Free Halloween in Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 6) by Kathi Daley

“Would you like to try one?”
    “I would.”
    “Girls?” Jenna asked Ashley, Gracie, Kristi, and Kari. All four girls held out their hands for a cookie.
    “I’ll box them up and then we’ll need to get going. I hoped Mom would be here to deliver the cookies, but she got tied up at the auction she attended today, so we’ll need to drop them off on our way.”
    “We don’t have time to stop at the senior center,” Ashley complained. “We need to hurry if we’re going to stop for dinner before we go to the movie.”
    “I’ll hurry at the senior center, and I thought we’d stop to pick up some tacos,” Jenna said. “They’re having a special and they’re fast, so we should have plenty of time to eat and get you to the movie on time.”
    “Can we get ice cream?” Kari asked.
    “Once we drop off the older girls we can do whatever you and Gracie want,” Jenna promised. “Kristi, can you run around to the loading door and make sure it’s locked?”
    “Yeah, okay.”
    Ashley followed Kristi as she trotted off toward the antique side of the store. When they’d converted the space, they’d added a large garage-style door off the alley to use for loading and unloading the antique furniture Helen purchased to refinish and sell. What had started as a hobby had turned into a lucrative career. Helen had a good eye and seemed to know right off which pieces would bring a big profit and which were best to pass on. In Tj’s opinion it was the way she artfully displayed the finished pieces in period arrangements that set her antique business above the rest.
    “I noticed you finished redecorating your front window,” Tj commented as Jenna packaged the baked goods she’d prepared. “It looks really good. Spooky yet friendly.”
    “Thanks. I spent most of the morning working on it. I wanted to do something special because most of our graduating class is going to be in town to see it. I’m sure it doesn’t compare to the big city windows many of our former classmates are used to, but I think it turned out nice.”
    “Well, I love it. I find I’m really in the Halloween spirit despite the fact that I’ve been crazy busy this week.”
    “Things crazy at work?”
    “They are, and in addition to Halloween, we have the reunion, homecoming, and tons of people in town.”
    “I imagine the resort is booked for the weekend thanks to the reunion,” Jenna speculated.
    “We’ve been booked for this weekend for at least two months. Still, with everything that’s going on, I won’t be a bit surprised if we have some cancelations.”
    “What do you mean?” Jenna asked.
    “I’m referring to the investigation into Holly’s murder that Second Look is doing.”
    Jenna set the boxes she’d finished filling to the side. “Did you meet with Samantha Colton today?”
    “I did.”
    “And?”
    “It was interesting. Very interesting. I’ll tell you about it later, when there aren’t little ears to overhear.”
    “I don’t have little ears,” Gracie complained. “They’re the right size for my body.”
    Tj laughed. “That’s not what I meant.”
    “I guess I’m ready,” Jenna announced. “It appears we lost Kristi and Ashley, however.”
    “I’ll load the younger two into your car while you fetch the older ones,” Tj offered.
    “There’s an extra booster seat in the cargo area if you want to use it for Gracie rather than moving the one from your car into mine.”
    “Okay, awesome.”
    “Oh, and grab those two boxes. I’m going to donate some day-old pastries to the senior center as long as I have to stop there anyway.”
    They dropped off the cookies, grabbed a quick meal, and left the two older girls at the movie theater, and Gracie and Kari decided they wanted to go to the video arcade at Rob’s Pizza rather than walk around town because it was still raining. That gave Tj and Jenna the opportunity to catch up, sharing adult conversation over a glass of wine on the sidelines.
    “So how did the