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

service?” Her long, dark hair hung in a braid over one shoulder.
    I nodded. “Have you seen Kaitlyn anywhere?”
    “Kaitlyn Branch?”
    “I guess that might be her last name.” I didn’t think I was very good at bluffing, but I smiled as I spoke to the caffeine maven of Greenburg.
    “She’s over there, talking to Robert Robertson.” Trudy gestured with her head.
    “Thanks.” Normally I’d have stayed with Trudy and helped her bear her discomfort, but I at least wanted to speak to Kaitlyn and see what information I could glean.
    Some people don’t talk to strangers. Others confess to strangers matters they’d never divulge to their best friend. I was counting on Kaitlyn being the latter type of person.
    Fortunately, Robert and Kaitlyn stood next to the food table. I couldn’t catch their conversation, but neither looked happy. Of course, it wasn’t like today’s events called for an occasion of rejoicing.
    Even though the table looked like a locust plague had already descended on the food spread from one end to the other, I grabbed a fresh paper plate and tried to find something palatable to put on it. Momma would scold me for taking food I didn’t intend to eat. Truth be told, I liked corn casserole, enough to try to find out who made it and get the recipe, which said a lot for church buffet food.
    “Sorry about what happened. . .” Kaitlyn’s soft tones dripped with sympathy. She touched the sleeve of Robert’s suit jacket and gave him a sad smile that oozed with much more than sympathy. I glanced at her feet. Yep, slingbacks.
    He nodded, his eyelids blinking rapidly. “I can’t believe she’s gone. It’s like I’m stuck in a nightmare.” I forced myself to look away and instead studied the nearest giant picture—of Charla on horseback.
    “If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
    “I don’t think I’ll need to talk. At least not to you.” Robert’s voice rasped as though he had laryngitis.
    “I’m just trying to help,” Kaitlyn hissed. At that, I ventured a glance in their direction. Then I snapped my gaze to a bowl that held a tablespoon of green bean casserole.
    “I don’t need your help.” He darted sideways and almost ran into me. “Excuse me,” he said as he made his getaway.
    Kaitlyn stood like a lost little girl in a crowd, so I seized my chance. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear. Are you all right?”
    She blinked hard as she looked my way. “I’ll be fine. It’s hard for me to see him like that. He was always so together, larger than life, and now. . .”
    “What a tragedy, and right before their wedding, too.” I shook my head. “Did you know Charla well?”
    “I knew her well enough.” A hardness made
    Kaitlyn’s jaw look like granite. “Some people are larger than life, even after they die.” Her expression focused behind me, and I glanced back at the poster display.
    “That’s something else, isn’t it?” I was running out of small talk ideas, and the crowd was beginning to dwindle. Di looked stranded next to the trash can. She clutched a paper cup and kept giving me looks that said she was ready to drag me from the building. I ignored her and faced Kaitlyn.
    “You know what? See that picture of the inner-city project in Memphis?” Kaitlyn leaned closer. “She only showed up one afternoon, complained about everything, and never came back after that. Sure made out like a fat rat, shopping while the rest of us worked.”
    “Oh. I suppose things aren’t always like they seem.” The joy with which Kaitlyn tainted the public display amazed me.
    “Did I hear someone mention something about Charla suing somebody?” Every Proverb I’d ever read about talebearers flitted through my brain.
    Kaitlyn pounced on this tidbit. “You’re right. She tried to sue Mike Chandler. Said he tried to poison her. The case got thrown out, though.”
    “Really?” I’ve never taken acting classes, but for this performance, I’d have gotten an A. I saw Di