Death in Reel Time by Brynn Bonner

wouldn’t Beth just love that? Me putting you on the back of my bike? But I could have done the fireman carry,” he said, doing a pantomime.
    He was trying to get a laugh from Olivia and she obliged. When she excused herself to take a shower, Esme and I left Tony to his editing and went to the dining room to lay out the notes to get Olivia started on her heritage scrapbooks.
    I glanced at my watch as we sorted through the selection of background papers Marydale had brought over. “Maybe we’re going to be dining fashionably late,” I said. “It’s after five and Daniel’s not even here to begin the cooking.”
    â€œI’m told he’s very picky about his ingredients. He likes fresh and local,” Esme said. “Winston said he was going right to the farm to get some things.”
    Olivia came in looking refreshed and quite spiffy in a rust-colored pantsuit. But she was moving stiffly. I had a hunch she had suffered more than a little slipping and sliding in her trek up the hill. We tried to work for a bit but she was distracted and couldn’t concentrate on the questions, which was just as well, since the others started arriving a few minutes later. We’d just settled in the living room when Daniel came rushing in from the kitchen.
    He welcomed us and did a quick survey of the room. “Mom, where’s Beth? I was counting on her to do hostess duty while I cook.”
    â€œShe’s not here yet,” Olivia said. “But I think I’m capable of acting as hostess, especially considering this is my house.” She started to rise, but Daniel put a hand on her shoulder.
    â€œOf course you’re capable, Mom,” he said. “The point is this is supposed to be a treat for you, too.”
    Olivia frowned. “What in the world happened to your arm?” she asked, tracing a long, nasty scrape along his forearm.
    â€œLittle farm mishap,” he said. “Two of the goats conspired to push a gate open. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s nothing. I’ll go find Tony and press him into service until Beth gets here. He’ll have some appetizers out to y’all in a jiffy. Dinner will be served in about an hour. Hope you’re all hungry.”
    We chatted companionably, but I noticed Olivia didn’t seem herself. On closer inspection I could see she had her own assortment of small injuries, souvenirs from her afternoon’s misadventure. She’d broken fingernails, scrubbed up her knuckles, and had a blooming bruise on her ankle that was only visible when the hem of her pants hiked slightly. Daniel hadn’t noticed. I wondered if Olivia would report the incident to Daniel or Beth later, and debated whether I should rat her out if she didn’t. I leaned toward her and asked if she was okay.
    â€œI’m fine,” she assured me, grasping my hand. “I’m a little concerned about where Beth is, though. It’s not like her to be so late. And without calling.”
    â€œWould you like me to go call her?” I asked.
    â€œYes, please, would you do that? I’ll enjoy myself more if I know what’s holding her up.”
    I stepped out to the kitchen, where Daniel was in his element. He was moving with efficient speed and directing Tony to do the same. I held up my phone. “Your mom is worried about Beth and wants me to call, but I don’t have her number.”
    He nodded toward a list on a bulletin board hung by an old-fashioned wall phone. I called both Beth’s home number and her cell and got voice mail each time. “Maybe she’s somewhere with Blaine,” I said. “Will he be joining us, too?”
    â€œBlaine wasn’t invited,” Daniel said, his voice flat. “But I’m getting a little worried myself. This is not like her.”
    â€œWant me to go over to her house and see if she’s there?” Tony asked.
    â€œYeah, that’d be