Free The Borrowed and Blue Murders (The Zoe Hayes Mysteries) by Merry Jones Page A

Nick.
    But Nick wasn’t finished. He told her about the murder, too. “You probably heard about it on the news. The body was on our patio. Zoe found her.”
    “Wait—no. That—that happened here?” Anna actually gasped. “You mean the jogger? The one that was cut open?” She stared, unable to process the information. “Oh my God. I’ve been so busy, I didn’t pay attention—”
    Nick explained that given the circumstances, I hadn’t been as prompt as I should have been regarding the floral arrangements.
    But Anna wasn’t focused on the wedding anymore. “I saw it in the paper. That poor woman’s been all over the news. But good Lord. I never put it together. Wait—there was a picture. Of your house—I should have recognized it. And weren’t you in it? Of course you were. And it was on television, too. But I wasn’t paying attention—but, Zoe, poor dear, let’s get you inside.” Even in three- inch heels, Anna was significantly shorter than I was, and the arm she put around me circled my hips instead of my waist, but I let her guide me up the front stairs and into the house while Nick followed with Luke and the carriage.
    “Don’t you worry about a thing, Zoe. I’m here now, so you’ll be able to get some rest and collect yourself. All these shocks—you must be in a state. Oh dear. And you only have a few days to recover.”
    Sam was in the kitchen among small mountains of empty bottles and unwashed dishes, making himself a sandwich of bananas and mayonnaise. Oliver yipped at Sam’s feet, nuzzling his ankles, hoping for a handout. They both looked up as we came in.
    “You,” Anna called to him. “Nick’s brother. What’s your name?”
    “I am Sam, ma’am. And you are?” He took a leisurely bite, smiling.
    “I’m the one who’s going to get your motor moving, Sam. Make Zoe a cup of hot tea and some toast with jam. Blackberry, if you have it. Or some orange marmalade.”
    Sam chewed, blinking with confused amusement at the short, officious stranger while enjoying the ample curves contained in her spandex pants.
    “We’ve only got grape and strawberry.” I wasn’t sure about the grape.
    “Well, that’ll have to do then. Strawberry. Bring it all upstairs on a tray—along with a glass of brandy. When you’re done with that, I’ll show you where the vacuum is. You can start to tidy up.”
    Sam took another bite. Oliver whimpered.
    “What’s wrong with you—didn’t you hear me? Get moving.”
    Sam put a hand up. “Okay, don’t get your panties in a knot.” He reached for the kettle.
    As Nick came in behind us, Anna called to him, “You’re in charge of the baby for now. Where’s little Molly?”
    “At a sleepover. She’ll be home soon—”
    “Good. You’re in charge of her, too. We don’t want any interruptions for at least two hours. Not one. I mean it.”
    As Anna led me down the hall, Oliver, apparently giving up on a bite of banana, barreled at Nick, yapping his greeting.
    “Oliver.” Anna didn’t stop walking or turn to look at him. “Be quiet and sit.”
    Immediately, the yipping stopped. I looked back; unbelievably, Oliver was sitting, wearing a broad, eager smile. Beside him, Nick stood next to the carriage, holding Luke, watching us, looking confused and abandoned.
    Tony was in the living room on his hands and knees, probably looking for his quarters again, this time under the recliner. When he saw us, he scrambled to his feet, grinning and sheepish.
    “Tony, if you need change, I have a dish of it upstairs. Help yourself.”
    “No, it’s no big deal. I just wonder what happened—you don’t think Oliver would swallow quarters, do you?”
    “Well, if he did,” Anna barked, “it’ll come out the other end. Eventually.”
    “Tony, this is Anna. Anna, Tony, another brother.” I realized they hadn’t met.
    “How do you do, Tony?” Anna gave him a charming, toothy grin and led me to the stairs. “Oh, and Tony? When I come back down, I expect that