Free Plum Deadly by Ellie Grant Page A

both doors twice, checking them inside and out—before they left.
    It seemed ironic to her as she performed this task that she’d lived all those years in the city and never had a breakin.
    The circumstances were different, she grimly reminded herself as they got into Ryan’s late-model Honda. People weren’t calling her a thief, liar, and killer. Her life had been normal then.
    It was a pity party, no doubt. She knew that and decided to stop feeling sorry for herself. She had to concentrate on what she was doing—working on her plan to clear her name.
    Ryan took them to a nice little Italian place with red-and-white checkered tablecloths and candles in Chianti bottles with wax dripping down the sides. It was very charming and intimate—a good choice for their frazzled nerves.
    Between glasses of wine and courses of salad, soup, and pasta—of which Aunt Clara managed to eat a fair share—Maggie told Ryan all her suspicions. She even laid out her new theory about why the bank hadn’t prosecuted her.
    It was good to say it out loud, even if it was only in a whisper.
    Ryan took it all in calmly. He asked questions when shepaused for breath and made a few remarks about Frank’s attitude.
    “He has to keep his distance and observe this situation as it unfolds around you. It’s likely the answers will involve you, but there’s no proof yet. It’s his job to be objective, Maggie.”
    “Were you a cop or something?” Maggie asked. He sounded too aware of how a detective would feel. She didn’t really want to hear Frank’s point of view.
    “No.” He smiled and picked up another bread stick. “I trained to be one but—”
    “That’s when your father had the heart attack and he would’ve had to close the paper if you hadn’t stepped in,” Aunt Clara added. “I remember. Your father was a very good writer, although he used to get my husband, Fred, all riled up with his editorials.”
    “You were planning to be a cop?” Maggie was amazed. “It must be a lot different working for a newspaper instead.”
    “It’s different. I guess it was always in my blood anyway. I didn’t plan on doing this—never wanted to step into my father’s shoes—but it’s okay now. I enjoy it.”
    “How’s your father doing these days?” Aunt Clara asked as she bit into a cannoli. “Is he enjoying his retirement?”
    “He’s fine. Thanks for asking. He spends most of his time on the golf course. Once in a while, he comes into the office and I have to remind him that the doctor said he can’t do the job anymore. It’s hard for him. He’s not that old and he misses his former life. He likes to keep up with what’s going on.”
    Maggie suspected from his tone that Ryan’s fathermight like to be more involved with the paper than Ryan wanted.
    “Poor man,” Aunt Clara said. “Remind me to send him a pie.”
    “That’s sweet of you. I’m sure he’d appreciate it, Clara. We don’t get very much home cooking since neither one of us cooks.”
    They didn’t really talk any more about Lou’s death or Frank’s investigation. Ryan talked about things that were going on in the community. Aunt Clara talked about the pie shop being closed.
    Maggie thought about whoever had broken into the house and why they’d taken the laptop. It seemed a good bet that the guilty person, who’d really embezzled from the bank, had started this chain of events. This person knew Lou was about to clear her name and had acted violently to prevent that. Afterward, they were worried about Maggie figuring it out. They wanted to know what she knew.
    It was a chilling thought that she and Aunt Clara could’ve been asleep when the thieves had come. The event could have been so much worse. Yet, even though nothing had happened to them, Maggie was nervous about going home again.
    As they were getting ready to leave the restaurant, Maggie and Aunt Clara thanked Ryan for the delicious dinner.
    “You’re very welcome.” He held the door for them.