Spring fair fatality, p.1
Spring Fair Fatality, page 1
Spring Fair Fatality
Copyright © 2023 by Nikki Hensley
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Summer Slope Sabotage
About the Author
One
The first wild crocuses pushed through the thawing ground. Their delicate purple flowers signaled the arrival of spring in Pineview. Patches of snow remained around town, but enthusiasm for the warm season to come filled the air. Spring was a treat for all of the senses. Flocks of geese honked as they arrived for the season. Spurts of greenery began popping up all over the place. Buds just waiting to transform into magnificent leaves and flowers filled the deciduous trees and plants. To me, even the air smelled differently in spring. As the cold months melted away the atmosphere was bursting with renewal and new life.
Today wasn't just any spring day. It was my birthday. I had officially left my twenties behind and entered the third decade of my life. After work, I was going to my best friend Lizzie's house for a girls' night to celebrate. I was looking forward to it.
"Good morning, Luna!" Maggie called. Maggie Talbot, divorcee and Pineview staple, was always out early in the mornings. No matter the weather, she always made it out for her morning exercise. "I sure am glad to see the flock has joined our friends over in the pond," she said, gesturing toward the large gathering of geese. She was power walking in my direction.
"Me too," I agreed. "Looks like most of the ice is gone." One lone pair of geese had stuck around all winter. As the pond in the park thawed, more birds had joined the pair. None of us knew why the two birds had remained throughout winter, but I was glad to see they were no longer alone. I'd theorized that maybe the couple, like many of us, loved Pineview too much to leave it. Or perhaps they'd simply needed a break from the rest of their family. Guess we'd never know.
"Sure is." Maggie beamed. She inhaled a deep breath. "I just love this time of year." Maggie was wearing one of her color-coordinated winter exercise outfits. Peach this time. The temperatures would remain brisk throughout April, but, somehow, it was easier to enjoy the cold when you knew spring and summer were just around the corner. She reached me on the path, and her feet kept marching quickly in place.
"Are you ready for the Spring Fair this weekend?" I asked. Pineview always kicked off the spring season with an annual fair. Artists and makers from all around came to town. Booths boasting handmade goods of all sorts filled the park area. Set up for this year's event would begin today. It was always a great weekend for Luna's Lunchette. My restaurant would be serving specials to marketgoers on Thursday and Friday. I planned to spend Saturday doing a little shopping of my own at the fair.
Maggie nodded. "I'll be setting up my booth in a few hours. I've got some beautiful prints from my resident artist. Raven paints breathtaking landscapes. She's got a few pieces painted right here in Pineview. A scene from Moose Meadows is one of my favorites. I think the prints are going to be a big hit this weekend."
"I've seen some of Raven's work in the front window of the gallery. She's very talented." Maggie owned the High Altitude Gallery in downtown Pineview. She had a keen eye when it came to art. Throughout the year, the gallery hosted a variety of different artists. Everyone from photographers to sculptors. "I can't wait to see what you've got tomorrow."
"Be sure to stop by the booth." Maggie smiled as she waved and walked off.
I stepped off the walking path and headed toward Luna's Lunchette. The grass in the park was still mostly brown from winter, but a few green blades were starting to poke through. It was Wednesday, which meant pasta and a sweet treat. I'd be serving large stuffed shells in a homemade sauce with birthday cake squares on the side. A fun little nod to my big day. Yesterday afternoon, I'd baked a vanilla sheet cake with colorful sprinkles mixed into the batter. I spread a whipped chocolate buttercream frosting layer on the cake and topped it all with additional rainbow sprinkles. I planned to slice the cake into squares to serve along with the shells.
Before I reached the door to my lunchette, my neighbor, Jo, hopped down out of her coffee car. She was holding something behind her back and trying hard to stop a wide grin from breaking free.
"Birthday girl!" The ear-to-ear grin filled her face. Her hand swung around from behind her, and she proudly held out an extra-large, extra-fancy looking beverage. "I whipped up something special for you." She squinted at me. Her voice dropped. "It's the big 3-0, right?" she whispered exaggeratedly.
I nodded and let out a short laugh. "It's okay, my turning thirty is no big secret."
"Of course not"—she waved the notion off—"I didn't mean to imply anything by it. I remember my thirtieth, Hyder and I were newly married." Her expression drifted off to a dreamy place. "Ah, to be a newlywed again." Jo and her husband Hyder ran a coffee business in the railcar next to my lunchette. Jo was sweet but she also loved to remind me that I was single and she was happily married. She was about to drag me down a rabbit hole. I needed to turn things around, and quickly.
"So, what's in the special drink?" I asked with an enthusiastic smile.
"Oh yes! Silly me." She shook her head. "I drifted off into memory land there for a moment. This"—she extended her arm—"is something brand new. I think I'll call it a birthday latte. It's got just the right mix of vanilla, hazelnut and chocolate. I topped it with coconut whipped cream and, of course, chocolate sprinkles."
