Free Organized for Homicide (Organized Mysteries Book 2) by Ritter Ames

promise to return in a moment. The woman offered her hand to Kate and said, "I'm sorry to take April away. The librarian won't keep her long. But while I have the chance, I want to take the opportunity to introduce myself. I'm Lee Ann Miller, Erin Parker's assistant. I'm so sorry about the horrible experience you had at the Collier house."
    For a moment, Kate almost responded with a comment about how sad the murder was, then realized Lee Ann 's remark might refer to the confrontation between Erin and Blaine Collier. She kept her response noncommittal. "Thank you for your concern and kind words. I appreciate you taking the time to introduce yourself, too. I've heard your name, and now I can put a face with it."
    Lee Ann grimaced. "I'm sure you heard my name a lot when you were around Erin. I hope I have the chance to let you see me in a different light than what she likely portrayed me as. My boss doesn't have much of an opinion of most people, and even less for those she works with at the agency."
    " Sounds like a kind of hostile environment."
    " Yes, and the natives are getting restless," Lee Ann replied, and laughed. "Well, it was good meeting you, Kate, and I hope to see you again soon. I knew your name, of course, from reading the story last month in the paper about catching Amelia Nethercutt's killer."
    " Like you, I hope you can get to know me for something other than that kind of sensational occurrence."
    Lee Ann sharpened her gaze. "But you were at the Colliers' when the murder took place."
    " I really didn't see anything."
    " But you did see when Sydney and Blaine Collier arrived afterward. Right?"
    " Soon after the emergency personnel, yes."
    " I'm glad you were there. You never know when something like that may be important. Blaine Collier can often be a bit brittle," Lee Ann said, taking a few steps away as she added, "You'll like working with April. She's nothing like Erin."
    With that, Lee Ann took off at a brisk pace, and April moved back into view, asking, "Where's your partner?"
    " Oh, she's here somewhere." Kate glanced around. Meg hoped to small talk her way into some clues, and Kate hoped she succeeded. Her neighbor's insider knowledge to the town was like a superpower. Everyone the women talked to that day received extra questions and attention from Meg. She always gave Kate a tiny nod whenever she spotted someone who looked promising. Despite the Colliers having only lived in Hazelton four years, Lila was originally from Burlington according to Gil, so the women were trying to determine how far back any of her Hazelton connections reached. They needed this information to determine who among their suspects looked more worthy than the rest, or if there were others they hadn't yet considered.
    Meg also hoped to dig up intel on Erin Parker, because as she put it "I really want her to be the baddie in this." Kate agreed up to a point. There was no love lost between her and Erin either, and frankly she preferred the idea of someone keeping the bat-crazy woman away from society. What Lee Ann had just said only confirmed their previous suspicions.
    " I'm here, I'm here," Meg said, stepping close again as they walked toward the room where the baked goods would be stored.
    The large room did double duty, as it also served as the location for each of the visiting authors to use for their presentations throughout the day. After a brief look inside, April checked her watch. "Oh, I do need to run. I have an out of town client coming, and I must prepare for an early breakfast meeting. He's only in town a few days, and I'm working to squeeze my schedule around his. Do either of you have any questions before I go?"
    " I'm fine. How about you, Kate?"
    " I think we're good. Thanks so much for showing us the ropes," Kate said.
    " Well, if you think of anything later, here's my card." April pulled two business cards from a side pocket of her purse. "Call me any time. I'm used to it. Also, Valerie James will be happy to answer