Flossed (Alex Harris Mystery Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Jobeth?”
    Bill had gone off to get more charcoal from the garage and I inched closer to the group pretending to arrange an hors d’oeuvre tray.
    Jobeth Mulberry lowered her ample hips onto a white plastic chair and nodded up to her husband. “Absolutely. Our teen center was devised for exactly that purpose, to cultivate the minds of our youth and prepare them for a future serving God.”
    I had rearranged the tray of hors d’oeuvres about twenty times. I caught Sam’s eye and knew she knew I was listening to the conversation so I thought I might as well just jump right in.
    “So you’ve been here for several years. Are you here permanently?”
    Tom stood next to his wife’s chair with his hand still resting on her shoulder and the other one holding a glass of Coke. “We’re not sure, Alex. We have some plans in the works that might take us back to the states. If they don’t work out, we’ll be here indefinitely.”
    “Don’t be so modest, Tom. My husband is up for a promotion. We should be hearing any day now whether he gets it or not, though I can’t see any reason why he wouldn’t.”
    “Really, Jobeth. Nothing is final yet,” he said with an edge to his tone. “I’m afraid, Alex, my wife has an over-inflated sense of my worth. You see, the church is looking for someone to head up the West Coast branch of our world mission program and the talk is I’m the most likely choice.” Tom’s chest inflated just a bit, with pride or gas from the Coke, I couldn’t be sure.
    “What religious affiliation are you associated with?” Jobeth asked, looking from Sam to me.
    I feared a sermon would be coming next if I told Jobeth I didn’t go to church anymore so I simply said we were Catholic. Which was the truth, after all. I had been raised Catholic, did the communion and confirmation thing, and hadn’t Meme taken me to play bingo in the church’s basement when I was little almost every weekend? That had to account for something.
    Jobeth sighed, the disappointment on her face showing slightly. “I see. Well, how long are you planning on being in town? Perhaps you and your husband and you, too, Sam, might like to come to one of our services.”
    “Well, we’re pretty much booked up. So much to see and do.” Sam swung her head from side to side. “And my sister is on her honeymoon. I’m not sure she’d like to spend it in church.”
    “Well, you’re always welcome. Here’s one of our cards. The address is right there,” Jobeth pointed with her pudgy finger. “I hope you’ll be able to come by and hear Tom speak before you leave. His sermons are very powerful.”
    Sam and I excused ourselves.
    “Jesus. What was that about me being on my honeymoon?”
    “Well, you are.”
    “And I can’t go to church?”
    “Do you want to go to church? It was the first thing I could think of.”
    “Okay. Thanks,” I said with a smile. “You’re right. I don’t want to go to church. Honeymoon or not.”
    “Who are all these people?” Sam looked around at the backyard which seemed to be filled with wall-to-wall people.
    “Mostly people Bill works with. It’s a regular United Nations. His company must be very international. There are two Belgian couples and a couple from the Netherlands and I think two are English. The rest are Americans. I’ve been talking with Malcolm and Jane Tillingsworth,” I said with an exaggerated English accent. “Most boring! Don’t know it though. He’s okay, I guess, but she’s a snob. And a very weird dresser. Oh, no! Here she comes. Have fun! Ta ta.” I took off in search of my husband and something to eat.

 
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    Several hours later a group gathered on the lawn in an attempt to burn off the calories of the grilled chicken and Belgian sausages by playing a vigorous game of volleyball. Volleyball was never a game I enjoyed playing. Or watching. Actually, I wasn’t a sports fan by any means. So for the second time today I found myself sitting next to