Read Online Murder on the Half Shelf by Lorna Barrett - Free Book Online Page A

Frannie considered Mary to be a friend, could the friend of a friend be Chauncey Porter? He’d been the only other person at the B-and-B the night before that Frannie might have known.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tricia said, and headed for the exit.
    “World-famous mystery author Harrison Tyler,” Frannie said with a lilt in her voice.
    That stopped Tricia dead. She turned back to face Frannie.
    “Word is that you and he were as thick as thieves just before he disappeared and was presumed dead.” Frannie shook her head. “You poor little thing. Tricia, next to me, you have got to be the world’s unluckiest woman when it comes to love.”
    Tricia blinked, startled by that pronouncement. “Well, I—”
    “Of course, Angelica has had her share of heartache, too,” Frannie went on. “But no more than me. And I’m sure Chief Baker had to have had something to say about all this. Did you two have words? Are you a suspect? Did you know Mr. Tyler was here in Stoneham all along?”
    “No, I didn’t, and I—”
    But before she could finish her sentence, Frannie continued. “I’ve gone and entered the twenty-first century. I’ve signed up for computer dating.”
    Tricia couldn’t seem to stop blinking. Where was this conversation going, anyway? “You did?”
    Frannie nodded. “Why not? I’m not meeting any men here in Stoneham. I don’t mind driving to Portsmouth or Manchester—if the right fella comes along, that is.”
    “I—I never gave that a consideration.”
    “You should,” Frannie said with authority. She leaned in and lowered her voice. “In case things don’t work out for you with Mr. Tyler or the chief. I’ve already had three dates with three different guys.”
    “And none of them worked out,” Tricia guessed.
    “Hell no! I’m going to a Celtics game in Boston next week with one of them. And my second fella, Barney, is taking me out to dinner on Friday night. And then the third one wants me to go to a show with him.” Frannie’s grin widened. “I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun.”
    For a moment, Tricia thought she might cry. But then she did a quick reassessment of her life and decided,
The hell with romance!
She had a career she loved, Angelica, and many friends. She’d had the princess wedding and things hadn’t worked out. Her two rebound relationships had gone nowhere. But romantic interludes weren’t all there was to life.
    “I’m very happy for you, Frannie,” she managed with a smile that she hoped looked genuine. She glanced at her watch. “I’vereally got to be going. It’s time for Mr. Everett’s lunch break.” She started for the door.
    “Just remember what I said about online dating. And don’t you worry one bit. I won’t tell Angelica how you kissed her dog, either.”
    Tricia didn’t bother to wave good-bye. And she had no doubt that the next time Angelica came down the steps into her shop, Frannie would go and tell all, and in excruciating detail. Frannie was often a great resource for gossip—except when you were on the receiving end of it.
    Mr. Everett’s lunchtime came and went. He came down from the second-floor break room looking sad and keeping himself to himself, as her grandmother used to say. Since he wasn’t feeling talkative—except when it came to recommending books to customers, of course—Tricia turned on some cheerful Celtic music and tried to concentrate on the paperwork before her. Unfortunately, her conversation with Frannie kept replaying on her mind. How long would it be before Angelica called and taunted her?
    Okay, Sarge was very cute. Tricia had entertained the idea of adopting him herself before Angelica practically stole him from the Milford Animal Hospital some eight months before.
    But that wasn’t really what was on her mind: Harrison Tyler, aka Jon Comfort. She’d been so shocked—and more angry—to see him that it hadn’t really penetrated that his disappearance just before his