Death in Reel Time by Brynn Bonner Page A

great,” Daniel said, “but take the appetizers out first, please.”
    Tony held the tray high, fancy-waiter style, and I followed in his wake, half convinced the enticing aromas wafting from the tray might actually be able to lift me right off my feet like in the cartoons.
    I slipped in next to Olivia and whispered to her that I hadn’t been able to reach Beth, but that Tony was going over to check on her.
    She smiled and nodded, moving a stack of magazines from the coffee table so Tony could put the tray down. Daniel followed a moment later with a huge tray laden with three pitchers, tumblers filled with ice, and some stemware.
    â€œJack, would you play bartender so I can get back to the kitchen?” he asked, then pointed to each pitcher in turn. “There’s ginger iced tea, raspberry lemonade, and sangria. Please, enjoy.”
    When he had gone I picked up a little cocktail plate. I tried to be dainty but by the time I was done I’d piled one of everything onto it. There were stuffed mushrooms, some kind of tiny tart, figs stuffed with goat cheese, and several things I couldn’t identify but was eager to try.
    We heard Tony’s motorcycle start up and I winced involuntarily, awaiting the backfire, but I heard him pull out onto the street and purr away with no startling bang this time. We laughed and talked for a while longer, then Daniel came to check that we had everything we needed. I considered telling him I’d like every appetizer he had left in the kitchen put into a doggy bag for me to eat later, but I resisted.
    Tony was gone for quite some time and when he returned I didn’t hear his motorcycle in time to prepare myself. The backfire almost made me dump my plate of goodies into my lap. Tony made quite a striking picture standing in the doorway in his black motorcycle jacket. He carried his helmet by the strap in one hand and pushed his hair back with the other. “No answer at the door,” he reported. “But her car’s there and I think I heard the shower running inside. She’ll probably be along soon.” The helmet slipped from his grasp and rolled over to the baseboard. I saw him grimace as he reached for it and noticed that the fingers on his right hand were horribly swollen. Had they been that way earlier? I didn’t have time to ask.
    Daniel clapped his hands together and announced, “I think we’ll have to go ahead without her or else dinner’s going to be ruined.”
    Olivia seemed about to protest, but after a moment’s hesitation she managed a wobbly smile. “Yes, I’m sure she’llunderstand. Something must have come up. Oh, and I forgot, they’re with one car; maybe Blaine had the car, maybe that’s why she’s late. Anyway, she can join us whenever she gets here.”
    We’d made it through the salad course and still Beth hadn’t arrived. I was annoyed with her since I was a little worried now, too, and I couldn’t concentrate every cell in my body on enjoying the food, which even my untrained palate found extraordinary. Daniel and Tony started bringing in the main course of salmon topped with a chopped salsa-type stuff, tiny herbed potatoes the size of jelly beans, and asparagus with some kind of yummy yellow sauce. We were halfway through dinner when Beth appeared in the porch doorway, her hair wet and her clothing slightly rumpled. She was pale but there was high color in her cheeks and her eyes glinted.
    â€œI am so sorry,” she said, looking up and down the table as if she weren’t entirely sure where she was. “I was,” she said, then there was a moment of silence as if she was trying to remember something. “I just let the time get away from me,” she said finally. She slipped into her seat, then seemed startled by a thought. “Oh, Daniel, I’m so sorry. Can I help?”
    â€œEverything’s under control,” he said, giving her a