A Lesson in Love and Murder Read Online Free Page B

said. Something in his face had changed at the mention of Skip’s name, and he chewed the side of his lip thoughtfully.
    Jem wrung her hands. She had practiced. Even in front of a mirror. And now, sitting in front of him, the words caught in her throat. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and then exhaled. “Ray, I… ”
    Ray looked up at her tone. “What’s wrong?” He leaned forward in his chair.
    â€œI lost my job.”
    â€œDon’t scare me like that. I thought it was something serious. Really, Jemima, you’re shaking like a rabbit.”
    â€œWe need the money, Ray.”
    He waved his hand. “Do you know how many copies of the Hog we’ve sold in the past few weeks, my love?” *
    â€œThere won’t always be these big stories! Besides, I don’t want big stories if they’re going to keep you busy. Even on Saturday afternoons.”
    â€œI’m just surprised Spenser’s kept you as long as they did. You know their policy on married women working. You only had that job dishonestly anyway.” He grinned at her. “We’re not on the street yet.”
    â€œWe have no telephone, Ray. Some months no electricity if we can’t pay the bill. Your sister needs more and more money recently.”
    â€œYou want me to stop supporting Viola and Luca? Leave them to starve on the street?”
    â€œOf course not! But I need you to help me figure out what to do. I’ve spent the whole evening thinking, and all I’ve come up with is charging more for cases and taking more cases on.”
    Ray shrugged and said lightly, “Fine. But keep it to jewelry and pocket watches. You know I hate any of the dangerous cases.”
    Jem sipped her tea. It didn’t fortify her the way she thought it would. “But we can’t live on your salary, Ray.” †
    Ray’s eyes flashed. “Jem, we’ll figure something out. Maybe by the time things become truly desperate, Viola will have come to her senses and moved back here, and I won’t need to send money over to America.”
    â€œWhere will she live? With us?”
    â€œWhat would be so horrible about that? You’d not take my sister and her little boy in?”
    â€œNo… no… Of course. A few weeks, perhaps, if there were no other options. Oh, it w-would… it might be nice to have them… if they had nowhere to go and… Of course I would!”
    Ray studied her a moment in their silence, and his face softened. “You’re looking pale. You’ve obviously spent too long thinking about this. Don’t worry, Jem. The longer the anarchist groups stay in Toronto, the bigger Hog readership will grow.” He smiled. “And of course my lady detectives have had something to do with the growing readership.” He ran a hand over his face and smiled. “The two of us will be fine. Always. I promise.”
    â€œWhat about the three of us?” Her eyes skipped to all four corners of the sitting room, looking anywhere but directly at him. She coughed. “You and I can scrape by, but I am telling you, we’ll have our own family soon. I know you have to keep sending money to Viola. It’s just a… ” She massaged her temples.
    If Ray’s dark complexion could pale, it did so at that moment. “Are you sure?”
    â€œI’ve shocked you,” Jem said. “Most people find this news happy.” She tried on a brighter voice for size. It didn’t fit. “I haven’t been feeling quite myself and was dizzy on the trolley today. Actually, a bit more than dizzy. I fainted. No, no… ” She pasted on a false smile. “The lovely old lady I toppled on was so attentive and kind. So I stopped in at the doctor, and he confirmed what I had suspected.”
    Ray froze in his chair. “I’ll just find a better job.”
    â€œYou love your job.”
    â€œI love you more than a job,