BooksBarbecue
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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

“She’s shaken up, but she’s fine. We reached Cleo’s parents and her best friend who are out of their minds with relief. They’ll all be in New Jersey tomorrow. Turned out Winston tried to come to Cleo’s aid when she got knocked over by a wave on the beach when she first got to Edna’s. He offered to walk her home but she refused. It seems his obsession turned from invertebrates to Cleo. We don’t know much more yet.”

Kit hurled the magazine across her living room. “Reilly, the people you set me up with!”

“I know, Kit. Why don’t you come down to the Shore this weekend? It’s my mother’s birthday Saturday. Something tells me we’ll be having a big celebration.”

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Saturday, August 6th

80

In the Reillys’ backyard in Spring Lake, Jack and Luke were slaving over a sizzling grill, every square inch filled with steaks, chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers.

“Whatever happened to dinner for four at a quiet restaurant?” Luke muttered, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement.

Jack laughed. “You know Nora likes any excuse for a big party.”

Regan and Nora came from the kitchen carrying trays stacked with hot dog and hamburger rolls.

“What are you two laughing about?” Nora asked.

Luke put his arm around his wife, then kissed the top of her head. “We were talking about how relaxing it is to barbecue.”

“Oh, you, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate my birthday.”

“I’m just kidding,” Luke said. “This is wonderful.”

“Dad, tomorrow Jack and I will take you and Mom to brunch at the Breakers. You can relax and be waited on.”

Luke’s eyes twinkled. “Party of twelve?”

Regan shook her head. “I think you’re just jealous you missed all the excitement.”

“I am. While you were solving crimes, I was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Garden State Parkway.”

Jack winked at Regan. She glanced around at the crowd. “Everyone is having a great time.”

Cleo and Dirk were standing with their arms around each other.

“You know, Cleo,” Dirk’s mother said for the twelfth time, “when I spoke to you on the phone the other day, your voice sounded so familiar. I should have guessed it was you. I could kick myself. I saw My Super Super three times! You deserved to win the Academy Award. They stole it from you, they really did!”

Cleo smiled. “Thank you.”

“What movie are you doing next?”

“I don’t know. I’m waiting until the contract with my current agent runs out next week. Then I’ll see what I’m offered.”

Daisy groaned. “Good riddance!” She turned to Dizzy. “Whatever you do, don’t sign with the Flake Agency!”