A Catered Mother's Day Read Online Free PDF Page A

way.”
    â€œBut you have to tell us what happened,” Libby repeated for the third time. “We can’t help you if we don’t know.”
    â€œDo you want another sip of the Canadian Club?” Bernie asked Ellen.
    Ellen shook her head.
    â€œOkay then,” Bernie said. “I want you to take a deep breath, start at the beginning, and don’t leave anything out.”
    Another minute passed, then Ellen blurted out, “He was here when I came back.”
    â€œBack from where?” Bernie wanted to know.
    Ellen answered promptly. “Ted’s.” Ted’s was a local discount liquor store, one of those places where all the stock is in cartons. “I decided I needed something to drink.”
    â€œSo you were sleeping here?” Bernie asked.
    Ellen nodded. Two quick movements of her head. Like a bird pecking at food , Libby thought.
    â€œThat was the plan. I figured no one would look for me here.”
    â€œOh God,” Bernie said. Suddenly she remembered the conversation she and Ellen had had in the park. “What did you do?”
    Ellen raised her hands, then let them flutter down to her sides. “I just wanted my family to notice me,” she said in a plaintive tone, skirting Bernie’s question. “Is that such a terrible thing to ask?”
    â€œNot normally,” Libby replied before Bernie could. “I guess it depends on what you do to achieve those ends. For example, burning the house down would certainly get your family’s attention, but not in the way you would want.” Libby was going to say more, but Bernie shot her a look and she shut up.
    â€œPlease tell me you didn’t kidnap yourself,” Bernie said.
    â€œYou were the one who suggested it,” Ellen told her.
    â€œI was kidding,” Bernie yelled. “Kidding. I told you to go to a spa.”
    â€œThis seemed better,” Ellen whispered.
    â€œOh my God,” Bernie said, not for the first time. “I can’t believe you did this.”
    â€œDid you leave a ransom note?” Libby asked.
    Ellen nodded. “In an envelope on the dining room table. I cut out the letters for Bruce’s name from a magazine and pasted them on the envelope.”
    â€œWhat did the note say?” Bernie asked.
    â€œI told him to come alone and that I’d kill myself if he didn’t come up with the money and have it here by two in the morning at the latest.”
    â€œSo how much were you asking for yourself?” Libby couldn’t resist inquiring. “A lot?”
    Ellen opened and closed her mouth. Nothing came out.
    Libby nodded to the dead guy on the bed. “Was he in on this?”
    â€œNo,” Ellen cried. “No. I already told you I don’t know who he is. I’m so ashamed.” She put her hand over her mouth. “I’m going to be sick,” she announced, and ran to the bathroom, leaving Bernie and Libby standing there.
    â€œWhat a god-awful mess,” Libby said to Bernie as Ellen slammed the bathroom door shut behind her.
    â€œThat,” Bernie replied, “is a massive understatement.”
    â€œI’m surprised the cops aren’t here already,” Libby observed.
    Bernie bit at a cuticle. “They will be soon. That’s for sure.”

Chapter 5
    L ibby reached in her pants pocket for a square of chocolate, then remembered she’d left the candy back at the shop. Drats. Just when she needed it too. “Bernie, we have to call the police.”
    Bernie grimaced. “Tell me something I don’t know.” She nodded her head toward the bathroom. “She’s going to freak when they show up,” she said, lowering her voice to a whisper. “She’s going to come apart.”
    â€œShe is already.”
    â€œYeah, but she’s going to go even further down that path.”
    Libby swatted at a fly buzzing around her head. “I would file this under really, really bad