Page 120 of Murder on Charity Lane

“Ugh.”

Miles poked his head out from his bedroom. “I like the sweet kind.”

“Typical,” Riley grumbled, as she watched the courtyard through the window.

Ocean leaned against the kitchen counter. “What are you doing?”

“I’m wondering why your oven seems to be working,” Mrs. B said, a note of triumph in her voice. “Even though you keep claiming you need to use mine.”

“It’s finicky,” she lied, exactly like she’d been lying about it being busted so she could cook meals for Mrs. B at her house while pretending Mrs. B was doing her a favor. “But I didn’t mean you, I meant Riley.”

“She’s hoping for a Pax sighting!” Miles mimicked his sister’s voice. “‘Look at those arms…’”

“No, I’m not, dummy,” Riley said, still at the window. “I’m spying on CJ.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s guilty and dating my mother.”

“Don’t be silly.” Mrs. B pursed her lips. “She’s a lovely young woman going through a terrible rough patch.”

“Also, I don’t think we’re dating anymore,” Ocean said.

Riley snorted. “As if you’d know.”

“I mean, we haven’t gone out since the arrest.”

“’Cause you haven’t asked her. She talks to her birds.”

Ocean blinked at her daughter. “What? Am I supposed to—what?”

“I was outside her window and I heard her chatting away. Mouse this, Mona that. I couldn’t make out the words, but I bet she was confessing.”

“To her birds?” Miles said.

“Okay, first,” Ocean told Riley, “stop hiding outside people’s windows. How did you even think of that?”

“Gee, I don’t know. It’s not like I was raised by you and Mrs. B.”

Shame warmed Ocean’s chest and Mrs. B said, “Oh, a hit! A palpable hit!”

“Not helping, Golda.”

“It’s like being raised by wolves,” Miles helpfully explained. “Except with less teeth and more nosing around.”

“And second,” Ocean said, pretending that the previous ten seconds hadn’t happened, “why do you think she was confessing?”

“Just a feeling.” Riley bit into a chocolate. “Her tone of voice, I guess.”

Ocean didn’t know what to believe. “Well, please, please, as a favor to me, stop lurking in bushes.”

“At the very least,” Mrs. B advised Riley, “make sure you have a lie prepared. Like you were looking for the fuse box.”

“You two deserve each other,” Ocean groaned.

Mrs. B beamed. “We do! We all deserve each other! Now! Who’s ready for kugel?”

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