A Suspicion of Strawberries (Scents of Murder Book 1) by Lynette Sowell Read Free Book Online

getting nowhere. Maybe we should check out her recent past, or see who had the biggest grudge?”
    “We could. It sounds like Kaitlyn’s still pretty miffed about what happened, even though she’s moved on. And Robert Robertson sounds like he was quite an item himself.” Di shook her head.
    “I wonder if Kaitlyn nursed a secret grudge. Maybe she wanted to be the one on the way to the altar.” I pondered the idea. Where did someone cross the line from being bitter to becoming a murderer?
    “Would you just listen to us?” Di’s voice squeaked. “People have private lives, and quite frankly I’d hate it if someone suspected me of murder just because I had a grudge. I didn’t mind coming with you today, because you definitely needed the moral support, but—”
    “You draw the line at us being the Hardy Girls.”
    “It’s Hardy Boys . I started reading them to Taylor and Stevie.”
    “I know what they’re called.” My stomach churned, my new shoes had chafed my heels, and I felt downright cranky. “This is my business we’re talking about. If someone sabotaged that cherry facial scrub, I’ve got to know. Because I know it wasn’t me. So, did you learn anything?”
    Di shook her head. “Not really. I’m not as nosy as you are.”
    “Oh, isn’t that nice of you to say?”
    “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m not good at asking those kinds of questions. I probably wouldn’t know a clue if it ran up and bit me.” She lifted her hands, palms up. “I tried. I only noticed how sad the Thackers are.”
    The parking lot still had plenty of cars, which probably meant the food supply was still holding up. “We ought to go back in. When else will we have so many potential suspects in one room?”
    Di gave a soft chuckle. “You sound full of sympathy.”
    “I am, actually.” We started walking back to the door that led to the church reception hall. “Even though the Thackers might not believe or suspect their daughter died because of foul play, they deserve to know the truth, if I can find it. That’s the least I can do for them.”
    “Why you, though?”
    “Why not me?” I pulled the door open and felt a blast of cool air from the reception hall. Yes, going inside was definitely better than sweltering outside. “I can’t sit by and do nothing. If it turns out I’m wrong, that’s all right.”
    “Hello, Mrs. Mann.” Di smiled at a woman wearing a dark pantsuit. She nodded and pushed past us to leave, the heavy door closing behind her.
    My eyes adjusted to the muted lighting, and I tried to find at least one of the women I’d heard in the bathroom. “Do you see Kaitlyn? I know one of them had some black slingbacks, and one wore a dark skirt.”
    Suddenly it seemed as though all the women wore dark skirts, now that Mrs. Mann had left the building. I couldn’t very well stare at everyone’s feet until I found the right person. And once again, what would I say if I came face-to-face with her?
    “I’m not sure who she is. Maybe I can ask one of the girls from the bank.” Di frowned. “Although they’d wonder why. . .see, I told you I’m not good at asking questions.”
    “That’s okay. Do me a favor. See if anyone’s wearing a pair of black slingbacks.”
    “I can do that. Um, what are slingbacks?” Di studied the footwear of everyone who passed by. We stood next to the trash can like a couple of waifs.
    “They’re high-heeled sandals with a buckle and a thin strap across the back of the ankle. Although I bet everyone shopped at Payless this year.” I glanced at one woman’s black skirt. No, that was a broomstick skirt with a crinkled texture. The other skirt I’d seen looked more tailored. This was ridiculous, scrutinizing everyone’s wardrobe. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
    I headed to Trudy, the wearer of the broomstick skirt and owner of Higher Grounds coffee shop. She looked as uncomfortable as I felt. “Hi there.”
    “Hey, Andi. Wasn’t that a beautiful