Free Trouble in the Tarot by Kari Lee Townsend

still in shock over all that had happened.
    “So much so that it appears they conspired to commit murder. Trixie said they went off in search of Bernadette and their merchandise. Meanwhile, I got an anonymous phone call at the office saying Granny and Fiona were seen getting into Granny’s car together and driving off. Not long after, we received a 911 call that Bernadette Baldwin had been hit by a big white Cadillac. I drove there myself only to find Bernadette beneathGranny’s car with Fiona and Granny fighting over her BB’s Baked Goods box of turnovers.”
    “That just doesn’t make any sense,” I said.
    “That’s what I thought, so I asked them about it. I do have to say they both seemed surprised and a bit horrified when they discovered Bernadette was beneath the car. They both say they went outside, but Granny’s car was missing. When they walked down the hill a ways, they spotted it on the curb in the distance.”
    “Why didn’t they call the police then?” Mitch asked.
    “They had planned on it, but once they reached it, they found Granny’s cookies and purse as well as Fiona’s pie and handbag on the front seat. They got distracted with Bernadette’s turnovers about ten feet away. With more questions than answers, they were fighting over who was going to return the box of turnovers and speculating over what might have happened to her.”
    “I’m sure they are telling the truth,” I said. “Someone else must be trying to set them up. Someone has been trying to sabotage the carnival from the beginning. That same person could have killed Bernadette, knowing the carnival would be cancelled for sure that way.”
    “I understand this is upsetting for you, Sunny, and I promise we will look into every lead, but between the threats they were heard giving Bernadette earlier after the auction, the anonymous phone call saying they were seen together in the car, and me finding them at the scene of the crime, things don’t look good for either of them. Not to mention the note from Bernadetteaddressed to me personally that was found beneath the turnovers in the bottom of the box.”
    “N-Note?” I swallowed hard.
    “It said, ‘I hope you like these turnovers the best. I deserve to win. Granny Gert and Fiona Atwater are plum crazy. In fact, I think they want to kill me.’” The captain met my eyes with sympathy as he added, “Bernadette’s death has been ruled a murder. Granny and Fiona are pleading innocent, but with all the evidence against them, they’ve both been arrested.”
    “This is insane,” I said.
    “Divinity doesn’t need another scandal. Chief Spencer wants this case wrapped up immediately. That doesn’t mean we’re not investigating every angle. It just means we don’t have much time. It also means since you’re so close to this case, we won’t be using your help this time.”
    I gasped. “But Mayor Cromwell—”
    “Is out of town on political business,” Mitch chimed in.
    “And Chief Spencer has never liked me,” I finished glumly.
    “I’m assigning Mitch to the case,” Captain Walker said. “You just worry about taking care of your grandmother and keeping your nose out of trouble.”
    “Finally, someone is talking sense,” Mitch said to the captain.
    “Excuse me?” I asked, my jaw falling open.
    “Don’t get me wrong,” Mitch quickly clarified. “Ithink you’re great, just not a great detective. I’m back and better than ever.”
    “Oh, you’re back, all right, but hardly better than ever. And to think I almost wasted a whole evening to find that out.”
    “Sunny, come on. Don’t be like that.” He reached out to touch my hand, but I moved away.
    “Don’t you Sunny me. I’ve never tried to be a detective or to do your job. But I have helped this department in many ways. I am a good consultant, whether you believe in my gifts or not.”
    “All right, you two. Arguing isn’t going to help Granny Gert one bit.” Captain Walker shot Mitch a look that