It's a Wonderful Knife by Christine Wenger Read Free Book Online Page B

except for a comb-over of exactly nine pitch-black strands of hair.
    Darlene was the opposite of Pastor Fritz. She had huge brassy yellow hair with roots growing in and was about five feet tall. She was as wide as she was tall, always laughed, and loved to have a good time. Everyone said that Darlene was the best thing that ever happened to the church—she added a lot of new programs, the teens loved her, and she had a generous heart.
    â€œI heard from Deputy Brisco that you broke somebones, Trixie,” Pastor Fritz said, looking down. “I’m sorry to hear that, but thanks for doing all this work and not leaving us high and dry.”
    â€œI’d never do that, Pastor Fritz.”
    â€œOf course she wouldn’t. You should know better than to say such a thing,” said Bob, standing up with a grunt from loading cases of soda into a cooler and grinning.
    â€œHey, Bob, is that you? What brings you back to Sandy Harbor?” asked Pastor Fritz. They shook hands.
    â€œI got an SOS from Juanita Holgado. She said that Trixie needed a hand,” Bob said.
    â€œIt’s good to see you again,” Darlene walked over to Bob, stood on her tiptoes, and lifted her arms to give him a hug. It still wasn’t enough height.
    Bob bent over and smiled widely. “Hi, Darlene.” Then Bob turned to me. “The pastor, Darlene, and I, and a bunch of others built a Habitat for Humanity house together in Syracuse.”
    Darlene broke away and took her husband by the arm. “Fritz, let’s go say hello to everyone else and watch the auditions for a while. I have a couple of announcements to make. I ran into Margie Grace outside. She wants to announce something about a spring trip to see the lilacs in Rochester. I don’t know why she insists on talking about it now, when it’s Christmas, but I guess she can’t let Liz have all the attention. Then we can all eat when Trixie gives us the word.”
    â€œI thought you kicked Margie out,” I whispered to Ty.
    â€œI did.”
    Ray came in with the napkins as Fritz and Darlene exited. I asked ACB to take all the ham that I had finally cut up and put it in the steam pan and light the cans of fuel.
    â€œWe are done,” I said, looking around the room. “Everything is perfect. Thanks so much, everyone. Now, let’s all go watch the rest of the auditions, listen to the announcements, and let them know that dinner is served.”
    â€œGood idea,” ACB said, leading the exodus out of the kitchen. I went the other way.
    â€œTrixie?” Ty asked, holding the door open for me.
    â€œI’m heading to the ladies’ room first,” I replied. “Go ahead without me.”
    I hobbled over to the cooler, got an orange soda, and took a long draw of the cold stuff. Mmm . . . icy cold. I put it on the table next to my knife, thinking that as soon as I got back to the kitchen, I should pack the knife away.
    It took me longer than usual, with my injuries. And I had to wade through budding Sandy Harbor starlets and their mothers spraying a variety of products into their hair.
    â€œHold your breath while I spray, Lynette. You don’t want to be a flat-haired angel,” one mother said.
    â€œSweetie, I convinced Ms. Fellows that you didn’t have to know ballet for the Sugarplum Fairy—you cantap dance instead. Won’t that talent scout from Hollywood be impressed?” another one asked.
    A little while later, I walked back into the kitchen to do a last-minute check on everything and to make sure that the ham was getting hot.
    But I paused in midcrutch. Something—or rather, someone—was lying on the floor, facedown, with my knife sticking out of her back. Blood was on the back of her white blouse, staining it a bright crimson.
    Liz Fellows!
    I didn’t have to check her pulse to know that she was dead.
    I felt the room starting to spin, but I didn’t dare fall. Been there,