Murder in the Paperback Parlor by Ellery Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

the mountain.” It was usually not meant as a compliment. Even though the locals frequented businesses and medical facilities in other towns, they only did so when absolutely necessary. They’d chosen to live and work in Storyton because it had no strip malls, neon signs, or cookie-cutter neighborhoods. In their little village, things moved slowly. For the most part, people walked or rode bicycles. They waved to one another. They had leisurely chats over garden gates and made chicken soup when a neighbor came down with a cold. Jane couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
    Leaving Tom to his work, Jane headed to her office. She tried to focus on mundane tasks but was unable to concentrate. Again and again, her gaze traveled to her Hopes and Dreams board. When she couldn’t sit still another second, she left her office and stepped into the room across the hall. The space was crammed with a massive copier, multiple fax machines, file cabinets, and a bank of monitors showing live feeds from spots all around the resort.
    Jane peered at the screen showing the front entrance and smiled. Two Silver Shadows had pulled up to the curb and guests were exiting the vehicles. The first guest caught Jane’s notice because she looked like a movie star arriving at a premier. A mane of platinum hair cascaded over the shoulders of her winter-white coat and her bright red lipstick matched the red dress peeking out from beneath the coat’s hem. After gesturing languidly at a bellhop, she mounted the stairs. A second woman scrambled up the steps and grabbed the blonde’s arm. Jane watched, intrigued, as the blonde lowered her enormous sunglasses and peered at theRolls-Royce in line behind their own. After a brief pause, she raised her arm and waved regally.
    â€œRosamund York has arrived.” Jane allowed herself a small sigh of relief. Ms. York was the event’s headliner. Without her, Romancing the Reader wouldn’t have had the same appeal. Fans devoted to Regency romance novels had made the majority of the week’s bookings. Many of these ladies were also coming to Storyton to see Rosamund York as well. Jane was eager to discover why Ms. York held such a powerful allure.
    Rosamund and her fellow passenger disappeared from the screen and, half a minute later, another woman came into view. Jane assumed this was the woman Rosamund had been waving to.
    â€œIt’s Georgia Dupree,” Jane murmured.
    Georgia’s trademark red curls were unmistakable. Unlike Rosamund, who wore the self-satisfied expression of one who has achieved a notable measure of fame and fortune, Georgia’s mouth was set in a deep frown and she stomped up the stairs as though she were marching to battle.
    Perhaps she is
, Jane thought and felt a momentary pang of sympathy for the romance writer. Although Georgia Dupree had achieved a great deal of success in her own right, Jane imagined it would be difficult to remain in another author’s shadow year in and year out.
    â€œIf Rosamund York is the First Lady of Romance, then what does that make Georgia Dupree? A lady in waiting?”
    Jane returned to her office and grabbed a compact from her desk drawer. Satisfied that her hair was still in place and that she didn’t have lipstick on her teeth, she gave her suit jacket an officious tug and emerged behind the reception desk. She found Sue Ross, one of Storyton’s best clerks, engaged in conversation with Ms. York.
    Sue was always on duty whenever important guests checked in. Not only was she adept at remembering Storyton Hall’s repeat customers but she also had a way of appeasing the prickliest guests. Her kind face and soothing voice putpeople at ease. She was also an excellent listener and held people’s eyes while they were speaking, making it clear that she cared about what they had to say. Jane was thankful to have her manning the desk today.
    â€œYou must get comments like that all the time, but