Murder the Tey Way: A Golden Age of Mystery Book Club Mystery (The Golden Age of Mystery Book Club Mysteries 2) by Marilyn Levinson Page B

asked.
    “Not since the other evening,” I said.
    “The poor kid’s on the run,” Hal said. “She’s too afraid to ask the police to protect her for fear they’ll turn on her.”
    “Or charge her for two murders,” I pointed out.
    My hosts exchanged another glance. This one made me angry.
    “My sister’s a flake, but she didn’t kill anyone!”
    “Of course she didn’t!”  Rosie murmured.
    She and Hal made soothing noises, but I was still miffed when I left for home after downing some of Rosie’s apple pie and ice cream and two cups of coffee. My sister didn’t murder her boyfriend or Len Lyons, and I’d  prove it!
    I drove home at a dangerously fast speed, my blood and thoughts churning. I was too agitated to settle down. As soon as I walked through the door, I called Joy. I hadn’t called her after Rosie had convinced me to include her in my sleuthing plans the other evening. It was time I brought her up to date.
    “Listen,” she began before I even said hello. From her hushed tones I knew she was covering the phone with her hand. “The bimbo who Mike called the other night has her number blocked. But as soon as I get a minute, I’ll call an old buddy and track it down. As for my dumb-ass husband—”
    I stopped her in mid-sentence. “I desperately need your help to solve a few murders ASAP.”
    That caught her attention. “Two murders? I only know of one. Did someone else get bumped off while I was driving the kids to soccer practice?”
    “Any chance you can get out for an hour?”
    Joy gave a devilish laugh. “Certainly! Mike was planning to watch the ball game at Buddy’s house. I’ll tell him he has to watch the kids. Both Zack and Ruthie have a friend over. He won’t like it one bit.”
    Despite my focus on proving my sister’s innocence, I couldn’t help sparing a few grams of pity for Mike. “Don’t you think you’re being hard on him?” 
    “Nope.”
    I made my voice sound as incredulous as I could. “You overheard half a sentence and assume he’s cheating on you?”
    “Yep! That and his smug, satisfied smile.”
    So much for Joy’s training to weigh evidence carefully before going after a suspect. I sighed. “All right. I’ll pick you up in ten minutes and fill you in on the way to the diner.”
    Joy remained silent after I told her about Gayle’s boyfriend’s murder. We sat in the diner’s parking lot while she digested everything.
    “Do you think Brian likes Gayle for Len’s murder?” I finally asked.
    Joy pursed her lips. “Brian Donovan goes by the book. Without any incriminating evidence, Gayle’s in the clear.” She sent me a side-long glance. “But you have to admit it’s kind of weird how she left one murder scene and walked in on another.”
    “Gayle didn’t kill anyone!” I said with more zeal than I felt. “And I have to prove it, or she might get sent back to Utah and straight into the hands of that dirty cop.”
    “A worthy enough reason,” Joy said. “We’ll plan our strategy over dessert.”
    The diner was busy. We had to wait a few minutes to be seated. Thank goodness, the booth was in the corner on the window side of the big room, a good distance from a noisy table of eight. I ordered coffee and a Danish. Joy ordered a banana split.
    “A banana split!” I exclaimed when our middle-aged waitress left to fill our orders.
    Joy grinned. “I’m making the most of my getaway.”
    The busboy plopped two glasses of water down on our table.
    Joy leaned over the table to whisper. “If Gayle didn’t kill Len or whatever his name is, there’s a good chance one of the book club members stabbed him. We’ll raise some provocative questions at the meeting tomorrow morning, then watch to see how everyone reacts.”
    “Oh, my God!” With everything happening, I’d all but forgotten the meeting.
    She burst out laughing. “Did I catch our book club facilitator unprepared?”
    “Only where the food’s concerned. I’m out of coffee. I’ll