"Mmm. That sounds delicious." I'd already had two cups of coffee at home, but I had to admit, I was intrigued by the elaborate concoction masquerading as coffee. I wrapped my hand around the warm cup. "Thanks so much, Jo. This is very sweet of you." I took a sip. "Very sweet." I forced a smile. The sugary beverage almost made my teeth hurt.
Jo beamed. "Yay! I'm so glad you like it." She did a fast clap with her hands. "I better get back in there. Have a wonderful day, Luna."
"Thank you. You too. And thanks again for this." I lifted the cup in a toast.
I stepped into the railcar that housed my business, Luna's Lunchette. The space was my little home away from home. I set the sugary drink on the counter. If I finished that whole thing I would be buzzing on a major sugar and caffeine high long before the lunch hour rolled around, and I had work to do. I'd prepared the stuffed shells on Tuesday afternoon, boiling the pasta and stuffing each shell with a luscious herby, cheesy filling. I slid the trays out of the refrigerator and placed them on the counter. A salty mixture of grated parmesan and mozzarella would be sprinkled on top, and a flavorful marinara sauce would crown the dish before baking.
While the ovens preheated, I set to work slicing the cake into squares. My favorite playlist thrummed out of the portable speaker I had set up in the kitchen. I found myself humming along and swaying my hips with the rhythm as I dragged my knife through the fluffy, colorful cake. I'd never been one to really think about my age, but it did feel kind of weird to know that I would never be a twenty-something again. Not bad necessarily, just strange.
With the cake all sliced up, I set the knife down and twirled around on my tiptoes. Just as I landed back on solid feet, the music stopped. My phone rang. I dusted my hands off on my apron and grabbed it from the small table that sat against the back wall. It was Mom. I tapped the accept call button. Before I even had the phone near my ear, I knew what was happening.
"Happy birthday, dear Luna, Happy birthday to you!" Mom finished with a flourish. She'd done the same thing on my birthday every year since she and Dad had moved south to the sunshine for their retirement. She loved to sing Happy Birthday. It was super corny, but I loved the tradition.
"Hi, Mom." I couldn't help but smile.
"Happy birthday, sweetie! I can't believe my little girl is thirty years old. Where does the time go?" she lamented. "That makes me feel so old."
"You've still got one twenty-something," I reminded her. My younger brother, Josh, still had a few years to go before that third decade milestone.
"You're right." Mom breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness for Joshy," she said. "But today is your day. What do you have planned?"
"Well, I'm at work right now—with the rest of the thirty-somethings." I teased. "Jo whipped me up a fancy birthday latte this morning. And Lizzie is having me over for a girls' night tonight."
"Aw, honey, that sounds nice. Tell Elizabeth your father and I say hello."
"I will." My parents were a few of the only people who ever called Lizzie by her full name. It always amused me.
"Speaking of your father, he just walked in the house. He spends his whole morning outside now. Can't get enough of that sunshine."
"Vitamin D is nature's best medicine," Dad said. He took hold of the phone. "Happy birthday, my little Looney Toon." He was never going to give up that embarrassing nickname.
"Thanks, Daddy." I heard a tussle as mom retook the phone.
"I'm sorry we can't be there to celebrate with you," she said. "We'll be up to visit just as soon as that glorious summer weather reaches Pineview."
"Sounds good, Mom. Looking forward to seeing you both." I glanced out the sliding glass window above my countertop. The unmistakable form of Detective Cole Preston was walking across the park. I was thirty now. I wasn't going to let that man distract me anymore.
"Luna? Did you hear me?" mom asked. Okay, that was the last time he would distract me.
"Sorry, Mom, what was that?"
"We've got a tee time coming up, so we're going to head out. Happy birthday, my dear. Love you."
"Love you too. Bye."
Two
Pineview's Spring Fair always drew a pretty good crowd. Vendors from all over traveled to our small town to sell their crafty wares each April. Customers also came from far and wide to shop the broad selection of goodies. As I opened my window for lunch at the 11 o'clock hour, the first visiting van rumbled into the parking area. It was tan, and a very large logo was emblazoned down the side in fancy script, Amelia Midson – Fine Artisan Jewelry. Some of the same staple sellers returned each year, but I didn't recognize that name.
My first customer of the day stepped up to the window. He was wearing a blue vest over his jacket. A 'Pineview Spring Fair' pin was proudly displayed on the navy fabric. The man glanced back over his shoulder at the van. "Suppose I'll have to hurry lunch today." He gestured toward a metal rolling cart that was loaded heavy with pop-up canopies. He'd parked the cart on the sidewalk near the pond. "Got to get those booths set up before Carol has a fit." Carol Pugman was the de facto leader when it came to any sort of town event. We did not have an official mayor. Carol had worked for the county for decades, and, in retirement, she'd basically put herself in charge of Pineview's goings on. No one protested. After all, it was nice to have someone in charge of things like the Spring Fair. Carol took her unofficial position quite seriously.
I passed a plate of stuffed shells through the window. The cheese on top had caramelized to a beautiful golden color, and the herbs in the marinara smelled divine. The man looked pleased as he took a big whiff of his pasta.
