Read Online Murder With All the Trimmings by Elaine Viets - Free Book Online

out about?” Nate had a belligerent edge to his voice. He downed the beer and signaled for a second one.
    Josie hoped the waitress had tunnel vision. But the woman put another cold glass near Nate’s hand. Nate drank it in two gulps.
    “Remember when we flew to New York?” Nate asked. “It was a day almost like this one.”
    Josie dreaded playing “remember when.” But now it all came flooding back. In her mind’s eye, she saw Nate the way he was then: young and strong, before alcohol ruined him. It was a crisp fall St. Louis morning, and they were walking in Forest Park. The grand old trees were a blaze of orange and yellow and the sky was china blue. Josie was crunching dry leaves.
    “What a gorgeous day,” Josie had said.
    “Not as gorgeous as you,” Nate had said, and kissed her.
    “Oh, Nate, I know what I am,” Josie had said. “I’m no Vogue model. I’m plain old Josie.”
    But Nate was in one of his reckless moods. “You’re not plain,” he’d told her. “Not by a long shot. You need to be treated like a Vogue model. Let’s go to New York for dinner at the Four Seasons.”
    And so they did. Josie made a quick phone call to her mother and told her she’d be home late. Josie didn’t add that they were going to New York. She didn’t want to hear the “you’re heading for trouble, young woman” lecture again. Jane disapproved, but she always disapproved
    Josie and Nate were in Manhattan by three that afternoon, and Nate took Josie on a shopping spree.
    “You always thought you were plain,” Nate said, bringing her back to the present. “I never understood that.” He gave her hand a squeeze.
    “Nate, there’s nothing distinctive about me. It’s why I make a good mystery shopper. I can melt into the crowd as Mrs. Ordinary.”
    “That’s not how I remember it. You were worried you didn’t have a dress for dinner. I bought you that black dress in Manhattan. You were a knockout.”
    Josie looked around the dingy neighborhood bar and couldn’t believe she was the same woman who’d run off for a magical night in Manhattan. She still remembered the dazzling interior of the Four Seasons, with its mid-century spaciousness. Nate had whispered in her ear, “Did you see that fat guy by the window? His eyes are bugging out, staring at you in that dress. Vogue should be so lucky.”
    Josie did notice. She also noticed that Nate ordered a steak that cost more than her poly-sci textbook. Nate paid cash for their meal and their suite at the Pierre Hotel, but that barely registered. Josie was bewitched.
    The magic was gone when she arrived back in St. Louis. Jane was waiting at home, arms crossed, body bristling with indignation. She immediately spotted Josie’s dress bag.
    “So, you let a man buy you expensive clothes like a kept woman,” Jane had said. “I bet you were drinking, too.”
    “Only wine,” Josie said.
    “Well, isn’t that sweet,” Jane had said. “Only wine. You broke your engagement to a good, decent man so you could live like a drunken tart.”
    “I broke up with Andy because he was boring. He loved his job better than he loved me,” Josie said.
    “All men are like that,” Jane said. “The rest will leave you in the lurch.”
    “Like my father left you?” Josie said.
    Jane slapped her daughter.
    “I’m young and I want to have fun,” Josie had screamed at her mother. “What’s wrong with that?”
    “Josie?” Nate said. “Did you hear me? I said I’m talking to a lawyer about Amelia. I want to know why you didn’t contact me when you had her.”
    “Because you were in jail,” Josie said, raising her voice.
    The old man sleeping on the barstool woke up, blinking.
    “Don’t be angry, baby. It wasn’t my fault,” Nate said.
    It’s never your fault, Josie thought, but she didn’t say it. “You were arrested for drug dealing,” Josie said, lowering her voice.
    “But my lawyer got me out. I’m innocent.” He batted his eyes. He looked guilty as all