Free Lethal Lasagna by Rhonda Gibson Page A

with the man, and then you arrived at his church and had lunch with him and his friends. Did I miss anything? I felt this horrible urge to slap myself.
    “Ms. Parker?”
    I looked up, confused. Had he said my name more than once? “Yes?”
    Several women chuckled including the one behind me. I refused to act embarrassed.
    “What do you write?” Brandon asked, grinning.
    Grocery lists. No, that wasn’t the correct answer. “I’m not sure. I guess romance novels.”
    She watched him jot down this piece of information.
    He looked up once more.
    “Why?” His eyes twinkled at me.
    Oh why hadn’t I remembered he’d asked several people before me this question? “Because it’s what I like to read?”
    “That’s a good answer.” He looked past me, “Ms. Lewis?”
    “Children’s books.” She spoke clear and loud.
    I winced at the volume she projected. Didn’t the woman know we were all in the same room? I’d like to have some hearing left at the end of this class.
    “Why?”
    Her self-righteous voice blasted my eardrums once more. “I want to make a difference in the lives of young people today.”
    Was that answer for my benefit? Or to prove to the handsome instructor that she took her writing seriously?
    Brandon went about the rest of the room. I noticed two new faces in the classroom. They had scooted their desks together and had their heads pressed so close it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended. Obviously a couple. I wished I’d paid better attention. Brandon had already asked them what they wrote and said their name.
    If I intended to find Mitzi’s killer, I needed to be more aware of what was going on around me.
    “I would like to move people around now based on the genre that you write.” Brandon told them.
    “This is new,” whispered Martha, sounding puzzled.
    I couldn’t help but smile. How many times had Martha Lewis attended Brandon’s class? Was the woman so smitten with Brandon that she took his class repeatedly? And if so, how jealous would she become when he showed interest in someone else? The thought sent a shiver down my back, and the smile vanished.
    “Romance writers, come to the front and sit here.” He indicated he wanted them to sit on the right of the room.
    I gathered my things.
    “Figures.” Martha growled.
    I smiled sweetly as I passed her, moved across the back of the room, and then down the side aisle until I stood at the front of the class with three other people.
    “Mystery writers please come forward and sit on the left-hand side of the room.”
    Six people moved forward. I studied them, two older women, three young women who seemed to be friends, and one middle-aged man. They took their seats.
    I returned my attention back to Brandon and the way he was arranging his students, noting that the children’s writers were two strong and now sitting at the back of the room. Martha hadn’t been moved, and her companion, a young woman who was probably a new mother, had joined her. A scowl marred Martha’s strong features. I had to turn my head to hide a smile. I made a mental note to ask him if it were possible Martha Lewis had become jealous of his and Mitzi’s friendship.
    “Now, remember where you are sitting, this is our new arrangement. We’ll be working in groups from now on.”
    A silver-haired woman raised her hand.
    “Yes, Mrs. Watson?” Brandon smiled at the woman.
    “What if we write in two genres?”
    Brandon smiled. “Choose the one that you enjoy writing the most.”
    She nodded and moved to the Science Fiction group.
    I noted that her new group held five members, six now counting her. The young couple I’d watched earlier was among that group.
    “Let’s take a quick break and regroup.” Brandon announced. He’d moved to stand in front of my desk.
    The groups migrated toward the door. Once everyone had left, Brandon knelt down in front of me. “I figured out a way you can question each person here about Mitzi.”
    Interested, I