"Oh wait! I almost forgot," I said. I stepped to the side and picked up a small plate with a square of my special, colorful birthday cake.
"And cake?" His eyes shone. "Thanks, this looks great."
"You're welcome." I spotted Carol coming from the downtown path towards the park. She was marching like a woman on a mission. I lifted my chin in that direction. "Better not dawdle. That woman looks like she means business."
"Is it Ms. Pugman?" The man asked without looking her direction.
I nodded. "Sure is."
He glanced around surreptitiously, making sure to avoid eye contact with the woman approaching, before slinking off toward a bench in the park to shovel down his lunch.
The woman in the parking area, Amelia, I presumed, had climbed out of her van and was busy gathering boxes from the sliding side door. She was a tall, thin woman. Long brown hair with natural gray streaks throughout fell around her shoulders. A second woman stepped out from the passenger door. She had jet black hair that was cut in a stylish, short bob. I couldn't hear them in the distance, but the first woman looked upset about something. She waved her hand in an annoyed manner. The passenger shook her head and walked around to the rear door of the vehicle.
A tall load of boxes from the side door was stacked on a green dolly. The first woman tipped the hand cart back and headed toward the park. I spotted her looking around, appearing a bit confused and annoyed. She continued along the cement path toward the pond, which also meant she was approaching my restaurant. By this time, Ms. Pugman had reached the grassy area where the fair's booths would be stationed. She was wearing a blue coat with the fair logo pin on her lapel. Carol, too, glanced around in confusion before spotting the cart filled with canopies that was parked nearby, fully untouched and nowhere near assembled. I watched as she scanned the area, no doubt searching for the man who was innocently enjoying his lunch. Her gaze zeroed in on him, and she immediately strode toward his bench. Poor guy.
"Excuse me!" The jeweler shouted. The woman's voice was loud and sharp enough to turn a lot of heads. Carol stopped her progress and spun toward the woman.
"Yes?" Carol looked at the cart of goods the woman was toting behind her. "Can I help you?" she asked.
"I'm ready to set up my booth, but it seems you are not ready for me." The irritation in the woman's voice was impossible to miss. Her gaze scanned the park. "Who's in charge of this event?"
Carol straightened out her jacket and stood an inch taller (although the other woman still towered over her). "I am." She stated confidently. "Carol Pugman"—she extended her hand for a shake, which the woman rudely dismissed—"And you are?"
"Amelia Midson," the woman scoffed. "Premier jeweler of the Rocky Mountains." I couldn't help but giggle as I overheard that pretentious, surely self-given, title. "I need my booth ready immediately."
Carol nodded and used her hand to gently direct the unlikable woman toward an empty bench near the pond. I could no longer hear their conversation, but I assumed the event leader was assuring the woman that her booth would be ready very soon. She got Amelia to take a seat and immediately stomped over to the man who was now polishing off his lunch. At least the rude jeweler had given the man an opportunity to finish his plate before Carol scolded him.
A few people had joined the lunchette line while the drama unfolded. I spotted Benny standing one spot back. I gave him a huge grin as I helped the first customer. The woman walked away with her food in hand, and Benny stepped up to the order window. Benny Delk, premier chocolatier of the Rocky Mountains—a title he'd certainly earned but would never think of using—rarely came out to the park for lunch. He was always busy, elbows deep in scrumptious chocolate inside his downtown shop.
"Miss Luna," Benny said with a smile, "always a pleasure to see you, my dear."
"You too, Benny. What can I get ya?"
"I'll take two of your daily specials." He pointed back toward his shop. "Got my niece, Marsha, here for the weekend. She's going to run the chocolate booth at the fair."
"How wonderful. I can't wait to see what you've made."
"We'll be setting up some of the classics—chocolate covered caramels, dark chocolate dipped orange slices, a few truffles. I also made some milk chocolate medallions with the Spring Fair logo on them."
"That sounds perfect." I served two portions of the stuffed shells in to-go containers and packed up two slices of cake. I slid the food into a paper bag and handed it to Benny. "My cake doesn't hold a candle to any of your confections, but I hope you enjoy the treat."
He chuckled. "I'm certain I will." Benny took the food, turned and stepped down from the railcar's deck. He looked back over his shoulder and gave me a wink. "Happy birthday, Luna."
I was surprised that Benny knew my birthday, but, then again, Pineview was a small town. Very small. So far, my first day as a thirty-year-old had felt pretty much like any other day. Although, I had to admit, I was looking forward to my birthday dinner with Lizzie.
I helped the next customers in line all while keeping an eye on what was happening in the park. The man from the lunch line had assembled the first canopy before a couple more workers in matching blue vests arrived to lend a hand. The process went much faster and smoother with more hands involved. The official group was working their way down the row, getting everything ready for the vendors. Carol was walking about, pointing and giving orders, which really were her two favorite things to do. More vehicles had pulled into the lot. It seemed vendor activity was going to ramp up this afternoon. It made sense since the fair officially opened Thursday morning.
