Free Eggs in a Casket (A Cackleberry Club Mystery) by Laura Childs Page A

found.”
    “He does?”
    “As the crow flies anyway,” said Dale. “If Sheriff Doogie is still fishing around for a suspect, I’d recommend he go talk to Karl Studer.”
    “He
is
looking at a number of suspects,” said Suzanne.
    She wondered, could Studer be an actual suspect? Could he be Drummond’s killer? Was this mystery not such a big mystery after all? Could it all be wrapped up and tied with a bow in a matter of, well, minutes?
    “If Doogie wanders in here,” said Dale, “you might want to put a bug in his ear.”
    “I think I might do that,” said Suzanne.
    * * *
    WHEN Petra finally blew into the kitchen just after eleven o’clock, they were all thrilled—and a little relieved—to see her.
    “Whew,” said Toni, dumping a stack of dirty plates into the sink. “I’m sure glad you’re back.”
    “Hey, it’s the Kitchen Queen!” said Suzanne. She was happy to relinquish her post at the stove. Better to work the front of the house where she could chat up the customers and keep things humming.
    Petra smiled her crooked, knowing smile. “You guys couldn’t do it without me, could you?” She reached into her pocket for a tortoiseshell barrette and poked it into her short hair.
    “Oh, we can do it, we just don’t
like
to do it,” said Toni.
    “So tell us,” said Suzanne. “How was the ceremony?”
    “Yeah, did anybody show up?” asked Toni. “Did you guys warble your little hearts out?”
    “The cemetery rededication turned out to be quite lovely,” said Petra. “And surprisingly well attended.”
    “I figured it would be,” said Suzanne. She decided there was nothing like the scene of a crime to ensure a full house.
    Petra opened the oven door, peered at her pork roast, and smiled. “Lookin’ good. Smellin’ good, too.”
    “I did everything exactly as you instructed,” said Suzanne.
    “I bet you had to sit through all sorts of boring speeches,” said Toni, wrinkling her nose.
    “There were a couple of speeches, yes,” said Petra, ever the diplomat. “But they were really quite moving, talking about the early settlers and how the people of Kindred have been tasked to carry on their hopes and dreams.”
    “And what else?” said Toni. “Besides singing and speeches?”
    Petra draped a red calico apron around her neck. “Oh, let’s see. One of the Boy Scout troops carried off a rather snappy flag ceremony, and the vets from the VFW gave a twenty-one gun salute.”
    “Hah!” said Toni. “Considering what happened out there, maybe you shoulda had a twenty-one
stun
salute!”
    “Toni!” admonished Petra. “That’s an awful thing to say.”
    “I thought it was kind of funny,” said Toni.
    “No, it just makes me sad,” said Petra.
    “But even
you
didn’t like Drummond,” said Toni, backpedaling. “And you hardly dislike anyone!”
    Suzanne stepped in. “At least the weather cleared a little and your choir was able to sing.”
    “Thanks goodness,” said Petra. “After all the practicing we did.”
    “What songs did you sing?” asked Suzanne.
    “‘Shout from the Highest Mountain’ and ‘I Will Remember You.’”
    “Nice,” said Toni. “The feel-good churchy songs.”
    “I’m just glad the whole thing wasn’t cancelled,” said Suzanne. She knew a lot of people had been planning hard for this celebration and the nasty business with Drummond could have easily derailed it.
    “I hope it’s going to be sunny and warmer tomorrow,” said Petra. “It would be nice to have the weather cooperate for the candlelight walk.”
    “What’s that?” said Toni. “This is the first I’ve heard of any candlelight walk.”
    “Don’t you read the
Bugle
?” asked Petra.
    “Sometimes,” said Toni. “When they print, you know, horoscopes and winning lottery numbers and stuff.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “So what’s this candlelight walk all about, anyway?”
    “It’s going to be very solemn and lovely,” said Petra. “There’ll be candles