This Little Piggy Went to Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’m going.”
     
    “I’m sure she does. Don’t let us detain you.”
     
    With a brisk snap, Claire let go of her long, pearl necklace and turned to Sophie. “l hope we have a chance to talk more sometime soon. How long will you be staying?”
     
    “I’m not sure. A few days. Perhaps longer.”
     
    “Well, I look forward to seeing you again.”
     
    Luther put a finger to his lips as she walked away. “Come on,” he whispered. “I need some air.”
     
    Arm in arm, they left the restaurant and strolled down through the parking lot to the edge of the vast lake. Sophie found that she, too, was glad for the respite from the noisy crowd. She had no doubt that Bram was deeply engaged in some intense political or philosophical discussion. He loved to talk. It was one of the qualities she liked most about him.
     
    Outside, it was a lovely evening with a gentle breeze drifting off the water.
     
    “I can feel autumn in the air,” said Luther, sitting down on a weathered wooden bench. He draped both arms casually across the back.
     
    Sophie stood for a moment, watching the smooth, dark water lap lazily against the tiny red and gray rocks embedded in the sand. The sky was a cloudless canvas of pinks and grays.
     
    He sighed. “I can hardly believe Labor Day is this Monday. How can the summer be over?”
     
    The dejection in his voice made her turn around. “What is it, Luther? What’s going on? Something’s wrong.”
     
    He shook his head. Stretching his long legs, he pulled off his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. “This party. That’s what’s wrong. I can’t stand these freak shows any more. I feel like I’m being strangled.”
     
    Sophie could tell this wasn’t the entirety of the matter. She sat down next to him. “What about Claire? She seems nice enough. Why don’t you like her?”
     
    He brushed the question away. “Claire is an annoying gnat who buzzes incessantly around Amanda.”
     
    “That’s it? You don’t like her because she reminds you of an insect?”
     
    Luther began to laugh. “I forget how literal you can be sometimes. You know, I’ve missed you. No one else around here asks so many damnably prying questions.” He tipped his head up and took in the full immensity of the evening sky. “What I mean is, she isn’t important. She’s simply a pest.”
     
    A car roared into the parking lot, screeching to a halt directly behind them.
     
    “Ah, the missing Nora,” said Luther, turning to watch.
     
    A tall, redheaded woman emerged from a dark Chrysler New Yorker and flew up the broad steps toward the entrance, her green satin evening dress clinging tightly to her slender body as she ran.
     
    “I need to get out of here,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “We can talk later. Listen, will you do me a big favor? Tell Amanda I wasn’t feeling well and decided to leave. She’ll understand.”
     
    “And will that be the truth?” Sophie wanted to ask about his loss of weight, the hollowness in his cheeks, but she remembered Amanda’s warning. Besides, she felt a certain righteous indignation at his comment about her penchant for prying questions. She was not someone who pried. Well, not much at least.
     
    “Amanda’s probably told you about the medication I’m on. It affects my nerves. And I get tired very easily. I’m afraid I’m no longer the suave, dashing, hopelessly sexy man you used to know. Well, maybe I should take that last part back.”
     
    “Don’t be a ninny. And don’t worry. I’ll give her your message. Are you driving directly back to Brule House?”
     
    “Probably. Really, I’ll be fine.” He got up and reached for her hand. “You stay and have a great time for both of us. You can regale me with the highlights tomorrow.”
     
    Sophie stood and, putting her arm around his waist, walked him to his car. As he drove away, she favored him with one of her most obnoxious prom-queen waves. Even though she’d never actually