Free Dream a Little Scream by Mary Kennedy

Leslie, were such a happy couple. But Lucinda is such a dear, she always thinks the best of everyone.”
    Sara shook her head. She dug into her tote bag and pulled out a grainy newspaper photo. “Here’s Jeremy with Sonia at a luncheon in Tampa that was sponsored by a civic group.I printed this out last night.” The photo showed a smiling Sonia with her arm around Jeremy Watts. The couple definitely looked cozy, and Sonia had her face turned up to him in a rapturous smile
. Was Jeremy playing the field and involved with two women, one his boss and the other his colleague? Or did I misinterpret their conversation outside the studio?
    â€œAnd you’re sure Sonia’s seriously involved with him?” I asked. “It’s not just a fling?”
    â€œIt’s serious,” Sara said solemnly. “Sonia has been after him to divorce his wife and marry her. He seems to be on the fence about it; he has little kids. The gossip magazines are all over it.”
    â€œI don’t think her fans would be too keen on that,” I said thoughtfully. “She likes to project such a wholesome image. Being labeled a home-wrecker would definitely show a darker side of her personality.”
    â€œBut would it really hurt her cookbook sales? Or her TV ratings? That’s all that matters in the long run: the bottom line,” Noah chimed in. “I think her fans would have been loyal to her, no matter what. What else do we know about Jeremy’s wife?”
    â€œShe was one of Lucinda’s students at the Academy,” I offered. “She and Lucinda chatted at the studio, and Lucinda introduced her to us. Lucinda was so glad to reconnect with her, she invited her back to her house after the taping.” I paused. “Poor Leslie. I wonder if she knows about her husband’s affair.”
    â€œShe must,” Sara offered. “She’d have to be an idiot not to. I think we should look at her as a suspect.”
    â€œWe need to look at everyone. The sooner the killer is brought to justice, the better,” Ali said.
    â€œAmen to that,” I agreed. “When the story hits the news,Oldies But Goodies could be in for some bad publicity. The reporters are bound to mention the place that Sonia died—”
    â€œNot only died, was
poisoned
,” Sara cut in. “That’s what they’ll say.”
    Ali’s cheeks flamed. “She may have been poisoned or it may have been an allergic reaction. But everyone in Savannah knows it wasn’t our food that killed her.”
    â€œDon’t be so sure about that,” Noah said mildly. “You don’t know what sort of twists and turns the story will take when it hits the national news. We have to wait and see.”
    We were silent while the server cleared our plates and brought the entrees. I didn’t want to alarm Ali, but I knew Noah was right. The sooner this case was solved, the better for us all.

7
    The message light was blinking when we returned from dinner and Ali settled down at the kitchen table. “Let’s hope those flyers helped,” she said cheerfully. “We could use some new business.” Last week, we’d handed out flyers and coupons for our new Handheld Dessert Menu around town, and we hoped we’d made a splash. The menu items included everything from caramel cake pops to tiny jars of mini-desserts like key lime pie and bourbon-pecan rice pudding.
    The mini-desserts were Ali’s idea, and I was sure they’d be a hit. Each mini-dessert was served in a baby food jar decorated with a swatch of gingham. Customers could grab a plastic spoon and be on their way, exploring the city. We have tables and chairs at Oldies But Goodies, both indoors and on the patio, but the handheld desserts seemed to strike a chord with tourists. They were eager to buy a quick snack and be off, exploring the beauty of Savannah.
    I watched Ali’s face crumble as she sat with the