Nursing a Grudge is Murder (A Maternal Instincts Mystery) by Diana Orgain

herself. “There you go.”
    She cooed at me, then immediately lost interest in me in favor of the toast.
    I picked up my cordless phone and dialed Galigani. He picked up on the third ring.
    “You busy?” I asked.
    “I’m on hold with the M.E. Let me call you back.”
    I paced while I waited and finally decided to make a fresh pot of coffee. While I was waiting for the coffee to brew, the phone rang.
    “What did you find out?”
    “About what dear?” Mom asked.
    “Oh. Mom. I’m waiting on a call. Let me call you back.”
    “Oh no, honey, I only called to find out if you need anything from the mall.”
    “No. Thanks.”
    “Not even something for Laurie? The little dresses here are so cute. Only $15. Really, how can I pass them up? I’m getting one for Paula’s baby. We’re certain it’ll be a girl, right?”
    “Yeah. Okay, grab one for Laurie if you think they’re cute.”
    “What size? 3 to 6 months?”
    Oh God! I didn’t have a newborn any more.
    She was already in the next size up.
    Laurie cried out and I saw that she was face down on her play mat and struggling to flip herself over, because the Boppy pillow had her tangled. Okay, maybe she wasn’t so big after all.
    “Yes, 3 to 6 months,” I said flipping Laurie over.
    My phone buzzed as another call beeped through. “I gotta go, Mom.”
    I switched lines. Galigani was on the other end.
    “What did you find out?”
    “Nothing. I was on hold forever and finally they got on the line and told me they’re doing the autopsy today. So I’ll have to call again tomorrow.”
    “What do you think they’ll find? I mean, probably a broken neck or death due to drowning or something—”
    “Unless he was killed beforehand and the body was dumped into the bay,” Galigani said.
    A chill ran down my spine.
    “No!” I said. “That can’t be.”
    “Why not? When was the last time he was seen?”
    Oh God. I hadn’t even asked Jill that. What kind of investigator was I?
    “Ummm—”
    Galigani laughed. “Did you forget to ask?”
    “No. Forget implies that I’d intended to ask. I never even thought to ask her.”
    “Don’t worry about it, kid. We all start somewhere,” Galigani said. “I’ll keep on the M.E. Why don’t you talk to your friend again?”
    “Okay.”
    “Oh, and if you’re up for it, why don’t you take the hike? It’s a nice day today, weather’s clear. You never know what kind of inspiration will hit you.”
    “You mean the Lands End hike?” A fluttering of nervous energy coursed through me. “Yes, we should definitely check out the scene of the crime.”
    “Want do you mean we? That hike is all uphill and I’m a desk jockey now.”
    “Oh, come on!” I nagged.
    “Hell no,” Galigani said. “And don’t get caught up with calling it a crime yet. As far as we know it’s an accident.”
    “Right.” I hung up with Galigani and walked down the hall to Jim’s office/Laurie’s nursery. “Can you Google Land’s End and find out if it’s a stroller-friendly hike?”
    Jim raised an eyebrow at me. “Uh. If it is, are you thinking family hike?”
    I smiled. “The weather is clear—”
    “Honey, I’d love to but I’m up to my ears with sales calls and I have to prep for my meeting downtown. Can I take a rain check? How about I stay home with Laurie?”
    I sighed. Galigani didn’t want to go with me, Mom was going shopping, Jim had work, Paula was at the popping point and it would be too tender for Jill. For some reason, I wanted a pair of extra eyes. There was no telling what I’d come across and it seemed logical to have someone with me. I thought of my seventeen-year old neighbor Kenny. I sent him a text while I nursed Laurie, then dressed for the hike.
    Finally, I did a quick search online for some P.I. tools. I found a dust kit and a lock pick set and ordered both. After all, you never know when they could come in handy!
    As I was heading out the door, I got a text back from Kenny.
    G OT A HOT DATE WITH MY