Murder Is a Piece of Cake Read Online Free PDF Page A

caught
     bits of their muffled conversation. Molly’s higher voice carried better than the police
     officer’s deep rumble.
    “My name is Molly Ann Deaver,” she said. “My dog is Bella Deaver. Her full name is
     Bella’s Snow Fantasia. She’s a purebred Maltese. I don’t know why my fiancé is behaving
     like this. You have to believe me.”
    “Why would he say he was marrying another woman, ma’am?” Edelson asked. At least,
     that was what Josie thought the officer said. She pressed her ear harder against the
     wall.
    “I don’t know. I saw that other woman when she came to Denise’s Dreams, the shop where
     I work. She said she was marrying a vet named Ted, but there are other local veterinarians
     with that name. I never dreamed she was talking about my Ted. There’s something wrong
     with that poor woman.”
    What? Josie was shaking with anger. Molly thinks there’s something wrong with me?
    “Ted loves me,” Molly said. “He wants to marry me.”
    Another low sound, like distant thunder, from the officer.
    “No, I’ve never met his mother. How do I even know she is his mother? She pulled a
     gun on me. What kind of mother-in-law does that?” Molly’s voice grew shriller.
    “I—I did put that knife thingie to Ted’s throat, but I was upset when he said we weren’t
     getting married today. We’re definitely engaged. See, here’s my engagement ring. It’s
     a two-carat round-cut rose-gold ring. I bought it at Forever Diamonds in the Galleria.”
    A short mumbled question.
    “Yes, I bought it myself.” Molly said. “And paid for it, too. He’s a struggling doctor
     and I have money. I wanted the right engagement ring. My wedding day is the most important
     day of my life.”
    Another bass rumble from the officer.
    “Of course I can wait here a little longer,” Molly said. “This is just a misunderstanding.
     I’ll wait here as long as you want. After all, Ted and I will be married forever.”

Chapter 3
    Tuesday, October 23
    “My son is
not
marrying that demented woman, Officer,” Lenore said. “She’s not fit to be a doctor’s
     wife.”
    Josie didn’t need to press her ear to the wall to hear Ted’s mother. Lenore’s imperious
     voice sliced through the thin exam room walls.
    “I don’t know that . . . that . . .” Words failed the well-bred Lenore—polite words,
     anyway. “That creature wearing that ridiculous dress. I thought she was dressed for
     Halloween. I’ve never seen her before. Ted’s never mentioned her. He’s marrying Josie
     Marcus, the girl in the hat.”
    Josie couldn’t hear Officer Edelson’s next question, but she didn’t have to. Lenore’s
     answer was enough.
    “No, he didn’t discuss his engagement to Miss Marcus with me,” she said. “I had no
     say so in the matter. I introduced him to a number of suitable young women, but he’s
     ignored my efforts.”
    Ouch, Josie thought. I don’t think I’ll be calling Lenore “Mom.”
    “But Miss Marcus is a thousand times better than that escapee from a lunatic asylum,”
     Lenore said. “Even if she does have a child out of wedlock.”
    Did she call Amelia “a child out of wedlock”? Hot anger blasted through Josie. Nobody
     disparaged her daughter. Nobody. Josie gripped the door handle, prepared to march
     on Lenore, when she saw Officer Phillips was planted in her path. No way she’d get
     past that wall of mahogany muscle.
    Josie sat back down. She’d discuss Lenore’s attitude toward Amelia later, in private.
     Ted didn’t need two crazy brides in one day.
    Officer Edelson must have asked Lenore another question. Josie caught the phrase “brandished
     a weapon” in his deep rumble.
    “I do carry a pistol,” Lenore said. “It’s a small thirty-eight. I’m licensed for concealed
     carry and I practice at the gun range every week.”
    Another rumble. Josie strained her ears so hard, they practically flapped, but she
     couldn’t hear the officer’s question.
    But