Free Book Club Killer by Mary Maxwell Page B

something?”
    “No, buddy,” Ben said. “That guy
owns a company that we’re buying.”
    Our son frowned. “People buy
companies?”
    “Yep,” Ben answered. “It’s the same
as when you buy things at the store, only a whole lot more complicated.”
    “Like death threats?” I whispered
in Ben’s ear.
    “Exactly like that,” he agreed.
    “What did you say?” Sam demanded.
“No secrets at the dinner table!”
    “It wasn’t a secret,” I told him.
“It was nothing.”
    Sam launched into his trademark
pout. Then he went back to his video game and ignored us until the server
returned with our appetizers.
    “Come on, buddy,” Ben said, giving
Sam’s elbow a gentle tap. “Let’s put that away now.”
    “Only if you tell me what you guys
were whispering about,” Sam said.
    “Hey, what happened to you telling
us that you were going to be good?” I asked.
    His eyes flickered a few times.
“Oh, yeah!” The Game Boy disappeared and he smiled like an angel. “I forgot.”
    “Well, lucky for you, mister,” I
said. “I didn’t forget. Now, let’s all have a nice family dinner and we can go
back to pouting later, okay?”
    Sam smiled. Matt shrugged and
rolled his eyes. And Ben pressed his leg against mine under the table. For the
next hour and a half, as we indulged in delicious Italian fare and decadent
desserts, all was right with the world. It was a welcome respite from the chaos
of the past two days, and a chance to catch my breath surrounded by the people
that I loved most.
    While we enjoyed dinner, I kept one
eye on Brock Truscott and his fiancé huddled at their table. I wondered how the
black Escalade with his company’s personalized plates was related to Rosemary’s
death. I also wondered if the chilly woman with the dark hair was the reason
someone had tried to kill Truscott or if it was connected to the sale of his
multi-million dollar business.
    “Hey!” Ben said as I contemplated
the situation and thought of questions to ask Detective Ford the next morning.
“Would you quit staring at those two?”
    I glanced over and blushed.
“Sorry,” I said. “I just can’t stop admiring her complexion.”
    “Uh-huh, sure.” Ben leaned closer
and pressed his mouth to my ear. “I know that look, babe.”
    “No secrets!” Sam yelped. “We’re
supposed to be one big, happy family!”
    I reached over and held up my hand.
“Gimme five up top, handsome.” We touched palms and he giggled. “There’s no
doubt that we’re exactly that—a big, happy family!”
    The server came by and asked if we
needed anything else. When Ben and I shook our heads, he put the check on the
table.
    “Okay,” Ben said after the man
left. “Let’s pay our big, happy tab and head for home. I don’t know about the
rest of you, but I need to loosen my belt and sprawl out on the floor for a
couple of hours.”
    “Me, too!” Sam cheered. “And then
we can have ice cream!”
    As we waited for the server to
return with the check, I noticed Brock Truscott’s fiancé leave their table and
head for the ladies’ room. I quickly excused myself and followed her. It was an
unconventional move. And I didn’t know what I might learn from her. But I was
determined to do everything possible to help solve Rosemary’s murder.
    When I slipped through the door
into the restroom, Amanda was leaning toward the mirror above the sinks. She
was applying lip gloss with short, precise strokes and didn’t even glance to
see who had joined her in the silent space.
    “Amanda?” I said after an awkward
moment.
    She twirled her eyes at my reflection
in the mirror. “Oh, hi. You’re…” She rolled her eyes. “Sorry, what was your
name again?”
    “I’m Jana,” I said. “Ben’s wife?”
    She finished with her lips and
turned to face me. “Well, I know that much,” she giggled. “I’m just not very
good with names. Especially the first time I meet somebody.”
    “It’s okay,” I assured her. “I can
be the same