Free BLUE WEDDING (Melody The Librarian Mysteries Book 3) by Leslie Leigh Page A

planned. I know some of you have traveled far for this event, and we hope you can take comfort in having your loved ones near you as you prepare to depart and say goodbye.”
    Tiffany and her mother stood hugging near the head table. Tiffany’s tears were flowing freely now.
    “Wow,” Margo whispered, squinting through her viewfinder. “You were right! This is some emotional…stuff! I thought this would just be some boring wedding, but we’ve got it all, the entire marriage, right here. Who’d have thought?”
    Indeed. Who’d have thought that the lucky bride would become a wife and widow within the course of mere hours? I patted Margo on the shoulder and said goodbye, moving toward the bandstand so we could pack up our equipment. I stood next to Gary, watching the crowd slowly disperse, giving hugs, shaking hands and offering vague encouragement while not quite understanding what had happened.
    I was surprised to feel Gary’s fingers thread through mine as we stood there, silent witnesses to the unstoppable darkness overtaking the apple orchards of Hartford House.

Chapter 11
     
    On Sunday afternoon, my brother Michael showed up at the house. I’d expected that he might call, but this was even better. For Mom’s sake, we maintained a façade that his visit was social, but as Mom prepared some sustenance, the two scheming siblings talked turkey at the patio table.
    “I don’t know how you do it,” Michael smirked. “Can’t you go anywhere without bumping into dead bodies?”
    “I assume you’re speaking of yesterday’s wedding?” I asked nonchalantly.
    “I was directed to give your Deputy Lee an assist to make sure every T is dotted and each I is crossed. I’ve chatted with the deputy, read his incident report and made a pilgrimage to Hartford House. All the guests had already gotten out of Dodge, but I was provided a list of names and contact numbers for everyone at the reception. And I surveyed Mr. Hayes’ room.”
    “Anything interesting?” I asked, trying not to sound too eager for details. I hoped that Michael wouldn’t have any reason to contact Gavin. No, he wouldn’t unless it was necessary for thoroughness’ sake to contact each guest, but I thought that unlikely. Still, I could imagine Gavin saying, ‘Oh, Michael, I’ve heard so much about you… back when your sister and I were married!’
    “Well, we’ve sealed off the room, in case a more thorough once-over is called for after we get the autopsy results. Mrs. Hartford wasn’t too happy about that, but that’s the way the boarder bounces. I have to say that Mr. Hayes was the best-dressed stiff I’ve yet to encounter.”
    “So you’re pretty sure it was an accident, then?”
    “I won’t be sure of anything until I see the coroner’s report,” Michael said. “Why? Did you have reason to believe it was anything other than an accident?”
    “No, not really. It’s just that you could easily make a case for it being either an accident or foul play, based on all the peripheral activities.”
    “I’m not sure I want to hear any of this,” Michael sneered.
    “Oh, I do!” Mom cooed, setting out a platter of summer sausage, cheeses and crackers. “You’re talking about the man who died at the wedding? How tragic! That poor, young bride will be scarred for life!”
    I gave Mom’s arm a reassuring pat. “Not to worry, Mom. Tiffany strikes me as being fairly thick-skinned.”
    “Would she be one of the ‘peripherals’ you mentioned?” Michael said, as he constructed a mini-Dagwood epicurean edifice.
    “Tiffany made no secret of the fact that she was marrying Charlie Hayes for his money. She told me that they had a prenup in place, but maybe Tiffany wanted more than the contract allowed. In the event of Charlie’s death, she wouldn’t be limited by the prenup’s terms.”
    “Good point,” Mom said, nodding her head, the ‘tragic’ aspects of events having now been superseded by speculation and intrigue.
    “And,”