Free "A Murder In Milburn", Book 3: Death In The Library by Nancy McGovern

but she said sections of her novel-in-progress would make an extremely good play,” May said. “Personally, it felt a little too much like marketing to me.”
    “I think I’d love to watch a play about the town’s history,” Harvey said.
    “She came to you for an interview, didn’t she?” May said.
    Nora looked at Harvey, startled.
    He was looking down into his glass of wine. He took a sip, then had a bite of his lasagna. “Amazing food, isn’t it?”
    “I like the pasta at Giovanni’s better, personally,” Mayor Almand said. “But the garlic bread here is divine.”
    “You should try the cannelloni,” May said. “They put a hint of saffron in it. Gives it an amazing flavor.”
    “You didn’t tell me,” Nora said, looking right at Harvey. “You didn’t tell me about Selena visiting you, or interviewing you.”
    “Well, it was quite some time ago,” Harvey said. “It actually slipped my mind completely.”
    “Why did she want to talk to you?” Something in Nora’s tone made the Mayor and his wife drop their forks to look at her. There was silence around the table.
    In a pleasant, if forced voice, Harvey said, “You know, I have so many meetings, I barely remember. She wanted to talk about some property, I think. Maybe she was thinking of buying?”
    “She can’t have been thinking of buying. Tina told me she was spending her savings getting her house renovated,” Nora said.
    Harvey shrugged. “Maybe it was research for a book or something. Maybe her heroine is a real estate agent. Anyway, have any of you tried their buttered oysters? Let me order a plate.”
    “I heard her tell Grant she was going to talk to you about the yellow gated property down on Finch road,” May said.
    “Right,” Harvey said.
    “That’s where you were yesterday when we met,” Nora said. “Right?”
    “Yes.” Harvey’s voice was clipped. He raised a hand, calling the waiter over.
    What was wrong with him? Nora wondered. Why was he refusing to talk? There was nothing wrong with having talked to Selena, yet Harvey was acting as if Nora was pushing him about a secret he didn’t want revealed. He’d only succeeded in making her more curious by being so closed off.
    “Do you think we could talk about something other than Selena?” the Mayor said. “I’m sorry, but I’d rather have a happy discussion over dinner than mull over the tragic murder.”
    “I second that,” May said. “So… let’s see. Shall we talk about you two instead?” She gave Harvey a wink and nodded at Nora. “You’re the town’s favorite couple, you know. It’s about time you both settled down.”
    “We’re just casual about it right now,” Nora said.
    “Oh, we are?” Harvey raised an eyebrow.
    She blushed. Honestly, what had gotten into him? “I mean… we aren’t thinking about the future right now.”
    “Harvey strikes me as the kind of guy who never does think about the future.” May laughed. “Why I haven’t seen such a casanova in all my years. That was before you came along, of course, dear.”
    “Well, reformed casanovas make the best husbands,” Mayor Almand said. “Just ask my wife here.”
    “Oh Brett, you were never the ladykiller you like to think you were.” May laughed. “Though, I’ll grant you had your share of admirers.”
    “Speaking of Grant, is that old bachelor ever planning to settle down?” Mayor Almand laughed. “Why, people around here have never seen him date a girl. Makes one wonder if he doesn’t get lonely.”
    “Oh Grant’s an odd one. He has his books, and that’s all he needs.” May laughed.
    The Mayor nodded. “Ah. Well, if that’s what he says.”
    “The truth is, he had a girl he was madly in love with, way back when he was young,” May said. “But you know Grant, he’s a nerd if there ever was one. She used him when she needed work done for college, but then the girl ran off with some macho type. She probably has ten kids by now. Grant’s still in love with her,