Read Online Tippy Toe Murder by Leslie Meier - Free Book Online Page B

ceremony’s at six. You better take your shower now if you want
one.”
    Bill turned to go, but then he stopped in
the doorway and turned to face her. “You know, Lucy, you’re really pushing it,”
he said. There was just the hint of a threat in his tone, but it made Lucy
uncomfortable and she didn’t answer. She avoided his eyes and busied herself
opening the packages of fish sticks. A moment later she heard him stomping up
the stairs.
    Conversation at dinner limped along as Lucy
and Bill avoided speaking to each other by questioning the kids about their day
at school. For once Lucy didn’t have much of an appetite, but she noticed that
Bill managed to eat an awful lot of fish sticks for someone who claimed to hate
them. When the phone rang, she welcomed the reprieve and ran to answer it. “Hi,
Lucy, it’s Franny.”
    “Hi, there. What’s up?”
    “Lucy, I don’t know how to tell you this,
but Mr. Slack caught me with the video camera, and he confiscated it.”
    “What?”
    “He took it. He said I couldn’t possibly
afford it unless I’d been stealing from him and therefore the camera must
rightfully be his.”
    “Didn’t you tell him it belongs to me?”
exclaimed Lucy, then bit her tongue as Bill looked up.
    “I did, but he didn’t believe me. I’m so
sorry. I never thought this would happen. He fired me.”
    “Oh, Franny, I’m so sorry. Don’t worry
about the camera. I’ll just drop by the store tomorrow and tell him it’s mine.
I hope he believes me, I have to tape the dress rehearsal.”
    “I think that’s the best thing to do. He’ll
probably come to his senses by then. I’m awfully sorry.”
    “Never mind.”
    No sooner had Lucy hung up than Bill began
questioning her. “What was that all about?” he demanded.
    “Kids, you’d better get changed,” she told
them, and waited until they were safely upstairs before explaining.
    “This is too much,” he exploded angrily. “You
didn’t even check with me before loaning it to someone we hardly know.”
    “Bill, half of that camera’s mine and I
loaned it to one of my friends.”
    “You didn’t loan half of it, you loaned the
whole thing, and she’s lost it.” Bill’s voice grew louder and he pounded the
table with his fist. “Tomorrow you’d just better get the whole thing back.”
    “I will. Now calm down. This is supposed to
be Toby’s big night,” pleaded Lucy. “I have to get dressed.”
    By the time everyone was buckled in place
in the car, the kids had realized their parents were fighting. They were
unnaturally quiet in the back seat; Lucy and Bill didn’t speak in the front
seat.
    Lucy clamped her hands tightly together and
wished the butterflies in her stomach would settle down. She couldn’t resist
glancing anxiously at Bill from time to time. He was clearly angry, and he
expressed it by driving too fast, turning too sharply, and tailgating the car
ahead of him. Lucy didn’t say anything, afraid she would only make matters
worse.

8
     
    No jewelry.
     
    Driving briskly along Route 1, Caro Hutton
felt, well, exhilarated was really the only word for it. After the boring daily routine, the rut she’d
fallen into, she was finally having an adventure. It was about time, she thought.
How had she settled so easily for a life in which walking the dog was the high
point of the day?
    The problem was that once she retired,
every day was the same. She rose early in the morning, did some stretching
exercises, and walked George. Then she visited with Julia, drove home, and
tidied the house. Once those chores were completed, the day stretched emptily
before her except for the occasional meeting or luncheon.
    When she was teaching she used to look
forward to having unlimited time to visit with friends and pursue her
interests, but now that she actually did have the time, she found herself
making excuses. She couldn’t call a friend right now, she would reason;
everyone was probably busy and would resent an interruption.