Read Online Scotched by Kaitlyn Dunnett - Free Book Online

First Annual Maine-ly Cozy Con were an outgoing bunch. She was twice drawn into conversations with complete strangers and once found herself being surveyed for her opinion on how early the first body should turn up in a cozy mystery. Liss found these brief encounters stimulating. She might not have known any of these folks before they arrived at The Spruces, but they all read the same books she did. That was enough to create an instant bond.
    Dan’s face was set in a fearsome scowl by the time Liss finally reached his side.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she asked, although she suspected she already knew.
    â€œYou were right about that woman,” Dan admitted. “That Jane Nedlinger. She’s out to cause trouble, and we have to do something to stop her.”

Chapter Four
    L iss and Dan stepped into a window alcove, out of the flow of traffic. The recess gave the illusion of privacy even in a crowded room. “What did she say to you?” Liss asked.
    â€œShe wanted to know if I thought Moosetookalook was the murder capital of Maine.” Dan kept his voice low but it throbbed with irritation.
    â€œAnd, of course, you corrected her. That honor belongs to Cabot Cove.”
    Dan looked blank.
    â€œCabot Cove, Maine? Home of Jessica Fletcher? Murder, She Wrote ?”
    â€œOh. The old television show? I never watched it. I heard they got a lot of stuff about Maine dead wrong.”
    â€œWell, yes, but ... oh, never mind! What else did she say to you?”
    â€œShe told me that this story may be bigger than she first thought. She’s thinking of devoting an entire week to Moosetookalook and all the murders you’ve been involved in.”
    â€œThey didn’t all take place in Moosetookalook.”
    â€œThat’s not the point.”
    â€œAnd there haven’t been that many.” Annoyance sharpened Liss’s voice. “A week implies seven. There have only been—”
    â€œLiss! You’re not seeing the big picture here. If she posts these blogs, they will generate very bad publicity for this town in general and this hotel in particular, not to mention for you personally. And she seems determined about it. She doesn’t even want to do an interview with you anymore.”
    For just a moment, Liss felt annoyed. When it had been only her reputation on the line, it had been: “Don’t worry, Liss. Go ahead and talk to her.” But now that it was the hotel —She broke off in mid-thought, appalled by her reaction. Of course they should be concerned about The Spruces, and about Moosetookalook. What Jane Nedlinger wrote could harm everyone who lived here.
    All the local residents would be affected by the situation. That meant there was no good reason not to solicit help in deciding how to blunt the impact of The Nedlinger Report . She glanced at her watch.
    â€œIt’s barely eight. If we activate the phone tree, we could convene a meeting of the MSBA at my house in an hour.”
    The membership of the Moosetookalook Small Business Association included all the merchants on the town square and most of the other businesspeople in the village, too.
    Dan hesitated, then nodded. “I’ll alert Dad. You phone Patsy.” He headed for the lobby.
    Liss made her call from the window alcove, where the cell phone reception was better. She was about to leave the meeting room when she caught sight of Nola. One look at the other woman’s face told her that Nola was not a happy camper. Liss changed course to intercept her.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” she asked.
    â€œDo you really need to ask? That woman is impossible.” Nola’s face was flushed and her small hands had curled into tight fists.
    â€œJane Nedlinger?” Liss asked.
    â€œWho else?”
    â€œCome with me.” Liss took Nola’s arm and tugged her toward the nearest exit. “We’re going to put our heads together and figure out how to deal with her