Cover Story (22 page)

It made her realize that it really was the little things that made life worth living. Okay, that and a hot date.

DUE OR DIE
—JENN MCKINLAY

M
ark walked over to where Lizzie was standing, next to a display of Bounty paper towels, four feet high. He slipped his arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, “Are you stuck here for the entire signing?”

She pushed his arm away and grabbed his hand. “No, in fact it's getting too crowded. Let's go outside and wait.” They nodded at Molly, who stood at Teensy's side opening books and handing them to Teensy for signing as she chatted to the next person in line. Bob Miller had staked out a chair close by and sat enjoying the scene.

“Both ladies seem to be doing fine after their ordeal a couple of days back,” Mark said as he led her around to the side of the Winn-Dixie, where a picnic table had been placed on a grassy spot in the shade of the building. The heat had enveloped Lizzie as she left the building. The temperature had sure hit the high point today. She fanned herself with one of Teensy's bookmarks. Her white and black cotton sundress wasn't keeping her as cool as she'd like. She'd removed the lightweight short-sleeved shrug she'd worn while standing in the air-conditioned building.

“They're just fine.” Lizzie felt a bit guilty about suggesting Teensy had been the mastermind but Molly hadn't mentioned it again. Nor had she said anything about Teensy's revelation about all that had gone on in the past. “Of course, Teensy's ego is still recovering from the realization that Mayor Hutchins had been using her rather than truly romancing her. In fact, we all thought he was pretty smitten. But Molly's certain Teensy will get past that real soon.”

Mark nodded. “Now, it's an entirely different matter as to how long it will take the town to recover.”

“I know. Everywhere I go folks are talking about it. They're just so shocked and can't get over the fact that the person they entrusted with the well-being of Ashton Corners was involved in counterfeiting and much worse, murder.”

“The next few months should be real interesting, that's for sure. I'm betting Ex-mayor Hutchins's trial will be held in Montgomery. No way they'll find an unbiased jury here in town.”

“I'm just glad everything's been sorted out and especially that Bob's a free man,” she added.

Mark agreed. “That must have been hard on him but I think Molly will make sure he'll get over it.”

Lizzie laughed. “I think you've got that right. Did he ever say what he was doing the night Teensy's house was broken into?”

Mark frowned. “He's a stubborn man when he wants to be. He finally did tell me after the FBI released him but he said I wasn't to tell them. Seems he went to visit Lucille and convinced her to spend some time with a cousin of theirs in Mobile. She left early the next morning. He knew things were only going to get worse for him and he didn't want her being dragged any further into it.”

“I can understand that. And what about Officer Vicker?”

“He's facing a lot of jail time. I didn't hire him, he was on the job when I took over, but I never had a moment to doubt him. Now I'm wondering if I should have known something was going on.”

“And why would you? I'm sure ‘psychic' isn't in your job description.”

Mark shook his head but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Well, it makes me look at the whole job a bit differently these days. We're fairly certain Vicker didn't tamper with any evidence but he committed a break and enter at Bob's house to locate his bank account number. That explains how the cash was deposited without Bob's knowledge.”

“I'd forgotten about that. They so totally set him up.”

“They were good, which is why I told you to stay out of it right from the start.” Lizzie started to protest but Mark held up his hand. “You were very lucky that you and the others didn't get killed in the warehouse, Lizzie. You done good but I sure hope you'll listen next time.”

“Next time?”

“I'm honestly and truly hoping there won't be one but I'm realizing you and your book club read far too many mysteries to keep to the sidelines when trouble strikes.”

“And I think you've had far too many murders to deal with lately.” She smiled.

“By the way, Andie's moving back home tomorrow.”

“She is?” Mark wiggled his eyebrows.

Lizzie chuckled. “Yes, her daddy had to come home from the holiday early because of a business concern and she's going home. However, she's asked me if she can move back in for the school term, at least.”

Mark stiffened. “What did you say?”

“I asked her to talk to her mama first and try to sort things out. If that didn't work, then we'd talk about what to do.” A soft breeze suddenly fanned her face.

Mark nodded. “I guess you can't turn her away.”

“No.”

