Traveling Town Mystery Boxset by Ami Diane

Author:Ami Diane [Diane, Ami]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-26T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

ELLA SNEAKED A lemon bar from the plate meant for Mrs. Tanner as she traipsed along the trail. She nodded her head and called out a greeting at a couple of people as she passed the Romani camp. Chapman’s conversation with them had obviously failed to get his point across. She’d have to make a second trip to bring them their container of lemon squares and see why they hadn’t left yet.

The conversation with Wink replayed in Ella’s mind, stuck on an endless loop. Wink’s guarded expression, the lines tight with fear.

Ella sighed, the plate growing heavy in her arms. She couldn’t change the past, but hopefully, she could prove her loyalty to Wink by finding Stan’s killer.

Her steps slowed as she neared the brownstone house and detached garage she’d seen Mrs. Tanner cleaning out.

Like most houses in Keystone, the abode appeared quaint and picturesque, complete with a short picket fence and rhododendrons. But that’s where the similarities ended.

Before, Ella had overlooked the overgrown brown grass and the cracked flower pot on the porch holding a dead plant. She stepped onto the askew welcome mat, craning her neck to see inside the dark front window. It didn’t look like anyone was home.

Balancing the plate of goodies with one hand, she rapped her knuckles on the door. Then, she toed the mat into place so it lined up with the front of the house.

She shifted on her feet and waited. She shifted again and began to hum the theme song for the Brady Bunch.

She was just about to leave when she heard muffled footsteps on the other side. The door cracked open, and a pale face stared back at her.

“What do you want?”

Ella’s mouth pressed into a tight smile, her eyebrows pinching in the middle. She lifted the heavy plate, hoping the small breeze would pick up the lemony scent and carry it to the widow’s nose.

“Wink thought you might want these. I hope you like lemon squares because if you do, there’s plenty more where this came from. Like, a lot. Like, I’m not sure there’s a single lemon left in the greenhouses.”

The crack in the door widened, and Mrs. Tanner’s point-shaped nose poked out. “Is that for the whole neighborhood?”

“You’d think, wouldn’t you?” Testing her luck, she added, “Mind if I come in and set these down. It’s getting a bit heavy. I don’t have your—” Her eyes flitted down to Lilly’s biceps. “I’m not very in shape.” Ella’s arms had actually begun to twitch, increasing the likelihood that the plate was destined to crash to the ground and underscoring the fact that she really needed to start doing pushups.

Mrs. Tanner frowned at Ella but nudged the door aside. After following her into the dining room, Ella set the plate on an old, oak table.

Massaging her arms, she took in the space. The house was dark and cold, neglected and full of secrets.

“I saw you at the meeting,” Mrs. Tanner said. “You’re new here, aren’t you?” The question was more of a statement, unfriendly.

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