Murder, Money & Marzipan Read Online Free PDF

of Lexy.
    “A White Russian with a splash of Coke, please.”   Lexy stole a sideways glance at Peter Saunders and caught him looking at her.
    “Hi.” She smiled at him.  
    He nodded a greeting. “You look familiar.”
    “I’m in the Bakery Battles contest.” She tilted her head in the direction of Bakery Battles Stadium. “Do I know you from there?”
    “Oh, probably. My wife is…I mean, was a judge.”   He looked down at his drink. Lexy thought she saw the gleam of a tear in the corner of his eye.  
    “You’re Peter Saunders?” she asked.
    He nodded, still staring down at the drink.
    “I’m so sorry for your loss.” She stuck her hand out toward him. “Lexy Baker.”
    He stared at her hand, then made a half hearted attempt at shaking it.
    “Thanks,” he said dully, then picked up his glass draining it in one gulp. He motioned at the bartender for a refill. Judging by the way he swayed on the chair, it wasn’t the first refill he’d had either.
    Lexy sipped her own drink. She had forgotten to eat supper, and the alcohol made a beeline for her brain, emboldening her.
    “I just don’t understand why anyone would want to do that,” Lexy said.
    “Me either. I mean, Mandy could be a bit abrasive and some people really didn’t like her, but you don’t kill someone just because you don’t like them.”
    “Are you holding up okay? I mean, you must really be in shock. You guys were very close.” Lexy fished for information on their relationship.
    “We’ve been married for ten years, but lately things have been a little strained. We had some money troubles. We had been fighting a lot, but I still loved her…”   His voice trailed off.
    “All couples fight, and most have money troubles at times too.”
    “She said everything was going to be okay with the money. I didn’t know what she meant.”   He rubbed his face with his hands.
    “Did you notice Amanda acting strangely at all?” she blurted out.
    Peter turned his head toward her, his eyes squinting. “Strangely?   She was acting kind of…secretive. Quiet. Distant. I wondered if, well…”
    “She was having an affair?” Lexy prompted.
    Saunders’s shoulders sagged and he nodded.    
    “Was she?” Lexy took another sip.
    “She said she wasn’t. We argued about it. She swore nothing was going on, but a few times she left the room early - I’m not sure she was going where she said she was going. Even that morning…”
    “Didn’t that make you mad?”
    “What?”   Peter narrowed his eyes at Lexy, his body stiffening.  
    “Did you get along after you argued, or did things simmer?” The alcohol encouraged her to persist against her better judgement.
    Peter stood up, knocking over his drink in the process. “What’s with these questions? I already answered them for the police!”  
    Lexy couldn’t help herself. She had to ask., “Where were you when your wife was murdered?”
    Peter Saunders’s face turned beet-red. “Are you accusing me?” he shouted, then took a step toward Lexy, reaching out to grab her.  
    She jumped up from her chair stepping out of his reach. His outstretched arms flailed toward her. In his drunken state, he misjudged the distance and stumbled forward, causing Lexy to jump back - bumping into, and almost knocking over, Detective Jake Ryan.
    ###

    “Whoa, whoa. What’s going on here?” Jake stepped between Lexy and Peter holding his hands up to keep them apart.
    Peter pointed at Lexy. “She accused me of murder!”
    “I did not. I simply asked where you were when your wife was killed.” Lexy crossed her arms over her chest.
    “OK, I’m sure you’re both upset about the murder but let’s leave the detecting to the police.” He glared at Lexy. “We don’t know who killed Mrs. Saunders, but we’re working on it.”
    Detective Ryan’s speech seemed to diffuse Peter’s anger. “Fine, but keep her away from me.” He jerked his head in Lexy’s direction, then stomped back to his