Read Online Murder in the Air by Marilyn Levinson - Free Book Online Page B

about Timmy John Desmond, when her cell phone rang.
    “Hello, Lydia. Sol Molina, here. I called you at home, then thought I’d try your cell phone. What’s up?”
    “Hi, Sol.” Flustered because he’d saved her cell phone number, Lydia glanced at Evelyn, who waved and left the room. She appreciated her hostess’s tact, considering what she had to tell him.
    “A Twin Lakes friend and neighbor died yesterday and was buried today. His name is Daniel Korman. His daughter thinks he was murdered.”
    “Really? What makes her think that?”
    “Polly said Daniel was receiving strange phone calls, and someone was tailing him.”
    Sol didn’t respond. Lydia knew he was thinking. Finally, he asked. “What do you make of it, Lydia? How old was the guy? Do you take her for an hysterical daughter?”
    “Daniel had congestive heart failure, but he was in good health. His fiancée threw him a party Saturday night to celebrate his eighty-fifth birthday. And no, his daughter isn’t the hysterical type.” She paused. “Daniel was worried about something. He came to talk to me last week.”
    “Lydia, Lydia, how do you get embroiled in these situations?” She heard affection, exasperation, and resignation in his voice.
    “It’s not something I pursue,” she said with some heat. “Daniel needed to air a moral dilemma and used me as a sounding board. He was vague about the details, so I was less than helpful.”
    Sol sighed. “What are you doing for dinner?”
    “I don’t know. I haven’t given it much thought.”
    “How’s about we go out for a bite and you can tell me all about it. That is, if you don’t mind meeting me. I’ll be tied up until close to seven.”
    “That’s fine. Where shall I meet you?”
    He gave her the name of a Greek restaurant in the next town and directions to get there. “Let’s aim for seven o’clock. I’ll call you on your cell if I’m running late.”
    They said good-bye, and Lydia returned her attention to checking through Daniel’s files. There was only one file of interest. It yielded little information other than a log of phone calls made to Ron Morganstern and Mick Diminio.
    A glimpse at her watch told her it was after four. She had less than three hours. She asked Evelyn for her Twin Lakes directory and looked up Ron Morganstern’s address. “Ron lives on Lake Montaukett,” she murmured.
    “I don’t think it’s wise to pay him a visit,” Evelyn said. “Let your boyfriend interview him.”
    “Detective Molina is not my boyfriend. We’re friends, nothing more.”
    “Friends who go out for dinner.”
    “On occasion,” Lydia conceded.
    Evelyn gripped her upper arm with surprising strength. “Lydia, don’t act rashly! If Ron killed Daniel, why wouldn’t he do the same to you?”
    “I promise to be careful. I merely intend to ask a few questions about the time when they were kids.”
    Evelyn grimaced. “If he’s guilty, he’ll know what you’re after. But I can’t stop you, can I?” She embraced Lydia in a fierce hug. “Be careful!” she admonished. “And tell me everything he says.”
    “I will,” Lydia promised.
    She parked in front of Ron’s house and rang the doorbell. Bella Morganstern opened the door. In the small hall, she and Lydia exchanged commiserations, about how sad it was to have attended Daniel’s funeral so soon after his birthday party. Bella cocked her head and asked, “Can I help you with something?”
    Lydia smiled. “I’d like to speak to Ron if he’s here.”
    “Ron!” Bella called out, and led Lydia into a small den cluttered with photos of children and grandchildren and small figurines of penguins. The birds were made of wood, glass, ceramic, and stone. Bella saw her eying them and smiled. “We collect them, Ron and I.”
    Bella left and Ron entered the room a few minutes later, rubbing his eyes. He wore khaki pants, a rumpled short-sleeved shirt, and slippers without socks. Lydia must have wakened him from a nap. But he