Page 88 of New Day at the Beach House

A few minutes later, they had their feet in the sand and were making progress toward their two-mile goal.

Kat kept her eyes ahead, watching all the other walkers out on the beach. “What are you baking today?”

“Nothing,” her mom answered. “Today I’m taking your aunt to the best new shopping destination I know of. A thrift shop called Classic Closet.”

Kat glanced at her mother to be sure she hadn’t been swapped with a clone. “You’re going to a thrift shop? What does Grandma have to say about that?”

“Nothing, because she doesn’t know, but I don’t care, either. I found great stuff there yesterday. Roxie took me. And today I’m taking Jules, after she gets back from her breakfast with Jesse.”

“Wow.” Kat couldn’t imagine her mother at such a place. Aunt Jules, yes. Her mom? Not in a million years. “Could I tag along?”

“You really want to come?”

“I do. Why not? It’ll be fun.”

Her mom nodded. “It will be.” Then she laughed. “So long as you don’t invite your grandmother.”

“You were right,” Margo said to Conrad. “I owe you an apology. The girls offered to help without me even asking.” She sighed. “I really must learn to have more faith in people.”

“You have faith in me, don’t you?” Conrad asked. He’d just picked her up and was driving them back to his house, although they were making a stop for breakfast first.

“I do. In fact, you’ve helped restore my faith in people.”

“But not completely.”

She chuckled. “I am a cynical old woman, Conrad. You can’t expect me to change overnight.”

“That would be asking a lot of anyone.” He pulled into the parking lot at Digger’s Diner and turned off the car.

They went inside and found a booth along the front wall. A server, a young woman named Patty, had menus for them before they were even fully seated. “Can I bring you both some coffee? Or would you like something else to drink?”

“Coffee would be fine,” Margo said. “I’d like a glass of water, too.”

“Same,” Conrad said. He leaned in toward Margo. “We have a big scene coming up today.”

“I know. I’ve been thinking about it.” They were killing someone today. A witness to their villain’s murderous ways.

“So have I,” Conrad said. “What are you thinking? Because I’m not sure I like what I’ve come up with.”

She sighed. “I’m in the same boat. I was thinking poison, but we did that already. I don’t like the idea of repeating the method. I think our girl is smarter than that.”

He nodded. “Yes, exactly. She’d do it in a way that would not only leave her blameless but maybe even cast suspicion on someone else.”

Margo sucked in a breath. “It’s got to look like a suicide.”

Conrad sat back. “That’s brilliant. That’s exactly what we’re going to do. Any ideas about how to make that happen? What kind of suicide?”

“Well, we’ve got a female witness. Women usually choose pills.”

Conrad thought a moment. “True. But isn’t that a little close to the poisoning we already did? Is it wise to kill two people off with such similar methods?”

The server came back with their coffees and waters on a tray, her gaze holding some concern, which led Margo to believe that she’d overheard part of their conversation. Patty put a cup of coffee and a glass of water in front of each of them.

Margo laughed. “I promise you we aren’t talking about doing anyone real in. We’re writing a book. A murder mystery. We’re just figuring out our next chapter.”

Patty grinned as she added a dish of creamers. “That’s a relief. I was a little worried for a second there. But that is very cool that you’re writing a book. I like a nice romance once in a while myself. But mysteries are very popular.”

Margo nodded. “They are, but we have to finish the book first.”

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