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

Now he needed $25,000 and had to score it soon. I’ll pay that guy back and never ever borrow again, Scott thought. Luckily I have this appointment today. An elderly couple who had been at the restaurant last night—Betty and Ed Binder—were so touched by the romance of Scott’s proposal that they sent over a round of drinks. Good thing that Regan Reilly was gone by then. He was sure she was. Most of the restaurant had thinned out. Scott and Jillian thanked the Binders and asked the couple to join their table. Now Scott was going to pay them a visit. He had a few investments he wanted to talk to them about. Hopefully they’ll get out their checkbook.

When he neared their gated community, he pulled over on a side street. He was early and didn’t want to look anxious. He picked up his BlackBerry and did a search on Regan Reilly. He already knew that her mother was an author, thanks to that windbag Edna, streaming live on the Internet. He scrolled down for information. Her father owns three funeral homes in Summit, New Jersey? Scott chuckled. Good to know, he thought. But when he read who she was married to, his chuckles ceased.

Jack Reilly, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad.

They lived in New York City.

What were they doing at that Chinese restaurant in New Jersey last night?

33

Daisy, if you wait just a minute I’ll get Mrs. Frawley. We can find out—”

“I can’t wait,” Daisy whispered into the phone. “I’m on the set. I shouldn’t be talking on the phone. I have to go. We’re about to shoot a scene.”

“Let me take your number,” Regan said quickly. “My name is Regan Reilly. I’m a private investigator. I’d like to help, if you can’t reach Cleo.”

“A private investigator!” Daisy said, alarm in her voice. “Did something happen you’re not telling me?”

“No! My mother has known the Frawleys for years and we stopped by to say hello.” That’s true enough, Regan thought. She doesn’t need the gory details about Edna.

“Okay,” Daisy said, then quickly gave Regan her number. Regan grabbed a pen by the phone and scribbled on a message pad.

Regan repeated it aloud. “Would you like my number?”

“I don’t have a pen. When you get a chance, would you please call my phone and leave your number on my voice mail?”

“I will. And don’t worry, Daisy. If you just spoke to Cleo Monday—”

“I’ve got to hang up! Thanks. Sorry.”

The phone clicked in Regan’s ear. Slowly she replaced it in the receiver. This is too weird, Regan thought. Someone leaves Cleo dead flowers? Then she leaves early and doesn’t tell her good friend? Why not? She must have been scared. Did whoever left the dead flowers follow her from this house?