He squeezed her hand. “Uh-oh. Looks like we have visitors.” He nodded his head to the right. Lizzie glanced over and saw the two special agents exit their car. She looked at Mark, who grimaced and started toward them. She followed him and they reached the two before they entered the store.

“You're on your way out of town?” Mark asked hopefully.

“Just thought we'd stop by and say good-bye, and pick up a copy of the book that caused so much trouble,” Drew Jackson said.

“You mean, the book that broke the counterfeit ring,” Lizzie piped up.

Jackson grinned at her. “That, too.”

They all walked in and over to the signing table at the right. The crowd had thinned but three women still waited in line. Jackson lined up while Ormes wandered over to an aisle. Bob sat watching them, expressionless.

Jackson rejoined Lizzie and Mark, signed book in hand. “Something to remember this town by.” Ormes came up behind him. “Time to go.”

Ormes nodded at them both then walked out. Jackson shrugged his shoulders. “G'bye, y'all.” He looked at Lizzie. “Be seeing you again.”

Mark muttered under his breath, “Not if I can help it,” as Jackson left. He gave Lizzie's hand a squeeze. She smiled to herself.

Molly wandered over to them as Sally-Jo and Jacob came through the door.

“I hope we're not too late,” Sally-Jo said. Her face was flush but her white satin tank and floral skirt looked fresh.

“Not one bit,” Molly answered. “Uh, just in time. In fact, I have an announcement to make.” She looked at Teensy, who smiled. “I've really enjoyed working here with Teensy on this book business and I've decided to put things right in Ashton Corners.”

Lizzie looked at Mark and shrugged. First she'd heard of anything.

Bob walked over to Molly and stood beside her. “I've bought the Book Bin. I'm going to run it and Bob will do the financials. And I thought I'd ask Stephanie to learn the ropes and then manage it, and Andie to do part-time hours while going to school. Now what do y'all think about that?” She beamed as she looked around at each of them.

“And I plan to stay right here in Ashton Corners and will write the books,” Teensy said, with a slight bow of the head.

Lizzie grinned. It looked like another page had just been turned.

R
eading Lists

Lizzie Turner

1. Victoria Abbott—
The Christie Curse

2. Avery Aames—
Clobbered by Camembert

3. Jacklyn Brady—
Cake on a Hot Tin Roof

4. Elizabeth Lynn Casey
—Reap What You Sew

5. Julie Hyzy
—Grace Among Thieves

Sally-Jo Baker

1. Lucy Burdette—
An Appetite for Murder

2. Victoria Hamilton—
A Deadly Grind

3. Janet Bolin—
Threaded for Trouble

4. Rebecca M. Hale—
Adrift on St. John

5. Jenn McKinlay—
Buttercream Bump Off

Molly Mathews

1. Wagstaff & Poole—
Agatha Christie: A Reader's Companion

2. Ann Granger—
Mud, Muck and Dead Things

3. Lorna Barrett—
Sentenced to Death

4. Jacqueline Winspear—
Elegy for Eddie

5. Alexander McCall Smith
—The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection

Bob Miller

1. James Lee Burke—
Creole Belle

2. Jonathan Kellerman—
Mystery

3. John Connolly—
The Burning Soul

4. Robert Crais—
The Sentry

5. Peter Robinson—
Bad Boy

Jacob Smith

1. Linwood Barclay—
The Accident

2. Carl Hiaasen—
Star Island

3. David Rosenfelt—
Dog Tags

4. David Baldacci
—The Innocent

5. Harlan Coben
—Live Wire

Stephanie Lowe

1. Laura DiSilverio—
Die Buying

2. Janet Evanovich—
Smokin' Seventeen

3. Dorothy St. James—
The Scarlet Pepper

4. Miranda James
—File M for Murder

5. Lila Dare—
Die Job

Andrea Mason

1. Janet Evanovich—
Plum Spooky

2. Josie Belle—
50% off Murder

3. Allison Kingsley—
Mind Over Murder

4. Charlaine Harris
—Deadlocked

5. Bailey Cates
—Brownies and Broomsticks

“I
know we're here to celebrate Stephanie's birthday, and I don't want to take any of the shine away from your day, honey, but I was wondering if we could take a few minutes to go over the final plans for this weekend.” Molly Mathews looked around the table at the other three women, Lizzie Turner, Sally-Jo Baker and Stephanie Lowe, and they all nodded their agreement.

