Free Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett Page A

Because you went snooping, he’s got a murder case to solve and he asked for my assistance and I’m asking for yours.”
    â€œI’m not sure how much help I can be. I’m only a dispatcher for the county sheriff’s department. I’ve got zero training in anything else except for what I’ve learned in my online courses in criminal justice.”
    â€œOh, please! You’re dying to put what you’ve learned to use.”
    Sherri avoided meeting her eyes. “Maybe.”
    â€œAt least you have some training. And that’s exactly why I want you to watch my back. This whole mess needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. Every canceled booking means the company comes closer to financial ruin. I can’t let that happen to Strathspey . To be trite, the show must go on.”
    â€œSo you’re going to question people. I don’t know, Liss. Remember what almost happened the last—”
    â€œDon’t say it! This time it will be different. That’s why I stopped here to get you.”
    â€œAnd if we stumble over the most likely person to have killed Victor Owens?”
    â€œWe call in the troops. No heroics. No trying to talk that person into surrendering.” She really had learned her lesson. Anyone could be a killer, and killers tended to go to great lengths to keep from getting caught.
    â€œOkay, then.” Sherri hadn’t really needed much convincing. She snagged her parka off a peg on the back of the door, stopping only to address Mrs. Willett, who was in the living room, building a castle out of blocks with Adam. “Mom, I need to go out for a while. Can you watch Adam for the rest of the afternoon?”
    No answer. Mrs. Willett didn’t even look up.
    â€œMom?”
    â€œAre you going to miss supper?” The words were muffled but loaded with acid.
    â€œI don’t know. Don’t wait for me, okay? Go ahead and eat when you and Adam get hungry.”
    Mrs. Willett glared at Liss.
    Despicable old witch , Liss thought. But since Ida Willett was Sherri’s mother, she kept her opinion to herself.
    â€œSo, what’s the plan?” Sherri asked once they were on the road.
    â€œI made a list.” Liss handed it over. “The ones with checkmarks are those who had particular reason to dislike Victor.”
    Sherri gave a low whistle. Just over half of the twenty-nine names were marked.
    â€œOf course I told Detective Tandy all this, and by now he’s talked to everyone, but I can’t help but think there may have been something he missed.”
    â€œOr they just might be more willing to open up to you.”
    â€œRight.” And didn’t that make her feel like a turncoat! “I thought we’d start at the Fallstown Motor Lodge. Most of the company have rooms there.” She’d booked twenty people into the fifteen-room motel, including Victor.
    â€œWhat’s your excuse for stopping by?” Sherri asked.
    At least that was open and aboveboard. “I’m letting everyone know they can stay another day where they are.”
    â€œAnd that gives you a good lead-in to bring up the reason they’re staying longer. Good thinking.”
    â€œSherri? Can Gordon compel them to stick around indefinitely?”
    â€œNot really, no. He can make it sound like they have to stay put, but there’s nothing he can do if they all decide to get on the company bus and head out. Of course, if he arrests someone and there’s a trial, they’ll subpoena people to come back and testify.”
    â€œWhat about material witnesses?”
    â€œYou’ve been reading mysteries again, haven’t you? I don’t know what Gordon Tandy’s turned up since I last saw him, but all he had then was a suspicious death to investigate. I expect the autopsy will prove Victor Owens died from a reaction to mushrooms. Analysis will show there were mushrooms in that one batch of cocktail