Murder, Money & Marzipan Read Online Free PDF Page A

soaring heart to sink like a stone.
    “There was a little murder here…” She let her voice trail off, waiting for his response.
    “A little murder?”
    “One of the judges.”
    “Let me guess, you are somehow involved in the murder.”  
    Lexy could hear impatience creeping into his voice.
    “I found the body,” she squeaked.
    She heard him sigh on the other end. “Are you in trouble?   Do I need to call Nikki right away?”
    Lexy felt her heart clench upon hearing how easily the red headed detective’s name rolled off his tongue. Nikki. She wondered what kind of relationship they had once had.
    “No,” she answered quickly. Calling Nik Stone was the last thing she wanted him to do. “Everything is all straightened out. I don’t think Detective Stone needs to talk to you anymore.”
    “Oh, OK. Well what happened?”
    “One of the judges was murdered. I just happened to find the body. I guess someone has to be the one to find them.”   She tried to make it sound like no big deal, then changed the subject. “How is Sprinkles?”
    “Sprinkles is fine. We’re having a great time, but we both miss you. Maybe I can get some time off work and come out there?”
    Lexy felt a jolt of panic. She wanted to see Jack, but now wasn’t a good time. He had been very clear during the last investigation that he took a dim view of her playing amateur detective.  
    She thought he was being a bit unfair. It’s not like she went out looking for trouble. She just happened to get thrown into these situations that forced her to investigate. She was like a murder magnet.
    Still, the last thing she needed was for him to come out and discover she was smack-dab in the middle of tracking down a killer. Or to get involved in it himself with Detective Nikki Stone.
    “I miss you too. That would be great, but the contest schedule is really packed up until the end. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have much time for you.” She held her breath, waiting to see if he took the bait.
    “Oh. I see. Well, it’s probably just as well. I’m working on a big case here.” Lexy felt her heart clench at the sound of disappointment in his voice.  
    “I’ll be home in four days anyway; we can catch up on everything then. I can’t wait to see you.”   She hoped he heard the sincerity in her voice.
    “OK, sounds good. I’ll talk to you later then,” he said, then added, “So you’re sure I don’t have to call Nikki then?”
    “Oh, I’m sure.”  
    They hung up, and Lexy shoved the phone back into her pocket. Guilt washed over her. She tried to convince herself the little white lie was for the best. The contest schedule was pretty busy. And she was sure the killer would be caught soon and she would be cleared. Once it was over, she could return to her normally blissful life with Jack and Sprinkles in Brooke Ridge Falls.
    Unless the police didn’t catch the real killer by the time the contest was over.
    She thought about how Aurea’s trouble with money gave her a good motive, but she wasn’t one hundred percent convinced Aurea was the killer. She knew from the last murder case she had been involved in that sometimes things are not what they seem. She needed to rule out some of the other suspects before she could be confident that Aurea was the culprit.
    She continued toward the slot machines passing the same bar where she had seen Amanda Scott-Saunders’s husband earlier. She glanced into the bar, wondering if she should pop in for a little drink. He was in there again!
    Recognizing a perfect opportunity to do some more investigative gathering, Lexy pivoted on her heels, changing her course to head straight for the bar.

Chapter Six
    The bar was practically empty. A couple sat at a table in the corner flirting. A woman sat alone at one end of the bar.   At the other end sat Peter Saunders.
    Lexy hopped up onto a plush gray microfiber bar stool one seat away from Saunders.
    “What can I get you?” The bartender slid a napkin in front