Murder in a Basket (An India Hayes Mystery) by Amanda Flower Read Free Book Online

was for me to convince Martin to hold the festival on its grounds? Now, with this”—she paused—“situation, they’ll never agree to it again.” Her brow furrowed. “Does Martin know?”
    “ We called the president. She’s getting her VPs together.”
    It was my turn to shiver. I hoped Mains hadn’t mentioned my name when talking to the college president. I had enough notoriety on campus as it was. “You could move to the other end of the field. Closer to the parking lot on the other side of the food vendors.”
    Carmen sniffed. “That area’s reserved for the corn hole tournament.”
    I looked heavenward. “I’m sure the college could move the corn hole somewhere else.” I knew nothing of the kind. I almost suggested the library’s quad but stopped myself. My director, Lasha Lint, would not look kindly on a bunch of children throwing bean bags back and forth in front of the library’s entrance.
    A slight man in a rumpled suit and carrying a large medical bag hurried across the field. Mains waved him over. “Thanks for coming, Doc.”
    Doc was Dr. Frank Maynor, the county medical examiner. He was a member of my mother’s church.
    Doc panted hard. “I came as quick as I could.” He glanced at Carmen and me. “Girls, is your mother here?”
    We shook our heads.
    He smiled and looked relieved.
    “ Let me show you the scene,” Mains said. He walked around the booth, and together the cop and medical examiner knelt beside Tess’s body. Doc slid a penlight out of his jacket pocket and shone its light on Tess’s wound. I looked away. Mains glanced up at Carmen and me, who were still standing there like gap-mouthed statues. He shot me an exasperated look. “Give your statement to Officer Habash and go home. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    At home , my phone rang a few minutes after I walked through the door. It was Mains. “Tell your sister the festival can start at ten as planned.”
    “ It can?” I was surprised.
    “ Yes, the college president thinks it will draw more attention to the murder if the festival was to be canceled.” He didn’t sound very happy with the decision.
    I thought the crime scene tape around Tess’s booth would do the trick, but who was I to know ?
    “ The crafters will have to move to the other side of the field as you suggested.”
    “ What about the corn hole game?”
    “ Not my problem.”
    “ Why don’t you call Carmen yourself?”
    There was silence, then he sighed. “Can you just tell her?”
    “ Sure,” I agreed.
    “ We have a lot to talk about tomorrow, India, so get some rest.” He hung up.
    I held the phone in my hand, wondering if he meant there was more to talk about than just the murder.

Chapter Seven
    The next morning, I parked in the practice field lot a little before eight. Carmen wanted me there early to help the other crafters move their booths.
    As I approached my sister, Carmen looked at me in dismay. “Where’s your pioneer dress?”
    I wore jeans, the polo shirt Tess had given me, a warm hoodie, and a scarf. I opened my jacket to show her the polo. “See, I’m in uniform.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “You’re lucky I don’t have time for this.”
    I smiled. “Where do we start?”
    Most of the crafters were gathered at the edge of the parking lot. Knute hovered close by to make sure the crafters didn’t bother the crime scene. Carmen clapped her hands for their attention. “As I told you all on the phone, there was an accident in the crafter area last evening. We need to move all the crafter booths to this side of the field before we can open.”
    “ What kind of accident?” someone called. “Was anybody hurt?” asked another, and everyone started talking at once.
    The fifteen or so crafters formed a makeshift circle around Carmen and me. Knute, who was supposed to be controllin g them, watched us with just a hint of a smile on his face. Carmen put two fingers in her mouth and whistled at painfully close range. When everyone