Murder, Served Simply by Isabella Alan Read Free Book Online Page B

hanging from her neck. “Why do you ask?”
    â€œJust curious,” I said, hoping Willow would buy it.
    Willow dropped her crystal. “I don’t believe you. You want to find out what happened.”
    The main door into the barn opened and in stormed a half dozen officers, some from the Millersburg police department and some from the Holmes County Sheriff’s Department. Mitchell and Anderson went over to meet them. As the audience waited to be interviewed, conversation resumed, and it was becoming more and more difficult to overhear what the police were saying to one another—not that I was trying or anything.
    â€œI didn’t know Eve long,” I said. “I hardly knew her at all, but I liked her.”
    Willow forced a smile. “Well, I wouldn’t let your sheriff know what you are thinking.”
    â€œFirst, he’s not
my
sheriff, and second, I’m not thinking anything that he wouldn’t expect from me.”
    â€œThe last part of that statement I believe.”
    Mitchell completed his powwow with the other officers, and the men and women in uniform fanned outacross the audience. While they began their interviews, the main entrance opened again, and three EMTs and the county coroner entered the barn. Mitchell waved them to the small opening in the curtain.
    Willow shook her head. “I hate to even ask this under the circumstances, but do you think the play will go on? We have another progressive dinner and performance the day after Christmas. The hotel can’t refund all those tickets. We would lose all that money to build the new playground for the kids. What will the children do if we don’t get a new slide and swing set? The one out there is twenty years old. It’s a wonder a child hasn’t killed him- or herself on it yet.” She grimaced. “Poor choice of words. Sorry.”
    I grimaced too. “That’s up to the sheriff as well as the play director. Maybe they won’t want to go on without their star.”
    Willow snorted. “I don’t think the play people are going to be the ones stopping the performance.”
    I was just about to ask Willow what she meant by that when she said, “Maybe you can talk to the sheriff and convince him not to close down the play and the progressive dinner.”
    â€œI don’t know why he would close the progressive dinner. Most of that took place away from the hotel. I don’t know what I can possibly say to convince him to do anything.”
    â€œSweet-talk him.”
    I gave her a look. “Sweet-talk?”
    Oliver cocked his head too. At least he agreed with me that the senior trustee was nuts.
    Willow gripped my free hand. “Angie, you have to. Do you know how bad it would look for the hotel and the township if the play was canceled? Rolling Brook is gaining a reputation for this sort of thing. It could hurt tourism. It could hurt business, your business.”
    â€œLet’s move away from the stage if you really want to discuss this.” I led Willow to the side aisle and leaned against the wall. Audience members were being interviewed. Once an interview was completed, the individual was dismissed. The police had broken the crowd up into a grid system, and it was surprisingly organized. It was going more quickly than I expected, but then again, more than half the audience had left before reinforcements arrived. “How many people are in the acting troupe?” I shifted Oliver into my other arm. He didn’t seem to mind as long as I didn’t put him down. My little Frenchie was still shaken; we both were.
    â€œI don’t know right offhand, but I can get you a list.” She smiled at me knowingly. “You will talk to Mitchell?”
    â€œI didn’t say that. I think it’s good to know all the cast and crew names just in case.”
    â€œIn case of what?”
    I ignored her question. “I’m not asking because I am afraid for