Read Online Foul Play at the Fair by Shelley Freydont - Free Book Online Page B

Janine’s strident voice had attracted the attention of the people at the next stand, which was just what she intended. She’d been determined to make Liv look bad from the day she had arrived.
    One of them came over. “What’s all this talk about the police?”
    “It’s nothing,” Liv told him. “But if you all keep saying ‘police’ at the top of your lungs, we won’t have a visitor left in town.”
    “Oh,” said the newcomer, whom Liv finally placed as Dexter Kent, owner of the garden center out on Lakeside Road. He leaned in closer and everyone followed suit.
    Liv suddenly felt claustrophobic. “Look,” she said, casting a quick glance at Andy and Rose, warning them to back her up. “It will all be cleared up, but it’s best if we leave it until tomorrow and concentrate on selling today.”
    “Yeah,” Andy said, picking up his cue. “No big deal. Let’s sell some produce.”
    Liv smiled and said good-bye, but when she was several vendors away she turned back to the group. Their heads were together, customers ignored. She had no doubt that they were pumping Andy for the details.
    Their choice; their loss if people started bailing on the afternoon. Hopefully, they were savvy enough to keep it among townspeople and not let it drift to the tourists’ ears. Though she didn’t have such hope for Janine’s good sense.
    She was sure to use the murder to make Liv look bad. Liv for the most part had been able to ignore Janine. In the scheme of things, she didn’t hold a candle to some of the witches Liv had dealt with in the city. But if Janine started hurting thetown, Liv would show her just what an ex-Manhattan event planner was made of.
    Liv walked back to the park where everything seemed perfectly normal. So far, so good. With any luck they’d get through today without the news leaking out.
    She was surprised to see the Zoldosky stage set up and Anton and one of the brothers practicing their act as if nothing were wrong, only today instead of bowling pins they were juggling odd objects: an ax, one bowling pin, and a plate. The disfigured brother was sitting in his normal place, twisting a yellow balloon into an elaborate form.
    Their presence seemed a little coldhearted in light of Pete’s demise. Of course, Pete wasn’t really a brother, and Liv guessed whatever his relationship to them was, they weren’t mourning him.
    As she watched, another figure sauntered toward them and alarm bells clanged in her head. Of all the people she didn’t expect to see at the festival, didn’t want to see, the laziest newspaper editor in New York State, today of all days, had decided to do his job.
    And Liv had to stop him.

Chapter Six
    “Mr. Bristow!” Liv hurried to head him off.
    He looked up and a wary expression invaded his face. His hair was sticking up and he hadn’t shaved. He looked like he hadn’t slept the night before; his face was drawn and his eyes were puffy. His jeans were baggy and his multi-pocketed khaki coat looked as if it had been smeared with—blood?
    Liv’s step stuttered. No. Not possible. Was it? Her hand automatically went to her walkie-talkie.
    Right, Liv. What are you going to do? Bash him over the head with it?
He surely didn’t have a motive for murder. The man couldn’t have been more than five years old when Pete Waterbury left town.
    People around here have long memories
, Ted had said.
    But not that long.
    “Mr. Bristow,” she said, coming to a stop in front of him. She was vaguely aware of Anton Zoldosky looking up from where he’d just taken a bow. The balloon brother had stoppedtwisting his animal shape and stared. And the other brother came to stand by his side.
    “Ms. Montgomery,” Chaz drawled.
    On closer inspection, she saw that the stains were indeed a combination of mud and blood. There was a dirty handkerchief tied around two of his fingers.
    Now that she had his attention, she wasn’t sure what to do with him. She had to draw him away from the Zoldosky