Murder Unmentionable Read Online Free PDF Page A

seemed to take forever, but then finally they were turning onto Liz’s street. Emma felt her pulse quicken as the house came into view. It was built in the old-fashioned farmhouse-style with a huge wraparound porch out front. All the paint had been renewed, and brightly colored Adirondack chairs provided a warm welcome.
    Liz was standing on the steps when Emma pulled into the drive. She was tall, with a wide-open, freckled face and strawberry blond hair that was a total contrast to Emma’s petite frame, heart-shaped face and dark hair. They embraced heartily and, with an arm under Arabella’s elbow,Liz led them up the steps toward a small table set with a pitcher of Tennessee Tea.
    Liz ensconced Arabella in a bright red Adirondack chair and handed her a sweating glass of the cold Tennessee Tea. Matt Banning, Liz’s husband, gave Emma a hug that nearly took her breath away before taking a seat on the floor, his back against one of the porch railings. He had the looks of a handsome cowboy, and Emma half expected to see a horse tied to the railings.
    Their daughter, and Emma’s goddaughter, Alice, was playing on the swing set with her younger brother, Ben, beside her, her blond ponytail whipping back and forth. All of a sudden they jumped off the swings and began running toward the drive, shouting “Uncle Bri, Uncle Bri!”
    A red pickup truck was coming down the drive, kicking up dust and pebbles. It stopped and Brian got out—more like unfolded himself, Emma thought. He was immediately tackled around the knees by two small munchkins who continued to chant “Uncle Bri, Uncle Bri!” He pulled something from his pocket and handed it to them.
    “It’s for after dinner,” he shouted as the children scampered toward their mother, demanding, “Can we eat it now, can we?”
    Liz shook her head. “No more candy, Brian, please. It will be impossible to get them to bed tonight.”
    “An occasional treat isn’t going to hurt them.” Brian mounted the steps to the porch, swiping a hand across his forehead.
    “You’re going to spoil them rotten!” Liz admonished.
    Brian faked surprise. “I thought that was my job!”
    Liz took a playful swipe at him, and he ducked. “Just wait till you have kids,” she said.
    “If that ever happens,” Brian said, his expression suddenly serious.
    There was an awkward pause that Liz rushed to fill.“Tea?” She grabbed the pitcher from the table and held it toward Emma and Brian.
    Brian glanced at the pitcher. “Is it the real deal?”
    Liz nodded. “One part Jack Daniel’s, one part triple sec, one part sweet and sour mix and two parts cola,” she recited.
    “Then I’ll take a big ol’ glass.” Brian smiled.
    Matt heaved himself up off the floor. “I’ll go get the grill started. Want to give me a hand?” He glanced at Brian.
    The rest of the evening went by in a blur, everyone seeming to talk at once in their effort to catch up on all the news. The children had retreated to the family room to watch television, and when Emma went in to peek at them, they were on the sofa, fast asleep.
    “They look like angels, don’t they?” Brian said as he came up behind Emma. He tiptoed over and pulled up the light throw that was folded over the arm of the couch.
    “You two want some pie?” Liz came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.
    “Coming!” Brian said as they followed Liz back out to the porch.
    “I haven’t had chess pie like this since I left home.” Emma closed her eyes as she savored the first bite of her aunt’s homemade dessert. She scraped up the bits of flaky pastry and licked them off the tines of her fork.
    “Absolutely delicious.” Brian declared and put his plate down with a sigh of satisfaction.
    A lone car came down the street, its headlights picking out a row of honeysuckle bushes and a white picket fence.
    “I wonder why they call it chess pie?” Emma took a sip from her coffee cup.
    “I’ve heard a lot of different stories about