Murder in Nice Read Online Free PDF

condition.
    “ I found out today that the
city’s homicide department is handling her death.”
    “ Well, there you are. My
sister, the supersleuth. Dad would be proud,” Ben said
sarcastically.
    “ We’re all so upset,” Haley
said. “The police talked to us, not that I had anything to say. I’d
taken a sleeping pill and gone to bed early with one of my
headaches.”
    “ Yeah, thanks bunches by
the way for the iron-clad alibi, Haley,” Ben said. “Good to know
you can be counted on to be unconscious when it counts.”
    “ They don’t suspect you,
Ben,” Haley said, her voice tinged with the slightest of plaintive
whines.
    “ Okay, well, anyway, I just
wanted to check in,” Maggie said, turning away. “And to tell you
guys to go on to Domaine St-Buvard without me. I’ll follow along
tomorrow or the next day.”
    “ You’re staying in Nice?”
Haley asked. “Whatever for?”
    “ God, don’t encourage her,
Haley,” Ben said from the couch. “Will what’s-his-name pick us up?
I know how the French are when it comes to time. I’m not waiting in
a circa World War II train station for him to finally remember what
time it is.”
    “ Ben, stop it,” Haley said.
“You’re embarrassing me.”
    “ What else is new,” Ben
said in a low voice as Maggie slipped out into the
hallway.
    “ I am so sorry, Maggie,”
Haley said. “He has been under unbelievable strain lately for a
couple of different reasons. Please don’t listen to
him.”
    “ Don’t worry, Haley,”
Maggie said, leaning in to kiss her sister-in-law’s cheek. “I never
have.”
     
    *****
    The next morning, Annie insisted on meeting
the rest of the tour group at breakfast.
    “ These were Lanie’s
colleagues,” she said as Maggie locked their hotel room door. “And
her boyfriend, Olivier. He was on the tour too. Oh, he must be
devastated.”
    “ Lanie was traveling with
her boyfriend?”
    “ Well, they didn’t room
together, but they were definitely an item. He’s the videographer
on the tour. Olivier Tatois. I met him briefly last winter when he
came to Atlanta with Lanie.”
    They took the elevator downstairs to the
hotel breakfast room. Maggie wasn’t at all sure what to expect, but
she could tell Annie was eager to meet these people.
    When you’ve lost
everything , even
the faintest wisps of the person you lost counted for
something, Maggie thought
sadly . Perhaps
Annie was hoping to get a little piece of her daughter back in the
memories and joint affection of these people. The minute they
walked into the room, Maggie sensed that was not going to be
possible.
    She recognized Bob Randall immediately. His
travel show was syndicated, and had been for several years. He was
considered the ultimate authority in European travel-on-a-budget
for the average American. His affable downhome style translated
well in his television series, and while he’d been doing it for at
least a decade Maggie was surprised to see he didn’t look a day
older than when he’d first started.
    A tall man, Randall broke away from the
group gathered around a large round table and strode to where
Maggie and Annie stood hesitating in the café entrance.
    “ Mrs. Morrison,” he said,
his hand outstretched to take Annie’s. “I am so sorry to meet you
under these circumstances. Every one of us here loved Lanie
dearly.”
    Annie’s eyes fill with tears. “Thank you,
Mr. Randall,” she said hoarsely.
    “ Please call me Bob, and
come meet the others on our tour.” He tucked Annie’s arm in his and
pulled her away from Maggie toward the table. Maggie followed. She
noticed her brother and Haley remained seated. Haley smiled wanly
at her but Ben scowled into his coffee and did not look
up.
    “ Everyone, this is Lanie’s
mother…”
    “ Annie,” Annie said softly
as she nodded at the two couples and two single women at the
table.
    “ Annie,” Randall said.
“Move over, Anderson,” he said to the distinguished looking man
seated next to a