Lanterns, Lakes, & Larceny (A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 21) by Tonya Kappes

Author:Tonya Kappes [Kappes, Tonya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tonya Kappes Books
Published: 2021-09-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The Laundry Club Ladies were waiting for me when I got to book club a little late.

“Sorry, y’all.” I juggled the box of cookies from the Cookie Crumble that I had barely had time to pick up before Christine Watson closed for the night. “Things have gotten a little crazy since Tucker ID’ed a gun for hire to try to kill Judie Doughty.”

“I tell you what.” Queenie had on her shiny orange leggings, matching sweatshirt with “Jazzercise” printed across it, and an orange headband pushing her short blond hair off her face. She unzipped her fanny pack and took out her lipstick. She applied a fresh coat.

We all gave her a funny look.

“If I put on lipstick, I won’t eat a cookie.” She worked so hard to keep her sixty-something figure in shape.

“I’ll take hers.” Dottie put both her hands in the cookie box and pulled out two big cookies.

“As I was saying,” Queenie continued, “not many people in that fundraiser spoke too highly of the Doughtys.”

“I heard that, too, but I didn’t want to say anything,” Betts said. She got up and walked over to the vending machine where customers could buy laundry detergent after a customer was banging on the glass front.

“Did you hear any specifics?” I asked.

“I didn’t hear a thing.” Abby shook her head. “I was too busy wondering what book we were going to read next. I was hoping we’d pick the next Nadine book.” She reached down and grabbed a new Christmas release from her favorite author, who had actually come to our book club after she’d booked a camper in Happy Trails Campground as a winter writing retreat.

“I love me a good Christmas romance and kiss under that mistletoe.” Dottie chowed down on another cookie.

“You better take it easy,” Queenie warned her. “All those extra calories add up.”

“You mind your business.” Dottie stuffed the cookie in her mouth.

The more we tried to change Dottie’s eating habits, smoking habit, and physical health, the more she pushed back.

“I’m just saying it because I love you, that’s all.” Queenie moved the conversation to Abby. “You were late the other night, so I bet that’s why you didn’t hear all the gossip beforehand.”

“I got there as soon as the auction was over. Coke handed me a tray of those finger sandwiches and took my bag, sending me right out there.” Abby laughed. “I was late because I had this guy at the library looking at all the maps of the trails.”

“What?” The whole maps-and-trail thing got my attention.

“I don’t know his name. Why?” Abby wondered.

“Did you see what map and trails he was looking at?” I had to know, just in case it was the gun for hire making his escape.

“He mentioned the fundraiser.” Abby’s eyes grew big. “He said he wasn’t staying at the motel but knew there were some good trails to hike. I told him about your new trail. I told him about the cascades at Cat Camp Creek and Tear Trace Trail.” She gulped.

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