Read Online Bats and Bones (The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries) by Karen Musser Nortman - Free Book Online Page B

but trouble—tripped over it, burned my arm on it once
trying to flip burgers—where’d you get that?”
    “Some guy
in the Quad Cities makes them in his garage. Larry’s got one too.”
    “And you
guys almost always cook over a fire, rather than a gas grill? Or charcoal?”
    Mickey
shrugged. “Usually.”
    Donna,
risen from her nap and looking perkier than any of the others, admired the
grill as well. “Anything new on Maeve Schlumm?” she asked.
    “You missed
a visit from the DCI agent and the sheriff because you’re so lazy,” Rob said.
    Donna stuck
out her tongue at him. “What’d they say?”
    Rob
sobered. “They think she was murdered. Wanted to know about all the arguments she
had last night. Told us to stay put and stay safe.”
    Donna had
no comment. Her eyes wandered around the surrounding campsites.
    Rob said,
“And the sheriff said Schlumm has been reported for abusing his wife.”
    Donna’s
eyes grew wide. “Really? That must be it, then. That would explain why she was
out where she was. He must have chased her!”
    Larry
resisted rolling his eyes. “Donna, that may be the case but there’s too much
they don’t know yet. It’s best if we don’t go around making
accusations—just makes you into a target.”
    Frannie
recognized Larry’s attempt to diplomatically tell Donna to shut up. It seemed
effective; Donna nodded seriously and gazed down the road to the Schlumm’s
camper. She moved her lawn chair closer into the circle, facing the road so she
could keep watch.
    One of the
biker couples strolled by, checking out the grill and the group. Just past the
site, they hesitated, and turned back. No leathers today; instead they wore
shorts and denim shirts with the sleeves cut off, exposing some mean tattoos.
The man held out his hand to Mickey, who sat closest to the road.
    “Richard
Evans. My wife, Elaine,” with a backward toss of his head by way of
introduction. “Are you the cop that found the body?”
    “I’m
Mickey—that would be my brother-in-law, Larry,” Mickey pointed.
    “Man.
That’s something. What a way to start your day, huh?” he said to Larry. Not
very tall and built like a refrigerator, Richard carried his bulk in his arms
and chest. Curly brown hair framed crinkled blue eyes and a big smile. Elaine, too,
was sturdy and big shouldered without being fat. Her gray curly hair stopped
just short of her shoulders and was pulled back from her face and behind her
ears with barrettes. Both evidenced the outdoor life with tanned leathery skin.
    Now Richard
walked over by the grill, hands on hips. “This is what we stopped to check out.
Very clever! How’d you come by this—or did you make it?”
    Larry and
Mickey took turns explaining about the grills. They almost could field a
routine, they had been asked so many times. Rob offered Richard a beer, which
he gratefully accepted and the extra lawn chairs were produced. Elaine
scratched and cooed to both dogs—obviously a softy.
    “So, what
do you do, Richard?” Larry said.
    “Yeah, I’m
a chiropractor,” Richard said.
    “Seriously?”
Mickey said. When Richard nodded, Mickey added, “That gives new meaning to the
term ‘adjustment.’”
    Richard
roared and slapped his knee. “You bet!”
    “What about
you, Elaine? Do you work? Rob and Donna are the only ones in our group who are
still productive members of society,” Frannie said.
    Elaine gave
a sweet smile. “I farm.” Then seeing their surprised faces, she continued. “We
inherited my parents’ farm and I love working it. Richard has his practice in a
small town about three miles from us. I’m strictly a grain farmer—no
livestock—so it leaves us free to head out on our bikes on weekends.
There really are great parks in this part of the state.”
    “I love
your tents,” Donna said. “Very minimalist!”
    “You’re
welcome to check them out any time,” Elaine said.
    Richard
brought the conversation back to the topic on all of their minds. “Yeah,