Free Murder Is a Piece of Cake by Elaine Viets

Wendy Lee asked.
    “We both love animals,” Molly said. “And he loved my cooking. He was starved for good,
     home-cooked food—and for love. Soon we were planning our wedding. He’d come over and
     we’d talk about the perfect way to start our new life together. You could say Bella
     brought us together.” She petted the little dog in her lap.
    Ted stared at the screen, speechless.
    Wendy Lee switched to a confiding “we girls” mode. “May I ask you a personal question,
     Molly? When did you and Ted consummate your love?”
    Molly blushed prettily. “Do you mean, did we have sex?” She lowered her eyes. “Like
     I said, I’m old-fashioned. I wanted to be pure for my wedding night. Ted agreed to
     respect my wishes. He said he didn’t want to make love to me.”
    Ted said, “That’s the only true thing she’s said so far. Except she left out the word
     ‘ever.’ I said I didn’t
ever
want to.”
    “I know,” Josie whispered.
    Wendy Lee forged ahead. “So, tell us how your happiest day turned into your worst
     nightmare.”
    “This morning, I came to the clinic to pick up Ted in a white Bentley. I know renting
     a luxury car is extravagant, but I’d always wanted to ride in one. I thought Ted would
     enjoy it, too. They say it’s bad luck to see your groom before the wedding, but I
     didn’t believe that old wives’ tale. Maybe I should have.” She gave a sad smile.
    “Everything went wrong from the moment I walked into the clinic. Kathy, the receptionist,
     has always been so kind. This morning, she tried to stop me from seeing Ted. I went
     right past her into the surgery, where your channel was taping Ted. He looked so handsome,
     but he wasn’t dressed for our wedding. I reminded the silly boy he was going to be
     late. He gets so wrapped up in his work, he forgets, you know.”
    She smiled fondly at Ted’s foible, before her face turned sad.
    “Except he said he wasn’t marrying me,” Molly said. “Ted said he was marrying the
     Other Woman a month from now. I had no idea. She came to the store where I work, but
     I thought she was just another bride. She said she had an engagement ring, but I had
     one of my own, and let me tell you, my diamond is a lot bigger than her little chips.”
    Josie looked at her ring finger. “They’re not chips, Ted. I love my ring.”
    “Sh!” Jane and Amelia said.
    Molly’s voice wobbled on the edge of more tears. “The Other Woman told me to leave
     Ted alone. She said he was hers. I wouldn’t listen to her crazy talk. Not on my wedding
     day. Our conversation got a little out of hand, and the next thing I knew, I was holding
     a scalpel and a woman who said she was Ted’s mother pulled a gun and threatened to
     shoot me. I couldn’t believe she was Ted’s mother. He’s naturally handsome and she
     looks like she’s had more facelifts than Joan Rivers.”
    “Poor Mom,” Ted said. “She doesn’t deserve that.”
    “Did Dr. Scottsmeyer’s mother fire the gun?” Wendy Lee asked the would-be bride.
    “No,” Molly said. “The police came busting through the door and she hid the gun in
     her purse. The police arrested me and I called Mr. Renzo Fischer, the best trial lawyer
     in St. Louis. Mr. Fischer asked that nice Judge Hornsby if I could make my plea in
     my wedding dress instead of an awful jail jumpsuit. Judge Hornsby said it was okay
     for your station to be in the courtroom, Wendy Lee. Otherwise, I would have been all
     alone.”
    “Molly told me she didn’t like Channel Seven,” Josie said. “She sure changed her mind
     fast.”
    This time Josie got a triple “Shhh!”
    “And how did you plea?” Wendy Lee asked.
    “Not guilty, of course,” she said. “But my wedding—and my life—is over.”
    Molly sobbed again, but her mascara held fast. “Ted loves me. I know he does.”
    Wendy Lee turned to the camera. “And what does the groom have to say for himself?”
     she asked. “Not much. We asked Dr. Ted Scottsmeyer