Free Flossed (Alex Harris Mystery Series) by Elaine Macko Page B

animal does something like that?”
    It was a rhetorical question but John answered anyway. “One who wanted the job done. There was quite a bit of damage done to her throat.”
    “Can we change the subject, at least until we’re done eating?” I asked, getting an approving nod from Sam.
    “If you two men can drag yourselves away from your new jobs, Alex and I would like to go to Bruges tomorrow. Wanda can’t make it, but she gave us a map and good directions. It looks like a charming town. They call it the ‘Venice of the North,’ it says in the brochure. Lots of canals and we can even take a boat ride,” Sam said.
    “Sounds good to me,” Michael said. “I’m not due at the hospital until Wednesday.”
    “Not due at the hospital? You don’t actually work here, Michael. You do realize that, right?” Sam asked her husband.
    “And you, John,” I turned to my husband, “are you free to spend a little time with your wife on her honeymoon ?”
    “As a matter of fact, I think I could arrange that. Gerard has some sort of meeting tomorrow with some officials from Holland about drug trafficking.”
    “Oh, good. I don’t want to interfere with your work or anything.”
    John reached across the table and touched my hand.
    “Hey, maybe we could go to Holland for the day. I’d love to see Amsterdam and the Anne Frank House,” Sam said.
    “Let’s not forget Antwerp and the diamond district,” I volunteered brightly.
    “Heaven forbid,” John teased.
    After dinner we decided we needed a walk. We headed to the area around the Grand Place and strolled the ancient streets along with hundreds of other tourists.
    “I still can’t believe I’m here. Just look at these cobblestones,” I said.
    Sam winced. “They must be hell on heels. I wonder how these women do it.”
    “I haven’t seen too many women with heels so far, but then most of the people I’ve been seeing lately look like tourists just like us. But you’re right, Sam, they’re fine as long as I have my New Balance shoes on, but if I had to go to work every day and walk over these things, I’d change my footwear.”
    We walked down a street lined with restaurants. Christmas-colored lights were strung across the pedestrian street at regular intervals giving the whole place a party atmosphere. The night air felt warm and the sky clear allowing diners to eat al fresco. Michael suggested we try this area tomorrow night for dinner. Several fish restaurants showcased their catch of the day on large tables covered with crushed ice. I just hoped they cut the heads off of the rather large sea creatures before serving, though I didn’t think they did. Down a very narrow cobblestone alley was a café with marionette shows but the next viewing wasn’t until rather late so we decided to pass. There were street musicians at each corner, some playing solo, and some in groups. A few had CDs for sale and John bought a couple.
    I slipped my arm through John’s and reached up to kiss him on the cheek.
    “Happy?” He bent and returned my kiss.
    “Very.”
    By the time we ducked into a café for something to drink, the sky was bathed in muted light. “I can’t believe it’s still light out.” I looked at my watch. “It’s already ten-thirty.
    As soon as the second round of beers was ordered, I was ready to get back on the subject of murder. “John, you mentioned there was a lot of damage to Martine’s neck. Are you suggesting the murderer was a man?”
    “My guess is yes. But that doesn’t preclude it being a woman. The Dutch girl had huge hands. She was a really good player, I can tell you. And Donna seemed to be strong. And Jane, what’s with the weird hair? She could probably kill someone by strangulation. Her sour disposition alone could do the trick.”
    I told John about the affair between Jane and Paul and asked if it might be important.
    “I don’t see how it would implicate Paul unless he wanted to leave Martine for Jane and Martine was