New Year's Eve Murder Read Free

on the couch. “It’s not the end of the world, Lucy. She can take a year off and work.”
    “At what? There are no good jobs around here.”
    “She could work in Boston.”
    “She’d be lucky to earn enough to cover her rent! She’d never be able to save.”
    Bill sighed. “I know giving the kids college educations is important to you, Lucy, but I don’t see what it did for us. I’m not convinced it really is a good investment—not at these prices.”
    Lucy had heard him say the same thing many times, and it always made her angry.
    “That’s a cop-out, and you know it. It’s our responsibility as parents to give our kids every opportunity we can.” She sighed. “I admit it doesn’t always work out. Toby hated college; it wasn’t for him. And that’s okay. But Elizabeth’s been doing so well. It makes me sick to think she’ll have to drop out.”
    Bill put his arm around her shoulder. “We’ll figure something out…or we won’t. There’s nothing we can do about it right now. Open your present.”
    Lucy’s eyes met his, and something inside her began to melt. She reached up and stroked his beard. “You’ve given me too much already.”
    “It’s all right, really,” said Bill, placing the little box in her hand. “Trust me.”
    “Okay.” Lucy prepared herself to accept another lavish gift, promising herself that she would quietly return it for a refund when she got back from New York. What could it be? A diamond pendant to match the earrings? A gold bangle? What had he gone and done? She set the box in her lap and pulled the ends of the red satin bow. She took a deep breath and lifted the top, then pushed the cotton batting aside.
    “Oh my goodness,” she said, discovering a bright red plastic watch wrapped in cellophane. “It’s got lobster hands.”
    “That’s because it’s a lobster watch,” said Bill. “They gave them out at the hardware store. Do you like it?”
    “Like it? I love it,” she said. “I think it makes quite a fashion statement.”
    “And it tells time,” said Bill, pulling her close.
    Lucy took a second look at the watch. “Was it really free?”
    “Absolutely. Positively. Completely.”
    “I’ll wear it the whole time I’m away,” said Lucy. “I’ll be counting the minutes until I get home.”
    “That’s the idea,” said Bill, nuzzling her neck.
    The wrapping paper underneath the tree crinkled and rustled as Libby rolled over. Instinctively, just as they had when they’d briefly shared their bedroom with the newest baby, they held their breaths, afraid she would wake up. They waited until she let out a big doggy sigh and her breathing became deep and regular, then they tiptoed out of the living room.
    As they joined Sara and Zoe in the family room, where they were watching a “A Christmas Story,” Lucy resolved to enjoy the few remaining hours of Christmas. She’d have plenty of time on the plane to break the news to Elizabeth and to try to come up with a solution. A ten-thousand-dollar solution.

Chapter Two
THE ONE BEAUTY AID YOU CAN’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT !
    “M om, we have to turn back. I forgot something.”
    Lucy and Elizabeth were driving through the prime-time darkness, approaching the on ramp to the interstate. They were running late because Elizabeth’s round of farewells had taken longer than expected. When she’d finally arrived home she decided the clothes she’d packed were all wrong for New York City. The result was a frantic rush to get organized at the last minute.
    “What did you forget?” demanded Lucy, slamming on the brakes and pulling to the side of the road. “Your asthma medicine? Your contacts?”
    “Water.”
    Lucy couldn’t believe her ears. “Water?”
    “Yeah. In the last issue of Jolie they said you should take it along whenever you fly. Flying is very dehydrating and you need to drink lots of water.” Elizabeth flipped down the visor and checked her reflection in the mirror. “Especially if you’re