Free Trunk Show Murder (A Seagrove Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Leona Fox

this time she told me the square and we only have one square. I’ll run into her in a day or two and she’ll tell me she meant the square in Haverford or Portsmouth.”
     
    Sadie exchanged a glance with Lucy. That was a mistake neither of them would ever make with the other.
     
    “You and Lois are good friends?” Lucy asked.
     
    “I know what you are saying,” Shannon said. “Most people don’t make mistakes like that, but Lois gets mixed up about things. She doesn’t mean anything by it.”
     
    Sadie had her doubts. Lois didn’t seem like the kind to get confused. She wondered what Lucy was making of this.
     
    “I mean,” continued Shannon, “she didn’t have to call and tell me about the dance if she didn’t want me to be there.”
     
    “Of course she wanted you there,” Lucy said. “You are the life of the party.”
     
    “I am!” Shannon laughed. “I love a good party. My momma used to call me a social butterfly. I love to have a good time.”
     
    “What about your car?” Sadie asked. “You going to pick that baby up?”
     
    “Lois asked me to leave it for a couple of days. She thought she might need to borrow it. I’ll go in a couple of days. I don’t really need it to get around town.” Shannon shrugged. “I don’t mind.” She stood up. “I’m headed home. I’ve got plans for this evening.”
     
    “Are you getting dolled up in more pieces of your new bling and going dancing?” Lucy asked.
     
    “Yes, I am,” Shannon said. “I can’t wait. You should come. It’s going to be a rocking party.”
     
    “I’m the exact opposite of a social butterfly,” Sadie said. “I’m uncomfortable at parties with people I don’t know well.”
     
    “What about you, Lucy?” Shannon asked. “Do you want to come?”
     
    “Nah, I think I’ll keep Sadie company,” Lucy said. “I wouldn’t want her to be lonely.”
     
    “You’re a good friend,” Shannon said, “like Lois.” She grabbed her trash and said goodbye.
     
    “You are a good friend,” Sadie said to Lucy, “but you don’t have to keep me company.”
     
    “I know,” Lucy said. “But it seemed nicer to lie than to tell her I thought she was a little old for partying, or at least I’m a little old for partying.”
     
    “You’re right, considering she’s older than you…” Sadie said. “She might take it the wrong way.”
     
    “So what will you be doing this evening?” Lucy asked.
     
    “Tracking down Lois,” Sadie said. “I think she’s trying to frame both Shannon and Ryan Pallone.”
     
    “Both at once? That’s ambitious.”
     
    “And stupid, because it points the finger right back at herself. She would have done better to choose one or the other. Because Shannon doesn’t have a motive to ransack the Mayor’s office, but it’s her car that’s parked nearby.”
     
    “You aren’t going to track Lois down by yourself, are you?” Lucy asked. “Promise me you’ll take Zack with you.”
     
    “You don’t think Lois would kill me, do you?” Sadie asked.
     
    “I think she’d kill anyone who got in her way,” Lucy said. “So make sure you’ve got backup.”
     
    “Do you want to come and keep an eye on me?” Sadie asked.
     
    “No. Even Zack can’t keep you in line, I’d be useless. But don’t go out there alone, Sadie. Okay. If she murdered once, she could murder again. You know that.”
     
    “Look,” Sadie said, holding up her cell phone. “I’m calling him right now. I’m being safe.”
     
    But the Chief didn’t answer his phone so Sadie decided to head downtown in the direction of the station house. She was bound to find him down there somewhere. She put Mr. Bradshaw on his leash and walked into the twilight.
     
    Mr. Bradshaw liked walking downtown. There were all kinds of different smells around the square, and while the park would always be his favorite place, the town square was good for a change of pace. He stuck his nose in the air and sniffed, his tail