Free A Fatal Chapter by Lorna Barrett

else!”
    “And he didn’t give you a clue who it was he’d confronted?”
    Toni shook her head. “But it seemed like he was disappointed in the whole situation. That maybe he’d once considered the person who’d threatened him to be a friend.”
    And who was that friend? So far, no one Tricia had spoken to had admitted to being close to Pete. He had been a terrible flirt, yet it seemed he’d only felt comfortable being an acquaintance, not a true friend, to most of the people with whom he’d interacted.
    Perhaps the person who’d threatened him had carried out a death sentence. If so, it had to be someone right here in Stoneham. Someone everyone knew. But that was the thing; most of the villagers
did
know just about everyone else in Stoneham.
    “Toni,” a voice called.
    She looked toward the store’s office. “Sorry. Duty calls.”
    “Thanks for showing me around.”
    Toni gave Tricia a quick wave and then hurried off.
    Tricia stood in front of Pete’s booth, staring at his wide range of merchandise. How sad that all he had collected—loved—would be sold off, and for probably far less than its worth by whoever benefitted from his estate.
    Tricia reached for her cell phone and called Chief Baker. Voice mail picked up. She left a message relaying what Toni had told her, suggesting he give the Emporium’s manager a call. Ringing off, she looked up to see Angelica approach. “There you are.”
    “Toni was just showing me Pete Renquist’s booth.”
    “Oh.” Angelica pointed to the booth before them. “This one?”
    Tricia nodded. “Really old stuff. A lot different from the rest of the kitsch in here.”
    “I like kitsch in my café but don’t want it in my home. I suppose it’s fun to collect, and I want the Emporium to do well, so who cares about my opinion? Come on. We’d better get back to the office. I’ve got a lot to do today and no doubt so do you.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Tricia said, and saluted.
    They collected the scissors and ribbon and, on their way out, thanked everyone in sight. Tricia made sure to give Toni a wave, wishing she’d had more time to pump her for information.
    Pete had been a part of the Historical Society for a long time. And he’d been a longtime resident of Stoneham. Surely there were other people who’d known him well. And, as she and Angelica headed back to the Chamber, it occurred to Tricia that she knew a local close at hand who might have that kind of information.

SIX
    Angelica’s spirits always soared after a successful Chamber event, and she chattered on about the various conversations she’d had after the ceremony, but Tricia only half listened, pondering what Toni had told her about Pete. She’d tell Angelica about it—when her sister finally wound down.
    They arrived back at the Chamber office to find Earl Winkler impatiently waiting for them. “What took you so long?” he barked.
    “I’m sorry,” Angelica said. She spoke in that sickly sweet tone of voice again. “Did we have an appointment?”
    “No,” Earl admitted, “but your receptionist thought you should have been back long before this.”
    Angelica glanced at Mariana, who vehemently shook her head.
    “I’m sorry for the misunderstanding,” Angelica said politely. “Now, what was it you wanted, Earl?”
    “Selectman Winkler, if you please,” he insisted.
    Tricia had to cover her mouth and clear her throat in an effort to keep from laughing, but Angelica merely smiled. “Selectman.”
    “I want it made clear, and in front of witnesses,” he added, eyeing Tricia and Mariana, “that I had nothing to do with Pete Renquist’s death.”
    “Does anyone suspect you of it?” Angelica asked.
    “Well, no. But we had words the morning of his death—you were a witness to it—and I don’t want the situation misconstrued.”
    “By whom?” Angelica pressed.
    “The police, for one.”
    “Did they contact you about it?” she asked.
    “Well, no. But it’s well known that you—and