Page 47 of Kiss Marry Kill

“Really?”

I nodded. “Not once. Do you remember the name of the reporter?”

She wrinkled her brow. “Janet Rose. She’s new in town. Just a young thing, but she’s a real firecracker. Her articles always get tongues wagging.”

I’ll bet.

“She made that whole thing up. That’s highly unethical of her to put words in my mouth.” Irritation rippled through me. “There’s more than enough gossip in this town without her manufacturing it.”

Frowning, Mrs. Henrietta said, “Perhaps you should talk to her. Maybe she made an honest mistake.”

“How do you accidentally think someone said something to you?”

“I’m sure I don’t know.” She gave a nervous laugh. “But that sure was awful what happened to poor Archie Brady, wasn’t it?”

I shuddered. “Yes. It was gruesome.” I made a mental note to try and track down that reporter. She had no right to make up stories about me. Not to mention that headline was insensitive as hell. I had enough trouble doing damage control for the things Iactuallysaid.

She widened her eyes. “Just think, one of those other people at the wedding must have been the murderer. You might have sat next to them.”

I sighed. “I’d rather not think about that.”

“No?”

“Not really. It’s too grim.”

“I see.” She perked up. “I heard Kobe Garrett made a fool of himself.”

Grimacing, I said, “He got drunk and put his foot in it for sure.”

“Do you think he did it? Do you think he’s the murderer?”

“Er…” It occurred to me I was being drawn into a gossip session. I cleared my throat. “How about you sit on the examination table, and I’ll take a look at you? Has the cough gone away?”

She looked disappointed that the conversation had changed. “Not completely.” She climbed up on the table, panting from the exertion.

“Your breathing seems labored.”

“Yeah. I’ve been wheezing a lot.”

“Have you?”

“Yes. And that tickle in my chest is still there.”

I frowned. “I’d have thought the antibiotics would’ve taken care of that infection by now.”

She avoided my gaze, clasping her hands in her lap. “I’m sure I’m on the mend.”

“Would you please unbutton the top few buttons of your blouse?” I asked. “I’d like to listen to your lungs.”

She obliged, and I placed the stethoscope against her chest. I listened carefully for a few moments, noticing her heart rate seemed faster than normal. I also heard some congestion in her lungs. Had she not finished the antibiotics as instructed? Sometimes people started feeling better, and so they stopped taking the medicine. It was important to finish the entire dose.

“Hmmm.” I straightened. “Your heart rate is quick.”

“Well, I’m nervous.” She laughed.

I murmured, “Might be a symptom ofatrial tachycardia.”

She widened her eyes. “Oh God.”