Free A Catered Wedding by Isis Crawford Page A

lady,” Clyde said.
    Sean kept his gaze fixed on the bedspread and away from his friend’s face. “I never said she wasn’t.”
    Clyde smoothed what was left of his hair down with the palm of his hand. “The girls are going to be pissed.”
    â€œLibby’s been trying to get me out of the house for three years. She’ll be happy.”
    â€œNo she won’t.”
    â€œOkay. She won’t,” Sean allowed. “Let me worry about that. Are you going to help me or not?”
    Clyde studied his old friend for a moment then slowly said, “I’d like to Cap, but I don’t know if this is such a good idea for me with the chief feeling the way he does about you. What if Utley doesn’t appreciate my being there and tells Lucy? You know what people are like when it comes to jurisdictional issues.”
    Sean made a dismissive motion with his hand. “Oh come on. Don’t be such an old lady. It’s not as if you’re there in any official capacity. You’re just helping me out and I’m just a civilian, a concerned father come to check on the health and well-being of his daughters after the terrible discovery they made.”
    Clyde scratched his neck.
    â€œI guess maybe you’re right.”
    â€œYou know I am.”
    â€œBut I still think you should have lunch with Ina. Despite what you think, you could use some female companionship.”
    Sean put up his hand. He wasn’t going to discuss this with Clyde. Or anyone else for that matter. He didn’t discuss his illness and he didn’t discuss his feelings. “Fine.”
    â€œYou’ll do it this month?” Clyde asked.
    â€œNow you’re my mother?” Sean demanded.
    Clyde shrugged. “Take it or leave it.”
    Sean cursed to himself. Clyde had him and he knew Clyde well enough to know that unless he agreed to his conditions Clyde wouldn’t drive him.
    â€œAll right. I’ll have lunch with her this month.”
    Clyde grinned. “Okay then.” He got up and stretched. “Let me just call the missus and tell her where we’re going. Lucky for you I’m driving her minivan.” He patted his hair down again. “Well, I guess this murder has one benefit.”
    Sean looked momentarily confused.
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œIt’s getting you out of the house.”
    â€œSomehow,” Sean said, “I don’t think the victim would see it quite that way.”

Chapter 7
    â€œA ren’t you going to take down what I said about the crossbow?” Bernie demanded of the policeman standing in front of her, blocking her view of Leeza’s body.
    He frowned.
    Bernie put her hands on her hips.
    â€œWell, aren’t you Officer Fisher?” she repeated.
    Instead of answering, Officer Fisher closed the pad he was taking notes on and ostentatiously put it in his trouser pocket.
    Well that’s a clear no, Bernie said to herself.
    â€œListen,” he told her. “This isn’t Longely, this is West Vale. You keep to your catering and let us do the investigating and we’ll all be happy.”
    â€œHey,” Bernie protested, “I’m just trying to help.”
    Officer Fisher crossed his arms across his chest. Bernie could see that his shoulders were damp from the drizzle outside.
    â€œThanks anyway, but somehow,” he said, “I think we can manage just fine without your assistance. We don’t need civilians mucking things up.”
    â€œIs that a fact?”
    â€œYes it is. We do things by the book here in West Vale.”
    â€œMaybe you should get a new book,” Bernie told him.
    Officer Fisher nodded towards Libby who was tugging on Bernie’s arm and telling her to come on. “You should listen to your sister.” He made a shooing motion with his hands. “Now you be a good girl and run along and get the coffee going. Make yourself useful. I’ll send someone to tell