Free Honeysuckle Homicide (Trash-to-Treasure Crafting Mystery) by Rose Pressey

town.”
    Yeah, now she was the top agent since Luke was gone. I had wanted to talk with Darcy about the murder, but now I was just too angry. I couldn’t even think straight.
    I stepped to the side so she’d know it was her invitation to leave. “Yes, I’ll make sure to call you.”
    “The fireplace in this room is to die for.” She gestured over her shoulder.
    Darcy was right. The fireplace was great. It had a mantel with intricate details of little flowers and scrolls. A queen-sized bed sat in the middle of my room. I’d added a white comforter and many pillows. Windows flanked the sides with views into the back yard.
    “I’m still not interesting in selling,” I said.
    Darcy nodded and then stepped out of the room. I followed her as she walked down the hall. She turned to me when she reached the door. “Sorry again.”
    “No problem,” I said through a fake smile.
    Darcy stepped outside and down the steps. I watched as she walked down the sidewalk. I still wanted to know what made her think it was okay to just come in the house. I supposed that was something I would never know.
    Had e veryone gone crazy in this town? Oh, who was I kidding? They’d been crazy from the start.

Chapter Eleven
     
    I was working on my new table project outside on the front porch. I’d been sanding off the old paint and was ready to start with the new color. The soft shade of rose would be perfect for the feminine bedroom I had planned. I wanted to use mostly white in the room with pink accents. The table would be ideal for that. It wasn’t big, so it should be a fast and easy project. Plus, I could write about it in next week’s newspaper article. Claire Ann would be happy to know I wasn’t waiting until the last minute this time.
    I d ipped the brush into the pink paint and started stroking the bristles across the wood. The strong sensation of being watched came over me. I tried to ignore it, but the longer I painted the more it stayed with me. I placed the brush onto the newspaper I’d set out and looked over my shoulder. My feeling had been right. Someone was watching me.
    Connie Dayton stood at the gate. When she realized I was looking back at her, she waved. Why was she just standing out there? Today she wore a lavender dress and had her hair twisted up in the back. As far as I knew she didn’t live close by, so I had no idea why she would be here.
    “Hello, Raelynn,” Connie said. “Do you mind if I come in?”
    I stepped off the porch. “Please come in.”
    Sure, I thought she was strange, but I still wasn’t going to be rude. Her behavior was different from when I’d last seen her at the yard sale. Maybe she wasn’t angry with me anymore.
    Connie opened the gate and stepped through. “I was just walking by and saw you on the porch. This house is beautiful.”
    “Thank you.” I peek ed up at my grand Victorian.
    “So you’re thinking of selling it?” she asked.
    “Like I said, I haven’t made that decision.”
    She seemed awfully interested in the sale of my house. Maybe she wanted to buy it.
    She narrowed her eyes. “I thought I saw Darcy Parish leaving your house.”
    I frowned. “Do you live in the area?”
    A slight smile curved her lips. “I’m visiting a dear friend who lives down the street.”
    “Oh, okay. Well, I guess I’d better get back to my painting before the brush dries.”
    Connie eyed my project. “Do you like crafts?”
    I suppose she was just being friendly and I had been too suspicious of her. “I do enjoy them.” I smiled.
    “ Have you heard any details about the murder?” Connie had moved right on to the next topic.
    “No, I haven’t,” I said.
    “I thought maybe you had inside information since you’re dating the sheriff.”
    Okay, now I was back to being suspicious of her. She really was kind of nosy. How did she know so much about me? “He doesn’t share that kind of information with me.”
    Wait until she found out that Ross’ lawyer was staying at my