Free Nightmares Can Be Murder (A Dream Club Mystery) by Mary Kennedy

finally alone in the kitchen. Barney seemed to sense my mood and circled around my feet for a moment before jumping into my lap. He nuzzled the top of his head against my hand, giving tiny meows encouraging me to pet him. “I think this calls for something stronger than espresso,” I said ruefully.
    Ali opened the fridge and poured us both hefty glasses of white wine. “You know what I think we should do tonight?” she asked. Her brow was furrowed, her expression pensive.
    My mind went blank for a moment. I felt bone-tired, and all I wanted to do was melt into the couch and have a quiet evening. But people deal with stress in different ways, and maybe Ali needed a distraction. “I hadn’t planned on going out, but we could grab some dinner or take in a movie, if that’s what you want.”
    She shook her head and reached for the phone. “Dinner and a movie? Heavens, no, we don’t have time for anything like that. We have work to do.”
    I glanced up as Scout settled companionably on the chair next to me and began grooming himself. “What did you have in mind?”
    “We need answers, Taylor,” she said, and I could feel the tension in her voice. “We have to call an emergency meeting of the Dream Club.” She gave me a sharp look as if I was going to disagree with her, and I raised my hands, palms up.
    “Whatever you want, Ali.”
    She nodded, tilting her chin resolutely. “I’ll make the calls right now.”

10
    “Don’t you think we should have invited Gina?” Lucinda asked, her face clouded with worry. “She’s going to wonder why she wasn’t included, and I think she needs us now more than ever.”
    “This is a time to be surrounded by friends,” Dorien Myers agreed. “I can only imagine how shocked and upset she must be.”
    “It’s better to let her rest,” Ali said firmly. “I did try to call her, but it went right to voice mail. She looked absolutely shattered when she left here, and I’m sure she’s turned her phone off for tonight. We can fill her in on everything tomorrow morning.”
    Ali had pulled herself together very quickly after the shock of Chico’s death just a few hours earlier. I must admit, I was impressed by my kid sister. She appeared to be a lot stronger and more resilient than I’d realized.
    She’d pulled out half a dozen casserole dishes from the freezer and had put together a quick supper for the Dream Club members. She’d managed to assemble everyone except Gina and Sam Stiles, and we all gathered in the cozy living room with the shuttered blinds open to the evening air. A fragrant breeze wafted in from the street, and a Mozart concerto was playing softly in the background.
    “I don’t know how you managed to do all this,” Persia said, taking in the cheerful blue and yellow gingham tablecloth and matching napkins. I’d set the table buffet style with bright blue Fiesta ware and poured white wine for everyone. “Especially in light of what’s happened, Ali.” Persia went on, “After all, you were very close to Chico, weren’t you, Ali?” She kept her tone level, but the slight emphasis on the word “close” made me think she was making an effort to be discreet. Southern towns are rife with gossip, and Savannah is no exception.
    “Well, of course—we were neighbors,” Ali cut in. “Everyone on the street is going to be upset by the news.” She glanced at Minerva and Rose Harper, the elderly sisters who ran the flower shop. “You probably knew Chico longer than anyone.” I remembered Ali telling me that the Harper sisters and their flower shop had been a fixture in the district for nearly half a century.
    “Oh my yes,” Minerva said, scooping up a portion of green beans and toasted almonds. “I was surprised when he first moved in. I never thought he’d get much of a following in this neighborhood, but he proved me wrong. Women took to him, you know.”
    “Like bees to honey,” Rose piped up. “How did you get all this food together, Ali? This