Murder in the Middle: A Susan Wiles Schoolhouse Mystery (19 page)

Chapter 56

“Okay, Lynette. Tell Jason to put Annalise in her highchair. Dinner is ready.”

“Lucky for you, I cooked tonight,” said Mike.

“Jason, you’re closer. Can you hit him for me?” said Susan. She helped Mike bring the lasagna and garlic bread to the table. “I made some noodles with butter for Annalise.”

“Noodles with butter? That girl loves her garlic bread,” said Lynette.

“I already know she gets her appetite from her mom,” said Susan. “Still, tomato sauce is a bit rough for a toddler’s tummy.”

Mike interrupted. “So did Sophie Bartolo end up confessing?”

“She did. Tried to plea bargain, but we have too much against her. We’re going for two counts of first degree murder.”

“I’m sure the Bartolos are relieved that she’s finally been caught,” said Susan. Her cell phone vibrated on the coffee table. “Excuse me. It’s Audrey. I’m going to see her this weekend.”

Susan took the phone into the kitchen. “Audrey, I’m so glad you called back. I’ll see you this weekend. What? Why? No, Audrey. Please.” Susan put the phone in her pocket.

“Mom, are you okay in there?” said Lynette.
 

Susan sat back down at the table.

“What happened? Was it Audrey?” said Mike.

“That was odd. She sounded so strange. Audrey said not to come to Florida. Said it was too dangerous. Then she ended the call.”

“Dangerous?” said Mike. “Is she worried about the plane getting hijacked or something?”

“Don’t tease her, Dad. You know she’s disappointed.”

Annalise dumped the entire bowl of pasta on herself and squealed.

“Annalise, bad girl,” said Lynette. “Food is for eating.” She got a napkin and picked up the spaghetti from the floor.

“We left the diaper bag in the car,” said Jason. “It has a change of clothes. I’ll get it.”

“No, I will. I need a little fresh air. Give me your keys,” said Susan.

The air was bitter and Susan wished she’d thrown on a jacket. Lynette’s car was parked at the end of the driveway. Susan was startled by a sound. When she turned to look, she only saw darkness.
Must have been the wind.
She retrieved the diaper bag, but when she went to lock the car back up, she was grabbed by a large figure in a black coat. Her heart stopped. A set of ebony eyes were the only features visible. The rest of the head was wrapped tightly in a wool scarf. She started to scream, but a gloved hand clenched her mouth shut.

“Don’t scream,” said the figure. “Get in the car.”

Susan crawled into the back seat with this interloper. Her legs were shaking and sweat soaked her brow. She wriggled to try to free herself but couldn’t.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m not going to hurt you.” The gloved hand moved away from her mouth and Susan caught her breath.

“Who are you and what do you want?”

“I’m not here to hurt you. Susan, I’m your brother.”

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diane Weiner is a veteran public school teacher and mother of four children. She has enjoyed reading for as long as she can remember. She has fond memories of reading Nancy Drew and Mary Higgins Clark on snowy weekend afternoons in upstate New York and yearned to write books that would bring that kind of enjoyment to her readers. Being an animal lover, she is a vegetarian and shares her home with two adorable cats and a little white dog. In her free time, she enjoys running, attending community theater productions, and spending time with her family (especially going to the mall with her teenage daughter and getting Dairy Queen afterwards).
Murder in the Middle
is the third book in her Susan Wiles School House Mystery series and she has plans for many more.

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