Murder Most Finicky by Liz Mugavero

conversation with Tyler. She’d catch her later.

Chapter 12
    Lucy Keyes arrived minutes later, wearing another killer suit and leopard print heels. Stan had wondered if Kyle would show up right behind her, but he did not. Maybe he’d just been asking her where the bathroom was yesterday, and Stan had interpreted it as a cozy conversation. Lucy led them to a corner of the lobby near a fake fireplace where platters of sandwiches and bowls of salads had been set out.
    â€œSheldon and I are pleased to let you know that you’ll be staying here for the weekend to plan for your event,” she announced, flashing a professional smile at each of them in turn. “You’ll remain in your current suites. As for kitchen space, we have a kitchen behind our largest function room that we use for weddings and the like. Since we don’t have any functions this weekend, the kitchen is yours. I know you were all looking for community cooking time. We’ve put out a light lunch for you as you get settled today, and of course my staff is here to serve you anytime. Please see me with any problems.” She clasped her hands and looked at Sheldon. “Anything else?”
    Sheldon joined her. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. “What a lovely lady. Thank you for your flexibility and accommodating nature. We are indebted to you.”
    Lucy smiled and extracted her hand. “Anytime. Enjoy, folks.” And she clicked away down the hall.
    â€œWhat a gem.” Sheldon turned to the group. “We are very fortunate, aren’t we?”
    No one seemed to feel fortunate at the moment. But that didn’t deter Sheldon.
    â€œI want us to spend tonight together. Make some food. Laugh. Cry. Get our game plan in place for our big day. I need everyone to get together and be a team . We’re behind schedule, but I realize yesterday was . . . difficult for all of us. I thank you all for sticking it out.” He looked at each of them in turn. “Joaquin is going to go out and gather some items for us that will make our evening enjoyable.”
    Joaquin flashed them a thumbs-up. Today he wore jeans that were way too tight for his round frame, a tweed jacket that gave him a “hip professor” look, and loafers with no socks. He’d gelled his bright red hair into straight-up spikes. “What shall we have? Any cooking volunteers?”
    â€œItalian,” Maria said immediately. “I want to make my mother’s marinara sauce. She always used to make it when we were sad.” She dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve. “And I want garlic and cheese sausage.”
    Stan wrinkled her nose involuntarily. Years of meat-free eating made even the sound of sausage sickening. “I can make us a big salad. With grilled shrimp and avocado.”
    â€œAnd I would like to make something special for dessert in Pierre’s honor,” Joaquin announced. “I’ll let that be a surprise and take full responsibility. What would we like to drink?”
    â€œRed wine with Mama’s marinara!” Maria thumped a fist onto the bar. “Anything else would make her roll in her grave. And it has to be a hearty red wine, too. None of that boring old merlot business. Get me Shiraz!”
    Joaquin noted that in his phone. “Got it. What else, team?”
    He wrote down a few other requests and bowed. “I will go to the farmers’ market posthaste! Therese?” He waited expectantly for her to put her phone down and join him. “Therese will accompany me,” he announced. “Text me if you think of anything else. My number is in your packets we handed out yesterday.” He took Therese’s arm and they headed out the door.
    â€œThat’s all I wanted to say right now,” Sheldon said. He glanced at his watch. “Please, take the afternoon off. Recharge. Get your heads back together. Let’s begin our festivities at eight, shall