Free Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero Page B

And watching her. Stan deliberately turned away, but she felt the cop’s eyes all the way to her front door.

Chapter 6
    Stan tossed and turned all night. Dreams of people chasing her with needles woke her every hour. She finally fell asleep around four. When her cell phone rang next to her head, it felt like mere minutes later. She reached for it, squinting at the clock. Nine-thirty! How can that be? She didn’t recognize the number, but forced herself to sound awake.
    â€œThis is Stan.”
    â€œKristan Connor?” A woman’s voice, it sounded clipped and efficient.
    â€œYes. Who’s calling?” She sat up, throwing the pillow aside.
    â€œThis is Bernadette Macguire. I’m a recruiter for Infinity Financial. I’ve seen your credentials, and I’d like you to come in and speak with us about a vice president, media relations position. When are you available?”
    Infinity. One of her old company’s biggest competitors. Glee surged through her, but she tried to play it cool. Infinity only wanted the best people, and their recruiting efforts were pickier than most. “I . . . Can you tell me a bit more about the position?”
    â€œOf course.” Bernadette shuffled some pages on her end and reeled off the particulars of a job that sounded almost identical to the one Stan had lost. “Basically, the position is responsible for the media presence of the company. And we’d love to talk with you about it. Shall we set up an interview?”
    â€œPlease.”
    â€œWhat day works for you?” Bernadette clicked keys on her end of the line.
    â€œCan we do next Tuesday?” Maybe Bernadette would think she was interviewing the rest of the week and not see her as desperate. And maybe at that point the police would have apprehended Carole’s killer and she could focus on other things.
    â€œTerrific. I have a ten and a two.”
    Stan chose the two and hung up. “What do you think of that, Nutty? Warner can go pound sand!”
    He ignored her and went back to sleep. Stan wanted to do the same, but she knew it would be impossible. She leaned back against the pillows and thought about having a job again. An expense account. A place to wear her fancy shoes and nice suits. She had another chance. A new world to rule. “ I Will Survive” began playing in her head.
    Interestingly, the prospect didn’t excite her as much as she thought it would. Maybe with some coffee. Before she could get out of bed to make it, her iPhone rang again. Her mother.
    Stay positive. “Good morning,” she nearly sang, grimacing at herself. God, she sounded fake.
    â€œDid I interrupt anything?” Patricia asked in a tone suggesting she wasn’t overconcerned if she had.
    â€œNo, just getting ready to go for a bike ride.” Yes, that’s what she would do today. Get the bike out and explore her new town. “How are you, Mom?” She forced herself out of bed and went downstairs.
    â€œA bike ride? Don’t you have a job interview?”
    Stan forced the smile to remain in her voice as she got the coffeepot ready and pressed the button to grind the beans. “No, Mom, I don’t.” Had her mother tapped her phone?
    â€œKristan, you can’t be serious. What are you doing with your time? Especially in that godforsaken place you moved to. Richard told me all about it.”
    â€œRichard did? When did you talk to him?” She moved to the refrigerator and grabbed smoothie ingredients while the coffee brewed.
    â€œOh, the other day,” Patricia said dismissively. “The point is, you’re in a funk. You need to get back into the land of the living.”
    Stan laughed. “Because I don’t have a job? That’s funny, Mom. When was the last time you worked?”
    â€œKristan! That was uncalled for. I do other things with my time. You’re well aware of all the volunteer work. The fund-raisers. The