Death in Reel Time Read Online Free PDF

we can give you a quick recap.”
    â€œI can’t stay long. I’m meeting a client at a commercial space on River Road. He’s only in town for the day and wants to see the place. Building’s butt-ugly and an eyesore to the community. I’m embarrassed to be representing anybody who’d buy it, but what are ya gonna do? Us poor slubs gotta make a living, right?”
    â€œYou’re a successful attorney, Daniel. I hardly think you qualify as a poor slub,” Beth said.
    â€œYeah, yeah,” he said, drawing up a chair. “Can I eat while we talk? I’ll share.”
    â€œSure, honey,” Olivia said. “But I don’t like you eating junk. Let me fix you something.”
    â€œMom, it’s not junk. It’s an all-organic veggie wrap with goat cheese and fresh herbs. Friend of mine has a food truck that serves up all farm-direct, healthful stuff.”
    â€œEsme and I ate before we came over,” I said, taking in the aroma. “I’m regretting that now. You’ll have to tell me where I can flag down this truck.”
    â€œUm-hm,” Esme said, reaching over to steal a nibble that broke off as he cut the wrap into medallions. “This fella can come park his rig right in our driveway. And while we’re on the subject of food,” she said, reaching over to grab a napkinfrom Daniel’s bag, “you all need to know that once we start the scrapbooks there will be a strict no-food-or-drink policy in here. Everybody got that?” She looked around the table, swiping at her fingers.
    â€œAye, aye, captain,” Daniel said, snapping a salute.
    Esme smiled, but I knew she was dead serious. Once the scrapbooking started, pity the poor fool who tried to bring so much as a cup of coffee into the room, even if it was Olivia, the client, in her own house.
    We worked for another hour, interviewing Olivia in more depth to mine tidbits of information she might not have known she possessed. We asked about school affiliations, churches, family friends, houses, automobiles, and community events. Sometimes Olivia seemed startled when a memory would pop up in response to our prompts.
    After a while we could see her energy flagging, and when Daniel gathered up his food wrappers we took that as our cue to wind it up for the day. Just then Beth’s cell phone rang and she snatched it off the table as if expecting an urgent call.
    â€œOf course I remembered,” she said, heading into the kitchen for privacy. “Yes, I’ll be there soon,” we heard her say, her voice placating. After she left the room her words were muffled but the tension in her voice was clear.
    Olivia gave a worried glance toward the kitchen and Daniel balled up his lunch trash into a ball so tight I thought the wrappers might molecularly bond. Esme and I busied ourselves with packing up our things and pretended not to notice.
    Beth came back in a moment later. “Mom, let me make you a snack before you go up to rest. I need to go do a quick errand in about an hour.”
    â€œIs it something I can do for you on my way back to the office?” Daniel asked.
    â€œNo, thanks, Daniel. I told Blaine I’d take his car in for servicing. I have a list of things I need to talk to the mechanic about. I’ll have to do it.”
    â€œOr maybe Blaine could take in his own car,” Daniel said.
    â€œOh, Daniel, don’t start,” Beth said, giving Esme and me a tight smile.
    â€œHow will you get home?” Daniel persisted. “You’re not going to sit there and wait the rest of the afternoon.”
    â€œNo, no,” Beth said. “I’ll put my bike on the rack and ride it home. I wanted to get in a ride today anyway. This gives me a good excuse to do it.”
    Daniel glanced his mother’s way and pinched off whatever he wanted to say. “Sounds good,” he said. “You’re inspiring me. Maybe I’ll go for a run after