Free Mother's Day Murder by Leslie Meier Page A

exercise caution when dealing with strangers.”
    “Oh,” said Ted, disappointed. “Is that all?”
    “Not quite. We also need to remind people not to leave valuable articles unattended in their automobiles.”
    “I suppose hurricane season is just around the corner, too,” said Ted, referring to the police department’s annual advisory.
    “He forgot to mention that,” said Lucy, considering her options. She didn’t think it was worth bothering the police chief, who was new at the job and had his hands full managing the department. The state police officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Horowitz, was an old acquaintance of Lucy’s but not in a good way. She doubted he would even take her call. No, it was time to go to the top. She decided to head to the IGA.
     
    Dot Kirwan, the head cashier, smiled as Lucy approached with a bag of premixed salad. “Don’t you love that stuff?” she asked. “If you ask me, it’s the best thing they’ve come up with since sliced bread.”
    “It’s worth the price not to have to wash and dry and tear the lettuce,” said Lucy. The store was practically empty, and Dot was free to chat, which was the purpose of her visit. Lucy knew that Dot’s numerous offspring worked in the police and fire departments, and her oldest son had recently been promoted to chief.
    “It’s a real time-saver, isn’t it?” said Dot, scanning the bag. “That’ll be two-fifty. It’s on sale. Two for five dollars.”
    “Great,” said Lucy, opening her purse. “You know, now that the weather’s warming up and the kids are outside more, well, I can’t help but think about what happened to that poor Corinne Appleton, and I’m so worried about my girls.”
    “It’s a worry, isn’t it?” agreed Dot, giving her change.
    “Have you heard anything at all? Are they close to making an arrest?”
    “Funny you should ask,” said Dot, settling her bottom against the cash drawer. “I’ve been over at the chief’s a lot because Bonnie had knee surgery….”
    “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” said Lucy.
    “Just minor, that arthur-scope-ic kind, where they just make a little hole and poke something in there to fix the problem, but she’s got quite an active brood there with the three boys, and she’s supposed to stay off her feet. Well, anyway, that’s beside the point, but the chief was talking at dinner last night, and he said he wouldn’t be surprised at all if they were on to something, the state police, that is, because he hasn’t heard a word from them lately.”
    “Oh, really,” said Lucy, wondering where this was going.
    “Really,” repeated Dot. “He says that when they clam up, it means something is up.”
    “Oh,” said Lucy, getting her drift. “Loose lips sink ships, is that it?”
    “You got it. They don’t want anything to mess up whatever it is they’re up to.”
    “Well, let’s hope he’s right,” said Lucy, taking her bag. “I know we’ll all rest a lot easier if they catch this guy.”
    “Amen,” said Dot.
     
    Back at the Pennysaver, Lucy reported what Dot had told her and settled down to write the story about the after-prom party. As she listened to her tape recorder, she was struck by the level of hostility the two women had exhibited at the same time they’d been pretending to cooperate on a worthy project. What Lucy found most disturbing, however, was the way they’d spoken about each other’s daughter. There had been real venom in Bar’s voice when she’d asserted that although Heather and Ashley had the same grade point averages, Heather didn’t take the challenging advanced placement courses that Ashley did. Tina hadn’t responded directly, not even when Bar had praised Heather’s figure skating but also expressed concern that Heather looked as if she’d gained a few pounds and that might throw her off. She’d waited until Lucy asked if any students were involved in planning the party to mention that “of course, Heather is