Read Online Bake, Battle & Roll by Leighann Dobbs - Free Book Online Page B

rubbing lotion on her legs, venturing into parts that were already covered by her suit and causing her to almost forget what she was saying.
    “What? Oh … when I was at the dining hall I talked to Prescott Charles, the manager, and he was acting kind of strange about the whole Dugasse thing and then I caught Brad Meltzer sneaking around in Dugasse’s office!”
    Jack finished with the lotion and looked at her. “Well, it sounds like you have a lot of things to follow up on before you can get a picture of what is really going on.”
    “Right.” Lexy bit her bottom lip. There was a lot to figure out … could she, Nans and the Ladies Detective Club handle all that?
    “You know what I’d do?” Jack prompted.
    “What?” 
    “I’d start with one clue and follow it through to the end. Knock off each of your questions one by one until they are all resolved and then you’ll know the truth.”
    “You make it sound so easy.” Lexy opened her bag and started putting the contents that she had spilled on her towel back inside it.
    “It’s not that hard if you take it one at a time,” Jack said. “Did you ever get back to that other trail?”
    “No, I was planning on doing that later today. Wanna come?”
    “I wish I could, but I’m going fishing.” Jack peered over his sunglasses at her. “You’re not going alone, I hope.”
    “Oh no, Nans and the ladies will be with me so I’ll be perfectly safe.”
    “That’s great. I’m sure you won’t get into any trouble with them,” Jack said dubiously as he pushed his sunglasses up on his face and flipped over on his stomach. 
    Lexy leaned back on her elbows and watched the lake lap at the shore. A little bird ran along the edge of the water pecking for food. Out on the lake, people paddled on kayaks and canoes. The occasional motor boat sped by in the deeper waters. It was calm. Relaxing. 
    Lexy’s stomach twisted to think a murderer could be running loose right in this very resort. And, since Payne didn’t seem to be doing a very good job, it might be up to Lexy and the Ladies Detective Club to catch the killer.

 
    Chapter Eleven
     
    Lexy had just finished showering and was wrestling Sprinkles into her harness when Nans, Ruth and Helen appeared at her cottage door.
    “Where’s Ida?” Lexy asked.
    “Oh she begged off,” Nans said.
    “Claimed she had to do something with Norman before he went out fishing tonight.” Ruth giggled.
    Lexy made a face and held her hand up. Considering Ida’s comment earlier that day about the two things fishermen were interested in, she didn’t want to know anymore.
    “Will you guys be okay? This could be a long walk and a lot of it is uphill.” Lexy realized the three women were clutching their giant patent leather old ladies purses. “You’re not bringing those purses, are you?”
    “We bring these everywhere,” Helen said.
    “They’re loaded up with all kinds of useful items,” Ruth added.
    “You never know when something in here is going to come in handy.” Nans opened her purse and angled it toward Lexy.
    “They look heavy,” Lexy said. “Why don’t you leave them here and you can pick them up on the way back? You’ll be able to walk the path easier without them.”
    The three women looked at each other. Nans held her purse out by the handles as if judging the weight, then nodded.
    “You may be right, dear,” she said and put her purse on the table. Ruth and Helen did the same with theirs.
    “Okay, let's get this show on the road.” Nans opened the door, leading the way outside.
    They followed the same path Lexy and Jack and followed the other day. When they got to the top of the hill, Lexy had to stop to catch her breath.
    “You guys don’t even seem winded.” She stared at Nans, Ruth and Helen.
    “Oh, that’s nothing,” Nans said. “We do yoga, Pilates and water aerobics … a little hill like this is child’s play.”
    “Maybe you should consider joining us in our regular workout.”