The Unkindest Cut - By Honor Hartman Page 0,40

again,’’ Sophie said. ‘‘We’re waiting.’’

‘‘Um, sorry,’’ I said, tuning back in to the game. I looked at the board. ‘‘What led?’’

‘‘I led the king of spades,’’ Sophie answered. Another spade and a club lay on the table with her king.

‘‘Sorry.’’ I pulled my one remaining spade, the four, and dropped it on the table.

Sophie collected the trick and put it in front of her, along with the two others she had taken. She examined her hand, then the board.

‘‘I’m up,’’ she said, laying her hand on the board.

Bob, Bart, and I examined the cards, and we all agreed with her.

‘‘Making seven,’’ Sophie said, grinning.

‘‘But only bidding four,’’ Bart reminded her.

‘‘Too bad, so sad,’’ Bob said in a singsong voice. ‘‘You stopped the auction too soon.’’ He wrinkled his nose at Bart.

Bob and I had both had very weak hands, and the one finesse Sophie had needed worked. Even the fact that I hadn’t been paying much attention to the game hadn’t really mattered.

Bob set the cards in front of Sophie, and she cut them. As he picked them up to deal, he said, ‘‘It’s our turn this time, Emma. Let’s get a slam hand, too.’’

‘‘And bid it,’’ Bart reminded him with a grin.

When Bob had finished, I picked up my cards and assembled the hand. This time I had eleven high card points, and if my partner could open, we ought to have game somewhere, or close to it.

Bob looked at his cards and, with a sigh, passed.

Bart opened a heart.

I passed, and Sophie responded with two hearts. Bob passed again, and so did Bart.

‘‘Two hearts,’’ Sophie said, recording the bid on the scorepad.

I tried to pay more attention this time, but I couldn’t keep my mind away from the murder. What Bob and Bart had told us was important, and Deputy Ainsworth ought to hear it. I figured it was better to mention it to the deputy first, rather than try to explain to Bob and Bart why they should tell the deputy their story, especially since they still didn’t know that Avery Trowbridge was dead.

‘‘Emma, it’s your lead.’’

This time it was my partner who recalled my attention to the game. ‘‘Sorry,’’ I said with a slight start. I scanned the cards in my hand and pulled the king of spades.

When the ace failed to appear, I led another spade, and my partner took the trick with the ace.

From that point I resolved to keep my mind on the game. When I had the opportunity to speak to Deputy Ainsworth again, I would inform him that Bob and Bart had something important to tell him. Besides, I needed the distraction that playing bridge always offered me. There would be time enough later to dwell on the murder.

By lunchtime we had played nine rubbers of bridge. We were all hungry by that point and ready to get up and stretch our legs. Sophie quickly added up the scores, and, not surprisingly, she and Bart won by a hefty margin. They had bid, and made, two small slams, and Bob and I never could catch up to them.

To my relief I had been able to concentrate on the game, and I kept the grim mental pictures of the murder scene at bay the whole time. I was determined to clear my mind for at least a while longer of what I had seen. I knew that if I let myself dwell on it, I wouldn’t be able to eat a thing. Not that it wouldn’t do me good to miss a few hundred calories, but I was beginning to feel a bit light-headed.

Bob and Bart excused themselves, and Sophie and I headed to the dining room.

‘‘Are you going to tell Deputy Ainsworth what Bob and Bart told us?’’ Sophie asked me.

‘‘I think I have to, don’t you?’’ We paused at the entrance to the dining room and waited for someone to seat us. While we stood there, I spotted Marylou at a table with Paula.

I nudged Sophie. ‘‘There’s Marylou over there, with Paula.’’

Sophie groaned inelegantly. ‘‘Do we have to sit with them? I’m not sure I can deal with Paula right now.’’

Marylou caught sight of us and waved.

‘‘We don’t have any choice now,’’ I said, smiling and waving back. Trailed by a waitress with menus, we made our way over to their table and sat down. I was next to Paula, and Sophie was next to Marylou. The waitress said she would be back soon to take our order.

Marylou and Paula