Read Online Trick or Deceit by Shelley Freydont - Free Book Online

Lucille’s death was natural, though for the life of her, Liv couldn’t come up with a scenario that placed Lucille Foster at the scene other than ones involving foul play.
    Her first stop was the Apple of My Eye Bakery, owned and run by Dolly Hunnicutt. Her husband, Fred, ran the business end of the bakery and was permanent traffic committee chair for all the festivals and events.
    The bakery, like all the stores on the square, was decorated for Halloween. A witch’s hat sat atop the pink cupcake wall clock. There were pumpkin and black cat centerpieces at the three tables the bakery kept inside.
    Dolly, like her husband, was stocky and good humored, generous and totally serious about holidays. Today she was wearing an orange and black polka-dot apron detailed in orange rickrack and an orange mobcap. Beneath it Dolly’s rosy pink complexion looked a little out of place.
    There were a couple of people ahead of her, but Dolly saw Liv and gave her a knowing look. She’d already heard, which meant that Liv would be stopped by questions and speculations down the entire block to town hall, where the event office was located.
    As soon as Liv reached the front of the line, Dolly said, “Did you hear about the break-in?”
    Liv nodded.
    â€œYou were there?”
    â€œI was just running by and Whiskey discovered one of the mannequins.”
    â€œOh dear. Is it an awful mess?”
    â€œI’m afraid so. The mannequins were all dismantled and thrown out into the vacant lot next door.”
    â€œWhat will happen now? Do you think Barry can put it back together?”
    â€œIt looks like a major undertaking, though Henry Gallantine offered the cast of
Little Shop of Horrors
to help reconstruct the scenes.”
    â€œThat was sweet of Henry. Ever since he started that theater group, he’s stopped being such a recluse. He’s like a changed man.”
    Liv nodded, though if you asked her, Henry was more in his element than he’d ever been. Back in the theatrical saddle again.
    â€œDo they know who did it? Everyone in this morning said that Ernie was really unhappy about losing. So unlike him.”
    â€œHe was pretty upset,” Liv agreed. “But so far the police haven’t considered the possible suspects. At least as far as I know.”
    â€œWell, Bill certainly can’t think Patty Wainwright would do such a thing,” Dolly said. “She’s the sweetest soul.”
    Liv thought that was what neighbors always said about serial killers—“he was always such a nice quiet boy”—but in this case she had to agree with Dolly. The preschool teacher and caregiver would hardly break into a house and destroy the competition. Besides, the panel had chosen her in order to have a child-friendly haunted house in town.
    â€œI’m sure Bill will get to the bottom of this,” Liv said.
    Dolly nodded. “I’m sure he will. Now, what would you like? I have orange breakfast rolls this morning.”
    â€œThose rolls on the tray oozing frosting?”
    â€œThe very ones.”
    â€œI shouldn’t, but I will.”
    â€œTed shouldn’t either, but he loves them.”
    Liv laughed. “We both love everything you bake. I’ve had to start running twice as far just to keep from gaining weight. And Ted? I think he must have a hollow leg.”
    â€œWhy, listen to you, Liv Montgomery. I bet you never talked about hollow legs in the corporate event world.”
    â€œHuh, how about that.”
    â€œWe’ll make a country girl of you yet.”
    They’d certainly made a holiday girl out of her. Today she was wearing black slacks and a black sweater and jacket and felt right at home. Of course she’d always worn black in the corporate event world; the difference now was the smiling jack-o’-lantern that took up most of the sweater front.
    â€œAnd for you, my favorite dog, a black cat doggie biscuit.”
    Whiskey