Free Scotched by Kaitlyn Dunnett Page A

“For the same reason some people watch reality shows. They like to feel superior. And Jane’s clever with words. I’ll give her that much. Some people find her kind of venom entertaining. I did myself until she turned it on me.”
    â€œThe biggest problem is that blogs reach everywhere,” Liss said. “This won’t be just a local story.”
    â€œStill sounds like a tempest in a teapot to me,” Betsy Twining cut in. “It’s only been, what? Three hours since you first met this woman? Don’t you think you could have slept on the problem before going to Code Red?” Like Patsy, Betsy had to be up at the crack of dawn.
    â€œShe threatened to link Liss and, by extension, all of Moosetookalook to a series of four murders over the last two years,” Dan pointed out. “That’s a threat that’s hard to take lightly.”
    â€œAre you sure she has all that much influence?” Patsy fought a yawn, lost, and apologized for being so sleepy. “Past my bedtime,” she mumbled.
    â€œI’ve never even heard of her,” Angie chimed in.
    There was an immediate chorus of “me neithers.”
    â€œMaybe we haven’t, but folks from away, the ones we want to attract here as tourists, apparently do read her blog.”
    â€œIf you’re right about that,” Stu said, looking morose, “then we’re already dead.”
    â€œWho’s dead?” a new voice asked. “Does someone need my services?”
    Stu gave a derisive snort. “Like Preston’s Mortuary is hurting for business!”
    â€œJoin the party, Doug,” Liss invited as the newcomer stepped into her living room. In addition to being the local mortician, he was also one of the village selectman. Even though he was often prickly to deal with, Liss was glad he’d been able to attend the meeting.
    The term “gentleman” might have been invented just for Doug. Liss didn’t think she’d ever seen him wearing anything less formal than a suit and tie. He had an upright carriage and a refined manner that came very close to straying over the line into supercilious. How he’d produced a son like young Frank, best described as careless and slovenly, was a mystery no one in Moosetookalook had been able to solve.
    Doug was yet another of the longtime village residents who had seemed so ancient to Liss when she was growing up. She’d been surprised to realize, when she returned to the village as an adult, that he was the same age as Aunt Margaret. They’d gone to high school together. The fact that he’d married a woman more than twenty years his junior, back when Liss herself had been in junior high, had once struck her as creepy. Now she supposed, when she thought about it at all, that Doug would have considerable appeal to women who liked the suave, reserved type.
    Doug glanced around the room, looking for an empty chair. He froze when he caught sight of Nola. “Well, as I live and breathe. Nola Ventress.”
    â€œHello, Doug.” Nola was back to whispering.
    Liss frowned. Was it her imagination, or had there been a distinct rise in tension in the air? Nola was actually trembling. While Dan recapped the situation for Doug’s benefit, Liss studied the faces of those gathered in her living room. Two of them seemed more alert. Stu had an anticipatory gleam in his eyes. Aunt Margaret looked more worried than ever.
    â€œWhat does this woman look like?” Doug asked.
    Liss described Jane, emphasizing her size and her all-gray ensemble. She’d have stood out in downtown Moosetookalook, and Liss wasn’t surprised when Betsy spoke up.
    â€œI think I saw her late this morning,” the beautician said. “She was going into the library just as I was coming out.”
    Doing her research, Liss thought. And soaking up gossip. Dolores Mayfield, the town librarian, would have been happy to dish the dirt, even with a