pockets. “I was afraid . . . It’s just that we’ve had enough bad things going on around here. I can’t stand hearing people arguing.”
    “I promise you, no more arguments.” Stephanie grinned at Clara. “Right, Cuz?”
    “Right.” Clara grinned back. “Is there something we can get for you, Frannie?”
    As if just remembering why she was there, Frannie nodded.
    “I’d like a copy of the Wayne Lester book that just came in.”
    “Sure. I’ll get it for you.”
    Stephanie darted off, and Frannie shuffled closer to the counter, her thin face looking even more pale as the sunlight fell across her. “It’s a nice day outside.”
    “Very nice.” Clara sought for something to say that didn’t include a mention of Ana’s murder. Before she could come up with something, however, Stephanie had returned with the book.
    “I haven’t read it yet, of course,” she said, as she laid it on the counter, “but I’ve heard it’s every bit as good as his last one.”
    “I’m looking forward to reading it.” Frannie peered at the cover. “He’s very good at forecasting the future, you know. He always gives me hope.”
    Clara scanned the book. “That’s something we all need.”
    “Have you been looking for a new job?” Stephanie asked.
    Clara thought for a moment her cousin was going to offer to replace her.
    Before she could analyze how she felt about that, Frannie answered, “I’m still working at Jordan’s. We’re opening up again next Monday. The new owner just moved into town today.”
    Stephanie pounced on that at once. “New owner? Already? Who is it? Anyone we know?”
    “You might. She’s been in and out of town a lot lately. Her name is Roberta Prince.”
    Stephanie wrinkled her brow. “I don’t know the name. What’s she like?”
    “I don’t really know