“Good. But first off, a most happy birthday to you, Stephanie. You've had quite the year and I say this truly: I'm so happy you've become part of our book club. No, it's more than that. I'm happy you're our friend. I hope this coming year will bring you true happiness.” Molly lifted her wineglass in a toast. “To Stephanie.”

Stephanie's grin covered most of her face. Lizzie hadn't seen her so excited since her baby, Wendy, was born the previous Christmas. Once again she looked so much younger than her now twenty years. Her shoulder-length brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail, showing off her new dangly red earrings, a gift from Lizzie; she'd started wearing more colorful eye makeup after the birth; and her figure had quickly gone back to a size six, as emphasized by the clingy white tunic top and black stretch pants she was wearing.

“To Stephanie,” Lizzie repeated. “I can't imagine the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society without you.”

“Nor the Book Nook,” Molly added. “You're my star bookseller.”

“Oh, stop it all now. Y'all are going to make me start crying. I don't know what I did to deserve such wonderful friends.” Stephanie swiped at the corner of her eye before a tear could fall.

Sally-Jo clinked her glass against Stephanie's. “It's all true. However, I'd be cautious if I were you. Never know what extra duties might flow your way this weekend once we have you good and buttered up,” she added with a chuckle.

Stephanie waited until the server had placed the three-tier cake stand filled with fancy tea sandwiches and scones in the center of the table. “I've always wanted to come to the High Tea here at the Jefferson Hotel. It's all so elegant and”—she spied the dessert tray at the next table—“fattening.”

They all laughed. “But I gotta tell y'all,” Stephanie continued, “I'm so excited about the mystery festival that I'm starting to lose sleep. It will be such fun meeting big-name authors and spending the whole day just talking mysteries. I'm sure glad you decided to do it, Molly.”

“It was not my decision entirely. I wouldn't have taken it on if the entire book club hadn't been so enthusiastic. Even with everyone pitching in, I had no idea how much work it would be.” She said it with a smile but Lizzie felt concerned that the oldest member was the one doing the most work.

“Is there something else we can be doing, Molly?” Lizzie asked. Not that Molly couldn't handle it. At seventy-three, she could match even Andie Mason, the youngest member of the book club, in the stamina department any day. Of that, Lizzie was certain.

Molly shuffled through the papers on the table next to her place setting. Lizzie could hear the clatter of teacups threaded with the soft din of voices. One didn't want to speak too loudly in the hotel's Echo Lounge.

“I don't think so,” Molly finally answered, having found the page she was searching for. “You'll be able to stop by the bed-and-breakfast on Thursday after school? I'll try to get there by about two
P.M.
I can't imagine that the Farrows will arrive any earlier. They said they'd be leaving Columbus after lunch and just take a leisurely drive over.”

“I'll be over. You can just text me when they arrive.” She grinned as Molly frowned. Although Molly was resisting learning to text, Lizzie had a feeling that she was also secretly intrigued by the idea. Lizzie would get her on board sooner than later. “When did you say the other authors are arriving?”

“Well, Jackson Pruitt said in the evening, and Lorelie Oliver won't be there until Friday afternoon. I sure hope she's here in plenty of time for the evening dinner I have planned. Ashley Briggs should also be arriving early Friday afternoon. That's the four of them. I can't imagine keeping track of any more authors than that.” Molly took a sip of her tea.

Sally-Jo moved the sandwiches closer to Stephanie, and after she'd chosen a smoked salmon pinwheel, helped herself to one of the same before passing the tiered stand over to Lizzie. “I've heard there's often a bit of tension between Lorelie Oliver and Margaret Farrow, or Caroline Cummings as she's known in the mystery world.”

“Really?” Molly asked. “I hadn't heard that. Oh dear. Let's hope we don't have a couple of divas on our hands.”

“Well they both have series with a Southern belle as protagonist,” Lizzie said. “That could put them in competition, don't you think?”

