“Please,” begged Donna, “tell me what to do!”
“She’s told you,” Maggie said. “She said, think about the girls. You’ve got to make the decisions now, Donna. And live with the results.”
Donna was bent over again, face in her hands.
Holly paused by the entry arch and said gently, “I can tell you one thing. You’re on the other side of the great divide now. You’ve met killing face to face. So whatever else you decide, better put a soft rug next to your bed. You’re going to fall out of it with nightmares, lady.”
Donna’s head, still bowed, gave a tiny nod. Holly’s gaze lingered a moment, then her eyes met Maggie’s in sorrow. Tentatively, Maggie raised her fingers in a V.
Holly hesitated, then returned the salute. “Peace,” she said, and went back out into the night.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
P.M. Carlson taught psychology and statistics at Cornell University before deciding that mystery writing was more fun. She has published twelve mystery novels and over a dozen short stories. Her novels have been nominated for an Edgar Award, a Macavity Award, and twice for Anthony Awards. Two short stories were finalists for Agatha Awards. She edited theMystery Writers Annual for Mystery Writers of America for several years, and served as president of Sisters in Crime.
Books by P.M. Carlson:
Audition for Murder: Maggie Ryan, 1967 (1985)
Murder Is Academic: Maggie Ryan, 1968 (1985)
Murder Is Pathological: Maggie Ryan, 1969 (1986)
Murder Unrenovated: Maggie Ryan, 1972 (1988)
Rehearsal for Murder: Maggie Ryan, 1973 (1988)
Murder in the Dog Days: Maggie Ryan, 1975 (1991)
Murder Misread: Maggie Ryan, 1977 (1990)
Bad Blood: Maggie Ryan, 1979 (1991)
The Marty Hopkins Series
Gravestone (1993)
Bloodstream (1995)
Deathwind (2004)
Crossfire (2006)
Short fiction
Renowned Be Thy Grave, or The Murderous Miss Mooney(1998)
Murder in the Dog Days Page 27
