Wedding Day Murder by Leslie Meier

can’t stand it.”
    â€œYou know what I keep wondering?” asked Lucy, remembering Ron’s performance at the harbor the day before. “Has Sidra ever told you why she wants to marry Ron?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Somehow, he doesn’t seem like her type, if you know what I mean.”
    Sue threw up her hands. “That’s what Sid keeps saying. Over and over. But I can’t go there. Sidra says she wants to marry Ron. She’s a big girl now and she can make up her own mind. I’m not going to try to come between her and the man she’s chosen. I won’t do that. I love her too much to risk losing her.”
    Since Sue had brought up the subject, Lucy thought she could safely inquire about Sid.
    â€œHow is Sid?” She lowered her voice. “Has he noticed that his gun is missing?”
    â€œIf he has, he hasn’t said anything.” Sue looked away, then changed the subject. “I really wanted to have the wedding in your gazebo, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. They got the Hadwen House.”
    â€œI understand. You’re dealing with forces beyond your control.” Lucy paused, then decided two could play this game. If Sue could change the subject, she could change it back. “It must be weird, having this big secret between you and Sid. He buys a gun and doesn’t tell you; you find it and hide it and don’t tell him. Isn’t it kind of strange?”
    Sue’s face was set. “It just seems the best way of handling things right now.”
    Lucy didn’t like the sound of this. “You’re not afraid of him, are you?” she asked.
    Sue’s hand jumped and she knocked over her coffee.
    â€œGee, Lucy. What kind of question is that? Now look what you’ve made me do!”
    Lucy started pulling napkins out of the dispenser and mopping up the spilled liquid.
    â€œIt’s just a little spill; we can clean it up.” Lucy decided she’d gone this far; she might as well go all the way. “I’m worried you might be in an unsafe situation.”
    â€œFrom Sid?” Sue’s voice rose, ending with a nervous little laugh. “Don’t be silly.”
    â€œI’m not being silly. I’m worried about you. You’re a nervous wreck, you’re whispering on the telephone, and then there’s the fact that your husband is building an arsenal.”
    Sue’s jaw was set. “I think you’ve misunderstood. Things are fine between me and Sid. The only thing I’m worried about is this wedding.”
    â€œSpeak of the devil,” said Lucy. “Ron’s just come in.” She watched as he made his way past the crowd at the counter and sat down at the first empty table.
    Ron had barely settled himself when Lucy’s attention was caught by two very muscular young men who had taken the table adjacent to Ron’s. They were dressed in casual clothes, but something about their attitude wasn’t casual at all. They seemed to be working in tandem: one was watching Ron and the other was scanning the room.
    â€œLook at those two guys,” Lucy whispered to Sue. “Who do you think they are?”
    Sue shrugged. “Tourists?”
    â€œLook again. They’re definitely interested in Ron.”
    They watched as Andy Dorfman entered the coffee shop and headed for Ron’s table, where he sat down. The two men at the next table suddenly appeared to be very interested in their menus. Lucy jumped to a conclusion. “I bet they’re bodyguards.”
    Sue stared at her. “Now it’s my turn to get worried,” she said. “First you decide I’m in danger from my husband of almost thirty years, and now you think two perfectly ordinary young men are bodyguards or something. You’ve got some imagination there.”
    â€œI wish it was my imagination,” said Lucy. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’d