Free Spin a Wicked Web by Cricket McRae Page A

said you weren't going to investigate Ariel's murder," Meghan said, tying up an heirloom tomato plant with strips
cut from old pantyhose.
    I looked up from where I was sowing another section of slowbolt cilantro. "Oh, for heaven's sake. I'm not investigating anything.
Only checking with her roommate to find out where to send her
art."
    "Sure you are." She walked over to the large wicker basket on
the ground between us. "The zucchini plants are going nuts. I'm
going to strip some of the blossoms."
    Yum. I'd been waiting for a chance to add squash blossoms to a
light stir-fry, or stuff them with fresh mozzarella and chopped
pumpkin seeds, dust them with chipotle chili powder and flour
and fry them all golden and crispy.
    Finished with the cilantro, I began harvesting the outer leaves of
the lettuce. "We have a ton of this red-leaf. How about wilted lettuce
and stuffed squash blossoms with some grilled lamb tonight?"
    "Now you're talking," Meghan said. "You should invite Barr
over.
    I sat back on my heels and let my fingers sift through the dirt at
my feet. "Oh, all right."
    It felt like Meghan was playing matchmaker, which was pretty
weird since I'd dated the man in question for several months already.
    She bent over the tumbling vines. "Do you think she did it?"
    "Who?"
    Her look told me to stop being stupid. "Chris."
    "I don't know. I doubt it. It sounds like she has an alibi."
    "So you went over there today?"
     
    I nodded. "I told you Barr asked me to keep my finger on the
pulse of the CRAG crowd."
    "I knew you'd get involved one way or another." She finished
tying up another tomato plant and stood upright, stretching her
back. "At least you have permission from the police this time."
    Well, maybe not all the police. Robin would pop a vein if she
knew Barr had asked for my help.
    "I'm going to run over and talk to Ariel's roommate now, while
I'm thinking about it;" I said.
    One side of Meghan's mouth turned up. "Okay. See you when
you get back"

    As I guided my little Toyota pickup down the street toward the address Ruth had given me, I pondered the exchange at Beans R Us.
Irene-mousy little Irene-had been downright nasty at times. It
was obvious she'd disliked Ariel intensely. Ruth had been uncharacteristically taciturn. Jake, on the other hand, had been vociferously insistent that Ariel's art was well taken care of. He seemed
quite upset by her death. Oh, don't get me wrong; her murder was
horrible. It was just that something about his reaction made me
think it was a little more personal for him than even, for example,
me-the woman who had actually found her body.
    Lordy, what was the deal with the CRAG members? They were
like a dysfunctional family. I bet they had a few dirty little secrets
hidden away, too.
     
    Blue and red lights flashed in my rearview mirror: a silver Impala, the "undercover" prowler of the Cadyville police department.
At least Barr had shown a little subtlety and kept the siren off.
    The siren chirped.
    Nice.
    I wondered what he'd do if I didn't stop. Arrest me?
    The siren chirped again.
    Perhaps not the best time to find out. I turned onto a residential street and pulled over.
    Barr got out. I stayed where I was and rolled down the window.
Our conversation on the phone the night before had been short
and slightly uncomfortable. When he stopped beside me, I silently
offered my license and registration.
    He ignored it. "Are you still mad at me?"
    Hmmm. "I don't think so. Why, has something else happened?"
    "I talked to my mother," he said.
    I raised my eyebrows.
    "She said Hannah took a week off. My brother, clever bear that
he is, told her about the money from my uncle." He rolled his eyes.
"Randall, who's seven years younger than I am, by the way, has a bit
of a crush on Hannah. Mom thinks he was trying to impress her."
    "So she's here for the whole week?" I asked.
    He shook his head. "No. I called her over at Horse Acres. Sent
her packing in no uncertain