Free Title Wave by Lorna Barrett

pointed at the stage toward Diana Lovell with the other. Had Diana’s flip remark angered EM, whom Tricia was beginning to think of as nothing more than a common bully? And would that bully retaliate against the lovely woman Tricia had had the pleasure of hosting at her bookshop on more than one occasion, when her only encounter with EM had been so unpleasant? She hoped not.
    The program had moved on and she’d missed the last question and the answers from the panelists. Millicent asked another.
    â€œBarbara Walters is famous for asking her interviewees what kind of tree they’d like to be. Do any of you have a preference?”
    The panelists giggled. Victoria Burke raised her hand. “I want to be one of those thousand-year-old oaks in England, but only as long as I can have my husband beside me, and the acorns we planted that have now sprouted to trees.”
    A smattering of applause followed her answer.
    â€œHannah?” Millicent asked.
    â€œI’d be a willow,” the author said. “Graceful and able to bend with the gentle breeze or a fierce gale.”
    â€œHow about you, Norma?” Millicent asked.
    â€œI’d be a sequoia. Tall, and straight, and resilient against the wind, weather, and fire.”
    â€œFiona?” Millicent asked.
    â€œIn honor of Canada—my adopted country,” she piped up, “I would definitely be a maple. Maple syrup is wonderful and sweet—like me!”
    The audience laughed.
    â€œAnd how about you, Diana?”
    â€œI’d be an olive tree in Greece. They’re beautiful; gnarled, but strong, and able to feed the world.”
    â€œAww,” a portion of the audience chorused.
    Tricia smiled, pleased by each author’s answer to what could have been just a frivolous question, and her admiration for each of the women rose, too.
    Millicent turned back to the panel. “We’ve got time for one more question. Ladies, cozy mysteries always feature justice for the killer. Do you think it’s possible for someone to get away with murder in real life?”
    Diana laughed. “Why are you looking at me when you ask that?” The audience broke into laughter. “Turn your gaze a little farther to the right,” she said, waving a hand. “There you go.” Again the audience laughed. “Seriously, I would have to say yes; of course it’s possible—if the killer is supremely devious. Again, why are you looking at me?”
    Laughter reigned once more.
    â€œHannah?” Millicent asked.
    â€œOf course I do. It’s a matter of perception. If a person creates the perception that he or she is
incapable
of murder, most people will pass them over in search of another suspect. Effective deceit is based on confidence—and intelligence. Anyone with enough of those two things, as well as the ability to keep to themselves, can get away with murder.”
    â€œHow about you, Victoria?” Millicent asked.
    â€œRight in my own community there are a number of unsolved murders, many of them cold cases. That means people
are
getting away with murder. We all know this. That’s what gives our books their authenticity. Well, that and all the recipes.” The audience giggled. “More than that,” she continued, “there are plenty of cases wherepeople are falsely convicted of murder for a variety of reasons. Let me just say, put the cozy writers in charge of investigations and watch those rates drop. I’m willing to step up.”
    The audience broke into a round of enthusiastic applause, and Millicent had to wait for them to quiet down before she could ask Fiona the question. “Ms. Sample?”
    â€œCount me in for believing that one can get away with murder. It may be harder these days, thanks to social media and the ability to make a wider swath of the public know about such cases, but as Victoria said—there are far too many cold cases for me to believe