4 Bodies and a Funeral

4 Bodies and a Funeral
Stephanie Bond

One cadaver, two cadaver, three cadaver, four…Ever had one of those days? A surprise visit from her father—who’s on the run from the law—has given Carlotta Wren a lot to think about. Should she join her former fiancé, Peter, in proving her father is innocent? If she does, are her body-moving days over?And then… A close friend’s behaviour begins to spin out of control… The cops turn up the heat on her father’s case… Carlotta discovers that her brother Wesley’s gambling debts are child’s play compared to his new vice… And the Charmed Killer, a serial murderer, unleashes his wrath on Atlanta. Now the bodies are piling up—and Carlotta’s father is the number one suspect!

Look what people are saying about the BODY MOVERS series …

“There should be a notice on her books: for a really

GOOD time, read Stephanie Bond!”

—America Online Romance Fiction Forum

“Bond has successfully switched to the crime genre,

bringing along her trademark humour and panache.”

—Booklist on Body Movers

“A fun and exciting romp from beginning to end.

Body Movers is signature Stephanie Bond, with witty dialogue, brilliant characterisation, and a wonderful well-plotted storyline.” —Contemporary Romance Writers

“Bond keeps the pace frantic, the plot tight and the

laughs light, and supplies a cliffhanger ending

that’s a bargain at twice the price.”

—Publishers Weekly, Starred review! on Body Movers: 2 Bodies for the Price of 1

“Stephanie Bond knows what her readers want and

she definitely delivers it in this fantastic

new instalment.”

—FreshFiction.com on Body Movers: 2 Bodies for the Price of 1

“Bond continues her popular BODY MOVERS

series with a fast-paced and wickedly humorous story

that skewers fame and celebrity obsession with

deadly accuracy.”

—RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars! on Body Movers: 3 Men and a Body

“Where the [BODY MOVERS] series goes next

continues to be an intriguing mystery. Readers who

love a combination of suspense and sexy romance will

find their thrills in Bond’s latest offering.”

—BookPage on Body Movers: 3 Men and a Body

Also byStephanie Bond

BODY MOVERS:

2 BODIES FOR THE PRICE OF 1

BODY MOVERS: 3 MEN & A BODY

4 Bodies

and a Funeral

Stephanie Bond

www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The longer my career goes on, the more I appreciate my wonderful editors, who are champions for this series. Many, many thanks to Brenda Chin, who somehow manages to read my material both as a reader and as an editor. Brenda puts a shine on everything I write. Thanks, too, to Margaret O’Neill Marbury, Dianne Moggy and Valerie Gray for your ongoing support of the series and especially for arranging the back-to-back release of books 4, 5 and 6. And to my agent Kimberly Whalen of Trident Media Group who first proposed a trilogy to help satisfy readers who were clamouring for closer release dates! Thanks to my critique partner, Rita Herron, for our weekly meetings and for not being too biased about who Carlotta will pick. Thanks to pal Blair Fisher, former soldier, trivia whiz, all-around good guy for always answering my e-mails. My undying love and thanks to my dear husband, Chris, who cheers me on with every new project and keeps me going until The End. And to all the booksellers, librarians and readers who keep the ball rolling by telling customers, patrons and friends about the BODY MOVERS series—thank you, thank you, thank you.

1

Carlotta Wren skidded onto the sales floor of the Neiman Marcus at Lenox Square in Atlanta soaked in a flop sweat. Late on her first day back—minus ten points.

“Welcome back.”

Carlotta turned and manufactured a smile for Lindy Russell, her boss, who was standing with arms crossed. “Thank you. It’s good to be back.”

Lindy pursed her mouth. “Too bad you couldn’t make this morning’s staff meeting.”

Carlotta’s smile wavered, but she massaged the flexible cast on her arm. “Sorry. This morning was the first time I’d driven in a while, and my car battery was dead.” She didn’t think it would help to mention that the MARTA trains were being single-tracked for construction. Still, she decided not to dwell on transportation challenges since her recent medical leave had come on the heels of a two-week suspension to “get her personal issues worked out.”

Personal issues such as her brother’s gambling debts, her ruined credit, the fact that her parents were long-lost fugitives … and oh, she’d been entangled in a couple of murders as a by-product of her part-time hobby as a body mover for the morgue.

“Things happen,” Lindy conceded. “Is your arm healing well?”

Carlotta flexed the fingers of the arm that had been broken when a killer had pushed her over the balcony of the Fox Theatre, where she’d dangled with her skirt around her waist for all the attendees of an Elton John concert to see. “Almost as good as new.” Though, at the moment it was throbbing like a toothache.

Sympathy crossed Lindy’s face. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am about Michael.”

Michael Lane, aka the person who’d pushed her over the balcony, had been Carlotta’s former coworker and friend. He’d also turned out to have some very dark secrets.