Motherhood Is Murder

heating pad. As it turned out, Paula didn?t get her first menstrual cycle until almost a year later. I somehow weathered my first period without the medicine and attention, but simply went home and found Mom?s sanitary pads in the bathroom closet.

?That was different. We didn?t know what was going on then.?

?Well, you didn?t know what was going on yesterday. Hell, the guy could have poisoned you.?

?No. It really doesn?t make any sense. Intellectually, I knew that. Even if he is guilty of murdering his wife, he?s not going to poison an investigator at his place. That would be insane.?

?Well, he poisoned the midwife at his place basically in front of you. That sounds pretty crazy or stupid to me,? Paula said.

?I don?t know. What bothers me is that Margaret sort of set me up to believe it was Alan all along, and now I?m not sure if she really thinks that or if I was duped.?

Paula sipped her tea. ?What?s your theory??

I sighed. ?I don?t have one.?

Paula rubbed her belly thoughtfully and made a little hmmm sound. ?If Margaret or Alan weren?t there yesterday, then there?s no way they could have poisoned Celia, right??

?Well, I don?t really know anything about what she might have been given. How long had she been there before I arrived? I mean, could she have been given something before getting to Bruce?s place? How long does it take for a poison to work or whatever before someone starts to feel the effects??

Paula shrugged. ?What kind of poison was it??

?We won?t know until the medical examiner releases the toxicology report.?

?When?s that??

I pressed my hands against my tea mug to warm them. ?At least a week, I think.? After a moment, I said, ?How was Paris??

Paula folded her hands under her pregnant belly. ?Very French. It was wonderful, and at the same time that I was sad to leave, I?m ecstatic to be home.?

My phone rang.

?Probably my mom calling from Mexico.? I grabbed the receiver.

?Kate, it?s Bruce. I?m so glad you?re all right.?

I almost dropped the phone.

Paula brought her feet off the table and sat up. ?Who is it??

?Bruce,? I mouthed, sitting next to her and holding the phone out a bit.

She leaned forward to eavesdrop.

?What is the purpose of your call, please?? I asked.

?Oh . . . um . . . can we meet??

Before I could scream ?No!? Paula grabbed my knee. I shook my head at her. She nodded emphatically. I put the phone on mute.

?Are you crazy? I?m not meeting him!? I said.

?Tell him to meet you at the cafe down the street. I?ll go with you.?

I shook my head. ?I promised Jim I wouldn?t investigate??

Paula waved me off. ?Don?t tell him.?

?I can?t lie to him.?

?I didn?t say lie. I said don?t tell him.?

?Do you do that with David?? I asked.

?Pfft. All the time.?

?I can?t,? I said. ?What if??

?Stop it! You?re meant for this line of work. Nothing will happen. It?s a public place and I?ll be right there.?

?How are you supposed to protect me?? I asked, indicating her belly.

?Ah, together we?ll be okay.?

?Yeah, the postpartum detective and her prenatal side-kick.?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Redirected

To Do:

1. ?

2. Catch up on e-mails.

3. . Find maid/nanny.

4. Laurie swim classes??Yes?sign up.