Foul Play at the Fair by Shelley Freydont Read Free Book Online Page A

head man gave Liv a look before turning to Bill. “Were you first on scene?”
    Bill cleared his throat. “So to speak.”
    “Body been moved?”
    Bill glanced at Liv. “Yes. In an effort to ascertain if the victim was alive.”
    The man turned to Liv. “Did you find the deceased?”
    Liv shook her head. “No. I was just leaving.” She scurried out of the room.
    She had to force herself not to skulk behind the open door and listen to what the detectives said. It wasn’t morbid fascination. She needed to get reassurance from the police that the murderer wouldn’t strike again.
    As if anybody could predict that.
    She walked up to the house, looking around her for God knew what. The murderer hiding behind the hay bales? A murder weapon? A note saying, This is the only person I’ll kill so don’t worry.
    Stop it; you’re acting stupid. You need all your wits today.
Just because this is your first murder doesn’t mean you can lose it. You have a responsibility.
Liv let herself in the open back door and stepped into what she imagined was a typical farm kitchen, with colorful curtains and lots of counter space for making family meals. Only today there was no bustling activity, no cozy warmth. Everyone was sitting around the long farmhouse table silently watching Joss stalk up and down the room like a cornered moose.
    Ted poured her a cup of coffee and motioned her to a chair.
    Liv didn’t much feel like sitting down. She’d rather join Joss in his pacing. She knew she should say something, but after Joss’s reaction to his brother’s body, she was afraid that condolences would be out of line.
    Amanda Waterbury watched her husband, her frown growing more intense as the minutes went by. Finally she broke her silence. “For heaven’s sake, Joss. Talk to me. Did you know Pete was here?”
    Joss shook his head.
    “I just don’t understand,” she persisted. “Why now? Are you sure it was him?”
    Ted came to stand by her chair. He patted her shoulder. “It was Pete. No doubt about it. You and Joss need some family time, time to talk to the kids and help them through this. As much as I hate having to bring this up, we need to decide what to do about the store.”
    “That’s what I came for,” Andy said. There was a shredded napkin on the table in front of him. “I wasn’t just being ghoulish. I didn’t even know.…”
    “Of course not,” Amanda assured him.
    “When I heard the police call, I was afraid Joss hadgotten hurt or somebody was sick. I thought I could help out. I know how much we all depend on this weekend, and I figured if for some reason you couldn’t open the store today, I’d come over to offer you space in my stand at the farmers’ market. I had no idea that it would be…this.”
    He swallowed hard. “And that still goes. I’ll be glad to take cider and doughnuts and any goods you want, put ’em in my stand. It won’t be as good as having the store open, but you won’t lose out on everything.”
    “That’s so thoughtful of you, Andy,” Amanda said.
    Andy looked down at the table, his face working. “Hell, you’d do the same for me. Have done. That’s what neighbors—friends—are for. Being there for each other when the going gets rough.”
    Joss finally stopped pacing and turned to the others.
    Liv’s breath caught at how much Pete Waterbury resembled his brother, even in death.
    “I appreciate it, Andy, but I doubt if they’ll even let us back into the store, much less load anything out.” He heaved a sigh. “I thank you just the same.” He stared past them, a man utterly deflated; then he banged both fists on the table.
    Everyone jumped; silverware and china rattled.
    “Thirty years. Thirty years he’s never showed his face here, and when he finally comes back, he brings trouble with him.”
    Roseanne burst into tears. Donnie bit his lip, looking as if he might explode. And looking very much like his father.
    “We’ll get through this,” Andy said.
    Liv looked at