Valentine Murder by Leslie Meier Page B

and I’m waiting for some info from the lottery commission. It’s coming along. It would be a lot easier if I knew a compulsive gambler.” She paused and studied the dirty lunch dishes that were still on the kitchen table. “What have you heard about the murder?”
    â€œNot much. They’re keeping a particularly tight lid on this one.”
    â€œAnything about the funeral arrangements?”
    â€œHer family’s made arrangements to have her cremated. There’ll be a memorial service at a later date.”
    â€œThat’s about what I expected.”
    â€œIs the library board going to do anything?”
    â€œI don’t think so,” said Lucy. “What I hear is that the board members weren’t happy with Bitsy and at least some of them wanted to fire her.”
    â€œBitsy?” Ted was astonished.
    â€œI was surprised, too. I thought everybody loved her.” Lucy heard the school bus, down at the bottom of the hill. “I’ve got to go—the kids are home. But you know, I heard something funny today, and it might be a motive for whoever killed her. It seems that Bitsy liked to gossip about the books people took out of the library. You know, like if you took out a book about alcoholism she would start telling other people.”
    â€œSo what?”
    â€œWell, from what I heard, she would start with the fact that you borrowed the book but pretty soon you would be a full-fledged alcoholic.”
    â€œOh,” said Ted, grasping the possibilities. “That would be a very dangerous thing to do in a town like this.”
    â€œI know,” agreed Lucy as the kitchen door flew open and the kids blew in. “ ’Bye.”
    She hung up the receiver and faced her offspring, a nononsense expression on her face.
    â€œBoots on the newspaper under the radiator, please. Coats on hooks. Bookbags, well, anywhere except the kitchen floor. Got it?”
    â€œAye, aye!” said Toby, giving her a mock salute.
    â€œUnnnh!” grunted Sara, tugging at her boots without bothering to untie them.
    â€œYou’d think we were idiots,” grumbled Elizabeth. “It isn’t as if we didn’t know to hang up our coats.”
    Lucy decided to let that one go and started putting the lunch dishes in the dishwasher. The kitchen gradually emptied as the older kids finished taking off their snow gear, and Zoe appeared in the doorway.
    â€œToby made me stop playing computer,” she complained.
    â€œWell, you’ve been playing for hours. It’s time to give somebody else a turn. Why not help me make some fruity Jell-O for dessert?”
    After they had finished filling a mold with lemon-flavored gelatine studded with orange pieces, Lucy decided to see if one of the kids would help her access the lottery commission on the computer.
    When she went into the family room, she found Toby, Elizabeth, and Sara huddled together over the keyboard. For once, they weren’t fighting—whatever they were looking at was equally fascinating to all three. Lucy stood behind them and peered over their shoulders, but all she saw was line after line of text.
    â€œType in: I’m 18, I have long blond hair, and I have a 36-inch bust,” prompted Elizabeth.
    â€œBetter make it 39 inches,” said Toby, prompting peals of giggles from the girls.
    Wow! appeared on the screen. I’d reelly like to meet you.
    â€œStop it!” exclaimed Lucy. “He’s probably some pervert.”
    â€œMom, he’s just some hopeless computer nerd in Chicago or somewhere,” said Elizabeth with a toss of her short, black bangs.
    â€œIt’s fun to get him going.”
    â€œHe thinks we’re a gorgeous blonde,” said Sara, giggling.
    â€œWell what if he finds out our address or something? He might even come here—what about that?”
    â€œThe only address he knows us by is B.Boobs.” Toby was laughing.
    â€œAre you