Mahjonged (An Alex Harris Mystery) by Elaine Macko

nothing.” I reached across the table and grabbed a few slices of bacon and added them to a plate with the pancakes. “I just don’t understand how Penelope could have been killed. No one knew her.”
    “Except Judith.”
    My mom and I locked eyes across the table before I said, “No, it can’t be. Not Millie’s mother.”
    “She’s the only one who knew Penelope and…”
    “And what, Mom?” I asked, mug clasped tightly in my hands, waiting for my mother to say the words I didn’t want to hear.
    “And maybe Judith was jealous of Penelope. Of her money, of her and the doctor.”
    I laughed. “Judith makes a decent living and I know there was insurance money and Social Security for Millie. They did fine on that front. And what about the doctor? He’s married. He wasn’t going out with Penelope.”
    “Are we sure about that?” Mom got up and brought the kettle back to the table and refilled my mug.
    “Well, Judith said he was married and he didn’t seem interested in…” I let the words trail.
    “Exactly. Judith said.”
    I leaned forward and put the mug on the table and then put my head in my hands. “Geesh. It can’t be.” I looked up. “Mom?”
    “I don’t want to believe it either. It was a crime of passion, obviously, as the killer used your cake knife…”
    “Mom! What are you saying? You actually think Judith killed Penelope?” I got up and began to pace. I stopped my pacing at the kitchen window looking out at my dad piling branches in his wheelbarrow while Henry grabbed a rake and attacked a maple tree. I went back to the table and sat down, primly folding my hands in my lap.
    “No. You’re wrong. We’re wrong. Judith did not kill anyone. Right? Mom? Right?”
    My mother sighed and pushed a piece of her gray hair out of her eyes. “All I’m saying is it was a crime of passion. Judith may have just been overwhelmed.”
    “And what? Grabbed a knife and plunged it into someone’s back? Why? Why then? What could have happened on Friday night to make Judith turn on her friend? It just doesn’t make sense.”
    My mother wrapped her sweater tighter around her and peeked into her coffee cup. Finding it empty she got up and poured another. “It doesn’t make any sense,” my mother admitted. “But neither does anything else. So where does it leave us?”
    I was saved from having to make up an answer by my ringing cell phone. I pulled it out of my purse and flipped it open. “John? Is that you? I can hardly hear you,” I shouted into the phone. “Yes, that’s better. What? Is everyone all right? Are you sure? Oh. Okay. It’s no problem. I’ll just stay over at my parents’ until you come home. Why? Well, you know, the house creeks at night.” I gave a short laugh and rolled my eyes at my mom. I really hated lying to him. “I’ll be fine. I guess I’ll see you when I see you. Okay, I will. Love you too. Bye.”
    “Is everything okay?” Mom asked.
    “John’s brother drove the truck over a rock hidden under a mound of snow and broke something underneath. I guess it must be an important piece of the truck because they can’t drive it and they have to wait for a part to be ordered. And they’re in Maine. Out in the middle of nowhere.”
    “Snow? Already?”
    “Mom. They’re in Maine.”
    My mother shook her head and then eyed me suspiciously. “Why didn’t you tell him about the murder?”
    “Because he’s far away and he would worry and there’s nothing he can do. He wants me to call the station and tell them he’ll be gone and I’m going to make sure they don’t let him know. And besides,” I said, as I got up and grabbed my iPad from the counter where I left it yesterday, “I don’t want him to know what I’m up to.”
    “And what exactly are you up to?” Mom asked with growing worry.
    “I’m not sure.” I copied the address onto a slip of paper and put the iPad back on the counter.
    “You really like that thing,” Mom said referring to the iPad.
    I