Free Heather Horrocks - Who-Dun-Him Inn 01 - Snowed Inn by Heather Horrocks Page A

he could well be that SOB.”
    Garrett said, “Let’s put it to a vote.”
    Gregorio leaned back in his chair and smiled, obviously amused, so the night wasn’t a total loss. “I could be.”
    Lonny stopped ten feet from Calabria. “I don’t take kindly to being cheated on.”
    Calabria shrugged and played to his audience with a smile. “There are so many women, after all, but I’m sure I was never with your wife. You are mistaken. Your wife poured water, yes, but she did not even look at me.”
    “Oh, Gregorio,” Martha waved her hand, “Don’t plead innocence. It is a well-known fact you screw around.”
    “Silencio!” Calabria snapped. “You are ruining the play.”
    “Oh, I am sorry.” Martha leaned back with a wide smile. “Proceed,” she told Lonny, who stood behind her.
    “Ma’am, this is not your fight, though I do appreciate the support.” With that, Lonny advanced on the older man.
    “Can’t we settle this like civilized men?” Calabria continued to ad lib as he stood. He grinned. Good .
    “It’s too late for that.” Lonny moved again, and managed to look menacing while making very little forward progress. “A beating will help you remember to stay away from my wife.”
    Lonny was convincing.
    Calabria stood, his grin fading a little.
    Maybe Lonny was a bit too convincing.
    “Captain,” Dr. Ray said, “surely, you can work this out.”
    “Let ‘em fight,” said bloodthirsty Grandma.
    As the song on the CD faded to silence, Lonny picked up the extra (inexpensive) goblet set in the middle of the table for this purpose and threw it into the fireplace. The shatter echoed, and since the goblet was filled with dry, magician-type powder, the flames flashed hot and bright for a moment.
    For the first time all night, the room was totally silent, until strains of Beethoven filtered over the speakers. I knew the glass would be thrown, but still, even my heart was pumping faster.
    Alexis’s hand flew over her heart.
    Martha cheered Lonny on. “Go get him, tiger. Protect your wife’s honor.”
    Xavier straightened his shoulders, gearing up for his part as Lonny had done, and ran into the dining room, yelling, “Don’t do it, Steve. He’s not worth it.”
    “Don’t try and stop me.” Lonny took another two steps toward Calabria. As Xavier raced closer, Lonny pulled his fist back as if to punch. And, just as they practiced, Xavier grabbed Lonny’s arm. These guys were good. I had to smile.
    Calabria stood still, staring first at Lonny and then at Xavier. Perhaps he really thought he was going to get hit.
    Xavier wrapped his arms around Lonny and started pulling him back. “Come with me, buddy. Don’t drag this man into it. Go talk to your wife. Ask her what’s going on.”
    I hardly heard the rest of the lines as I watched Calabria’s face. He looked pale. The actors were too convincing, perhaps, and really scared him. He sank into his seat.
    “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Gregorio.” Martha laughed. “The ghost of affairs past, perhaps.”
    He glared at her. “You knew about this.”
    “Not the play.” Martha grinned. “But I couldn’t have planned it better if I’d tried. Relax and enjoy the fun.”
    Garrett whispered in Martha’s ear. She shrugged, and I heard her say, “Earlier today.”
    Dr. Ray frowned. “Martha, I haven’t seen—”
    Martha put her finger to her lips and shook her head.
    Dr. Ray shrugged and smiled at Grandma, who was apparently asking him what he knew.
    Xavier pulled Lonny to the door. “Come, Captain. You need to take your medication.”
    Through the dining room windows flashed the lights of an approaching vehicle. It could only be my favorite mystery writer, Clark Harmon, finally arriving. I could hardly wait to meet him. Ever since my brother, Paul, first shared one of his Max McKnight mysteries with me when I was in ninth grade, we both were hooked.
    I excused myself and went outside. Kent had gone home an hour ago, and I could