Weekend Warriors by Fern Michaels Page B

any scraps or leftovers I can feed Murphy?”
    “I thought you said he ate what you ate. We have turkey, ham and I think there’s some roast beef. Fix him a plate and then you can set the table while I make sandwiches and coffee.”
    “Myra, do you mind if I ask you something?”
    “No, dear, ask me anything you like.”
    “Do you think we’ll get caught? Do you think there’s anyone out there smart enough to figure out what we’re doing?”
    Myra looked down at the ham platter she was holding. “I look at it this way, Kathryn. No one’s luck holds forever. I’m sure at least one of us will make a mistake along the way. Will it be a serious mistake we can correct or will it be so serious we get caught? I don’t know the answer to that. I’m sure there are many smart people out there who, if they had all the facts, would put two and two together. If we’re careful, if we stick to our plan, I think we can have a good run. Charles and I have had two years to put all this together. There are many safeguards in place. I don’t want you to worry about a thing. Charles and I will do the worrying. Besides, that’s what you’re supposed to do when you get old. Please don’t deprive us of this pleasure.”
    “Okay, Myra.”
    “What’s wrong with your dog, Kathryn?” Myra asked as the fur on the huge dog’s head and back stood on end. He growled, a low menacing sound.
    Kathryn whirled around. “Someone’s coming. What should I do?”
    Myra ran to the kitchen window. “It’s Jack Emery. He’s Nikki’s beau. Boyfriend, significant other, or whatever you call them these days. Quick, Kathryn, take Murphy and go up the kitchen stairs. Don’t let him bark. I’ll get rid of Jack. Hurry.” She put her hands to her head as though that would help her to think as she grappled with the knowledge that Jack Emery was going to be knocking on her door any second.
    She looked down at the plate on the floor and quickly set it in the sink. She jerked at the refrigerator door handle and jammed the ham platter onto the shelf just as the kitchen doorbell rang.
    He was so good-looking, Myra wished she was thirty years younger. “My goodness, Jack, what are you doing out here at this time of day? Nikki isn’t here. Her car wouldn’t start so Charles drove her into town. They’re coming to tow it any minute now. Please, please, don’t let Nikki or Charles come out here. Please.
    “I called her apartment but there was no answer. She’s not in the office, either.” His tone was so cold, Myra frowned.
    “Maybe she went shopping. I am not her keeper, Jack.” Now he’s going to ask about the gate, the cars and Kathryn’s truck. “Is something wrong?”
    Of course there was something wrong. She steeled herself for the words she knew were coming.
    “You caught me just as I was leaving. I’m playing bridge this afternoon. If I hear from Nikki, I’ll tell her you drove all the way out here to see her. You should have called and I could have saved you the trip, Jack.”
    “Marie Lewellen split. She’s gone and she took her family with her. That means you lose the bail money you posted.”
    Myra allowed a shocked look to spread across her face as she asked in a horrified voice, “All of it? The whole million dollars! I refuse to believe that. Are you saying she . . . moved? She wouldn’t do that. Where could she possibly go? Maybe the family went on an outing. Disney World is a possibility. Distraction, one last family vacation before the trial, that kind of thing.” That sounded real good, Myra. Keep your wits about you.
    “She split, all right. I’m sure she had some help. No, no one saw anything. She must have left during the heart of the storm. No one was out and about. This is Nik’s fault. You never should have posted her bail, Myra. I know Nik talked you into it. This trial was nothing but a farce using the taxpayer’s money. It’s cut and dried. We could have saved a lot of money by her pleading guilty and