Read Lethal Lasagna for Free Online

announced once she’d settled down.
    Mrs. Harvey stomped by, calling over her shoulder. “Do I have to separate you two?” She continued on her route not giving us time to answer.
    “That woman needs a ...”
    “Don’t forget we are at church.” Gloria interrupted giggling.
    “Church or no church, she has no right to talk to us like that. We are full grown women.” I continued to stare at the retreating woman’s back.
    Gloria took the magazines I’d marked and began replacing them in their box. “Maybe so, but she is still a school teacher.”
    My gaze moved to the new pile of used merchandise Gloria had placed in front of me. “She’s retired, Gloria. And I’m not in school, and neither are you.” Sometimes Gloria just frustrated the dickens out of me with all her positive, see-people-in-the–best-light attitude.
    Gloria was bent over a box, but I could still hear her muffled voice. “Yes you are.”
    It took me a few moments to realize she was talking about the creative writing class. “That doesn’t count.”
    Her head popped up. “How does taking that class have anything to do with Mitzi’s death?”
    Olive eyes studied my face intently. For a brief moment, we shared the pain of a lost friend. I couldn’t contain the sorrow in my voice when I answered. “Honestly, I don’t know that it will but I have to see if I can find what the police can’t.”
    Gloria stood slowly. “They are working to find her murderer. You know that, right?”
    “Yes, but I also know that because my fingerprints are on the pan, I’m their number one suspect, and I didn’t do it. So, if I can help them solve this mystery, I will.” I wish I felt as confident as I hoped I sounded.
    She nodded her understanding, and then we each picked a full box of yard sale goods and headed for the front. Just before stepping out onto the grassy lawn, Gloria stopped in front of me. “If I can help, you’ll let me know?”
    “Oh course.” Somehow we managed to hug around our heavy loads before departing to work opposite sides of the sale.
    After putting out the marked items, I squatted down beside a box full of stuffed toys. If I were lucky, I’d find something Sprocket might like to cuddle with this winter. A half hidden teddy bear caught my attention. His medium sized body was covered with other discarded childhood favorites. Just as I reached to unearth the stuffed animal, my knees creaked and begged to be released from the locked position I now seemed to be in.
    “Can I help you up?”
    A large tanned hand was extended down to me. I recognized that voice. Without looking up, I knew Brandon Harvest stood over me blocking the sun. What else could I do but paste a smile on my face, look up and answer, “Yes, thank you.”
    Heat enveloped my face as the joints in my legs popped and snapped. When I was standing securely, he released my hand and elbow. He seemed not to notice the sounds or the redness I am sure lit up my face like a fiery furnace.
    “Is this the one you were after?” He pulled the teddy from the pile and held it up for my inspection.
    “Yes, he is.” I busied myself inspecting the toy. What was he doing here? Had he come to the yard sale? Or was he stalking me? The thought of him being there to see me set the pulse in my neck to throbbing. Satisfied the stuffed animal didn’t have any weird eyes or noses that would choke Sprocket, I deemed him a worthy new play thing for my old dog. I hugged it close and looked to the handsome man beside me.
    He was looking around at the people and the many tables, furniture, piles of clothes, and all the other items that littered the church lawn. “I’m a sucker for garage sales.”
    So much for thinking he was there because of me.
    “Not me.” The words were out of my mouth and there was no turning back.
    He grinned and looked pointedly at the teddy bear in my arms. “Really? So what brings you here?”
    “I’m working this sale. I go to church here and was drafted