The Devil Wore Sneakers by Nora Leduc Read Free Book Online

friendly people. I don’t feel like they’re too welcoming now. My fiancé’s been murdered. I see stares and hear whispers when I walk by a group of women, and the chief of police is asking me about my alibi.”
    How well did her brother know this woman? “How long were you and Ryan engaged?”
    “He proposed after two dates. We met the first day I arrived in Barley, four months ago. Ryan was at the Moose when Hank brought me over to introduce everyone.” Bella’s voice sounded far away as she stared into the distance. A small smile wavered across her face before the tears returned.
    “I’m sorry, Bella, but a police interview doesn’t mean the chief assumes you’re guilty.”
    “He wouldn’t waste an hour with me if he thought I was innocent.” She wiped her palm on her wet cheeks. “Please don’t bring up my name if you talk to him again.”
    The clock on the church steeple bonged.
    “I better go. If I’m late to work, I get in trouble.” Bella whirled around and dashed into the gift shop.
    Lucy rubbed her arms. Had Bella loved Ryan, or the idea of romance? Was the woman overly sensitive?
    From the street came a vehicle’s honk as Liam’s silver pickup swerved to the curb beside her. The passenger window lowered. “Hey, you forgot your meal when you took off from the Moose yesterday.” He held up a takeout box.
    She inched up to his truck. “You left work to bring me my leftovers?”
    “Yeah.”
    The wind whipped her hair over her eyes. She shoved at it while trying to hide her pleasure over his small act.
    “Get in, Luce. I’ll give you a ride.”
    If only he’d stop calling her by her childhood name. “Do you always drive around town delivering forgotten lunches? By the way, you don’t know where I’m going.”
    “Point me in the direction and I’m there. C’mon. Riding beats jogging in the cold. Wait till you feel my heater.” He wriggled his brows.
    It was four miles to Ryan’s house, and it was chilly, and for a second, she’d been about to laugh. “Pervert.” She yanked on the door handle.
    He shoved the takeout over to make room for her as she climbed into the passenger seat.
    “Just you.”
    “What?”
    “I only deliver forgotten meals to you.” He quirked a smile and his eyes twinkled. In the past, the glint meant he was planning something that would send his parents’ hearts into cardiac arrest. As he grew older, the spark communicated a more personal message.
    A small wave of pleasure lifted her spirits until her conscience warned, Be careful .
    “Now, where am I going?”
    “The police removed the yellow tape at Ryan’s house. I want to check out what needs to be done and to look for Target.”
    “You have a big agenda.”
    “If you don’t mind dropping me off, I—”
    “A drop-off is not an option. I’ll take you and stay until you’re finished.”
    “What about work?”
    “You ask a lot of questions.” He moved his foot from the brake and steered into the street. “I have an in with the boss.”
      Along stretches of the road, plastic tubing ran from maple tree to maple tree to collect the sap. Ryan had loved maple syrup on his ice cream.
    Her mind flooded with memories of her brother. He’d worn his leather jacket every day in high school. When he went away to college, he packed T-shirts and jeans with holes. Their stepmother complained that she’d bought him new clothes for nothing and that Ryan was an ungrateful stepson. She stopped grumbling when their father announced he had been offered a job in Rhode Island. They’d left Barley, and at fifteen, Lucy had moved in with her grandfather a mile north of the Barley Center.
    “Since Ryan wasn’t keeping up with his bills,” Liam’s voice broke into her thoughts, “if you sell his house, you might have to pay off a few debts.”
    “When did you learn this?”
    He glanced over at her. “Before he died, and I learned more after the funeral. I don’t know why he fell behind or what he was doing