“They do, but Lorelie Oliver has a fashionista and Caroline Cummings writes about a caterer. You'd think that would provide enough distinction between the two,” Sally-Jo ventured. “I understand they're pretty much Southern belles themselves.”

“Now that could make things mighty interesting,” Molly reflected. “Does anyone know anything about Jackson Pruitt?”

“Only that Bob is extremely happy that we've got one writer on the list who has a police procedural. I haven't heard any gossip about him,” Sally-Jo added as she tucked a stray strand of auburn hair behind her ears. She'd started growing out her pixie cut but constantly complained about it getting in the way. Lizzie secretly hoped she'd go back to the shorter style, which totally suited her small build and large green eyes and hot-pink glass frames.

“Seems to me, since the three of them have appeared together before, at least that's what their promotional flyer said, then they should be able to cope. I hope Ashley Briggs doesn't get lost in the fray.” Lizzie had worried about adding the much younger author to the guest list but it was hard to turn down an enthusiastic writer who made such an earnest appeal to be included.

“Well, we'll all see that doesn't happen. Lizzie, as moderator of their panel on Saturday morning, you'll just have to keep them under control,” Molly reminded her.

“Yes'm,” Lizzie managed to say, her mouth full of goat cheese and watercress sandwich. She glanced around the room as she ate. She was lucky to have been able to schedule all her appointments for the morning. As the reading specialist with the Ashton Corners public school, her days consisted mainly of meetings with students, parents, and teachers. A far cry from the very chic lounge where they now sat, enjoying the ever-so-special High Tea.

Trust Molly to choose something so beyond Stephanie's usual activities as a birthday treat. In fact, Molly had insisted on treating them all. The room was full even though it was a Monday afternoon and the variety in ages spoke to the fact that gracious rituals still appealed to a wide range of women. The crisp white linen tablecloths, edged in a taupe trim, the plush taupe chairs, the crystal chandeliers and the expanse of window overlooking the back gardens made the setting idyllic. Lizzie realized how happy she felt to be in this place, at this time, and with her close friends.

“The food arrangements are all confirmed, Sally-Jo?” Molly asked, pulling Lizzie out of her reverie.

“They are. The Ladies' Guild of St. John's will prepare a salad and cold cuts buffet for lunch for the participants and the Baptist Women's Group at Bethany Church has a yummy hot menu set for supper.

“Now, try to visualize it,” she continued. “You're in the Picton Hall at the Eagles Center. We'll have the authors sitting on stage and the audience seated theatre-style facing them. That should take up about half the floor space. At the opposite end of the room, we'll set up the tables for lunch. It's really spacious so nobody should be crowded.”

“That's excellent. And both groups will attend to clean up?”

“They will. And they'll supply all the dishes and linens. I think we really lucked out here.”

Lizzie snagged another sandwich before the serving plate was removed and a bone china tray filled with squares, cookies and cakes put in its place. “I confirmed with George Havers at the
Colonist
that he'll have both a reporter and a photographer at the hall first thing on Saturday morning. We'll do a photo op with the authors to start and then he'll wander around and take pictures of the attendees for a couple of hours. If there's space, George will devote about half a page to the event in the following Thursday's newspaper.”

“The authors should be very pleased,” Molly said, adding, “not to mention that it's great publicity for the bookstore.” Since Molly had bought the closed store several months before, she and Lizzie had been working on rebranding the store away from the former owner and her misdeeds. It even had a new name, The Book Nook. The fact that almost everyone in Ashton Corners knew Molly and thought well of her for her many philanthropic ventures, made the task easier than it might otherwise have been.

Stephanie let out a low moan. “Oops, I'm so sorry,” she whispered, looking sheepishly at them. “It's this chocolate thingy. It's just the most delicious treat I've ever tasted. I had no idea. What's it called?”

Lizzie looked at the menu. “That must be the Viennese Chocolate Sable. I'll have to try some, too.”

Molly reached over and snagged the final mini vanilla meringue and placed it on Stephanie's plate. “Enjoy this, too, my dear. In fact, all of you enjoy today because come Thursday, we're headed for a weekend of mystery and mayhem.”