That Wasn't Chicken by Linda Kozar

Author:Linda Kozar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery meat, murder, cozy mystery, BBQ, investigate
Publisher: Kozy Kozar Mysteries
Published: 2017-08-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Crown of Glory was abuzz when I walked in. Mothers and daughters buzzed through the boutique part of the salon looking for homecoming dresses. And on the salon side, I counted six clients in our waiting area twirling their thumbs or leafing through magazines as they waited for their names to be called. And everybody was talking about the grizzly discovery in the freezer at Sammy’s Smokehouse.

Jolene and Charla smiled when I walked in bearing a plate of food for each of them, complete with a hefty slice of cake and a to-go cup of kiddie punch. Sue Jan insisted on slicing into the cake so the girls could have a slice. I set their plates on the café lunch table in our curtained prep area.

Barbara Stone was the name scrawled on the calendar. My client showed up on the dot—right at 1:00. A smallish woman, with pale skin creased like an old church bulletin, she smiled as she approached the front desk. My own mouth started to come unhinged when she smiled wide, revealing teeth like rows of corn nuts. But I held my lips together somehow, and her English accent easily diverted my attention the moment I got past looking at her not-so-pearly-whites.

“Miz Stone?”

“Why yes, are you Lovita?”

“I am.”

Talking to this woman should be interesting. We’d have a lot in common since my mother-in-law lived in England. I couldn’t wait to ask what part of the country she lived in.

She tilted her head. “My, what an unusual name you have. Is that a true Texas moniker?”

“A what?”

The woman smiled again. “Is yours a traditional Texas name? Are you what they call a ‘redneck’ or ‘hillbilly’?”

With those teeth, she had the nerve to ask me a question like that?

“I’m not sure,” I answered first. “I’ve never personally met anyone else with the name, but there probably are a few Lovitas out there.” I cleared my throat. “And as for the redneck, I don’t know. Does my neck look red to you?” I laughed off what she said, figuring she was from a different country and didn’t understand.

I gestured to an empty station near the picture window. “Have a seat and we’ll have a talk about what you want done.”

“Thank you.” She sat down. I came up behind her and we both stared at each other from our reflections in the mirror.

“So, I hear you want an updo. Are you going to a special event or something?”

“Why yes, my husband and I happened to be in Texas for a special board meeting and happened to receive an impromptu invitation from an old friend of ours to attend an exclusive dinner party tonight.”

My heart jumped. “Is it an invitation to a dinner party at a hunting lodge?”

“Yes, you’ve no doubt heard that from other clients.”

I smiled, “Not exactly. Actually, I’m going to that same dinner.”

Her face fell. “Really?”

So much for “exclusive.”

“Uh huh. Me and my husband are invited and my business partner, Sue Jan and her husband, the Mayor of Wachita are going.

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