“I was visiting a friend in San Diego today, and I just heard about Bernie,” Mary said, her voice hoarse and broken. “The newscaster said he’d been murdered.”
“I’m sorry, Mary. I had no idea you didn’t know or I would have called you earlier.”
“They’re saying the Avenger killed him.”
“That’s speculation.”
“Not according to the news. The Avenger made a mistake. Bernie wasn’t involved in drugs. That was just a story concocted by his enemies. He explained it all to me.”
“I know it’s hard to believe something bad about friends, especially…”
“We were more than friends.”
Callie’s spirits sank. “How much more?”
“He’d asked me to marry him. I was thinking about saying yes.”
Marriage. That did come as a surprise, and not only because of the age difference. “How long have you known him?”
“Only about three months, but he was so thoughtful. And we had fun together.”
“You certainly seemed to.”
“Bernie’s collapse at my party may not have been an accident, Callie. Whoever shot him yesterday may have tried to kill him at my party.”
“I suppose that’s possible.” No reason to lie about that.
“I may have invited this Avenger person into my home.”
“You didn’t do it knowingly.”
“No, but it makes me sick to think he could be one of us. I plan to find out for sure.”
“I don’t think you should try to handle this yourself, Mary. Just cooperate with the police.”
“I’ll cooperate, all right. I don’t want Bernie’s killer going free.”
By the time she got off the phone with Mary, Callie really needed a swim. She dove in and tried to drive the images of murder from her mind with vigorous breast strokes. Instead, the troublesome thoughts merged and mingled with the old memories. Murder, mayhem and Max—a sure recipe for disaster.
The doorbell rang as she pulled herself from the pool. Her guest had arrived.
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