Laughed ’Til He Died by Carolyn Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

Swenson, who regularly took first in the club championship, and they plunged into a discussion of rare stamps and auctions.
    Max had intended to drop by Larry’s office this afternoon, but approaching Larry here made their contact more casual. He called out, “Hey, Larry,” and walked swiftly across the hummocky ground to the tennis court.
    Perspiring, his bony face flushed from the heat, Larry Gilbert looked up. Deep-set brown eyes were sharp as a hawk’s. “Hey, Max, hotter than a griddle out here.” Dark hair curling from sweat, Gilbert jerked a disdainful thumb at the court. “I know they don’t play much when it’s this hot, but that net’s a mess. I’m out to look things over before the board meeting next week. I have to say there’s a lot that needs improvement.”
    This wasn’t exactly the conversation Max had hoped for. “It’s a big property, Larry. Hard to keep on top of everything. On the positive side, we’re flooded with kids. Enrollment’s up by about a third this summer. Considering there’s no air-conditioning, that shows how popular the programs are.”
    “In a bad economy, a bunch of them are probably just here for the free lunch.” The board member’s frown was dark. “May be getting some undesirable elements with that.” He jerked his head to the west. “Somebody broke into the prop shop near the stage. The hasp holding the padlock had been pried loose, and the door was wide-open. I had Jean check things out. She said the door was fine yesterday. I looked it over and nothing seems to have been touched, but she was pretty vague about what’s kept in the shed. I told her we need to have records of everything. I can see why Booth’s ready to fire her.”
    Max felt a sharp disappointment. There was no hint in Larry’s voice of any strain between him and Booth Wagner.
    “The kids like her.” Max tried to sound casual.
    “Yeah.” Larry wasn’t impressed. He eyed Max with curiosity. “I hear she’s buttered up to you. I wouldn’t have thought she would impress you. I’d think you’d want somebody more high-class for the job.”
    “I like a director who cares about kids. Like Jean. And naturally, she’s concerned about her job. As you know—” (word gets around in a small town) “—I’m lining up support for her. A lot of folks are impressed with the pleasant atmosphere she’s fostered. She had no idea that Booth fabricated a résumé for her. She had given him her actual résumé and that will be presented to the board.”
    Larry raised a questioning eyebrow. “A day late and a dollar short, I’d say. It will all get sorted out next week. Now, I need to check out the kitchen.” He looked unhappy. “Damn, it’s going to be hot in there. Oh well, the sooner I get in there, the sooner I’m out of here. Good to see you, Max.” And he turned away.
    Max looked after him. Should he gamble, make a direct appeal for Jean?
    He almost took a step after Larry.
    A bell-like tone rang.
    Jean Hughes stood on the front steps of the main building, striking a triangle chime. She called out in her strong voice: “Come to the lake. For Click.”
     
    A NNIE OPENED A box of Jan Burke’s new title in the storeroom. Annie was grateful to be back in her happy bookstore. Everything was as it should be at Death on Demand: sunburned readers, the occasional careening toddler with a tired mother in full chase, her intrepid clerk Ingrid Webb calm and cheerful. The bookstore’s normalcy helped distance her from the memory of long-stemmed white roses floating on green water and a good life cut much too short.
    Ingrid stood in the doorway, looking at a sheet of paper. “A book club from Bluffton wants to make this a mystery year and has asked for a list of suggested reading.”
    Agatha rubbed against the cardboard box. Annie petted the silky fur, evaded sharp teeth. “Has Agatha eaten?”
    Ingrid eyed Agatha with wary amusement. “Of course.”
    Annie sighed. Keeping Agatha slim was an