A Mold For Murder Read Free

better make sure the books are in their proper sequence of publication. Sharon was pretty emphatic about it when she came by the bookstore yesterday afternoon.”
    “So she read the riot act to you, too?”
    Diana smiled. “She’s nice enough, but I get the distinct impression she isn’t her boss’s biggest fan.”
    “I can’t imagine that,” I said with a smile.
    “See you later,” Diana said as she moved to the table stacked high with the contessa’s books.
    I found Mom by the front register, and from the pained expression on her face, I had a feeling that I was going to have more trouble on my hands than a temperamental writer. My mother was a slim woman with frosted hair, and it always delighted her when people expressed shock at the fact that she had seven children, the youngest already eighteen.
    “I’ve seen that look before,” I said as I neared my mother. “What’s wrong?”
    “Benjamin, I know I should be happy we’re filling up, but there are too many people here. Perhaps we should have gotten more help for these events.”
    “Don’t worry, we’ve got it under control,” I said. “With the guys helping out up front, we should be fine.” I patted her shoulder as I added, “Enjoy it, Mom. It’s a day to celebrate.”
    The frown left her mouth. “Yes, of course you’re right.” She gestured all around us, then added, “It was a wonderful idea, Benjamin.”
    “Thanks,” I said as I watched a little old man try to shove a selection of soaps under his coat. “I’ll talk to you in a second. I’ve got to take care of something.”
    I left her and caught up with the thief just as he stepped outside our front door.
    “Can I help you?” I asked as I touched his shoulder.
    He acted as if I’d shot him. The man spun around out of my grasp, ejecting stolen soaps from under his coat like they were on fire. My grip loosened for a second, I was so startled by the display, and he managed to slip out of my grasp. The man must have been a sprinter in younger days, because he bolted off the porch so fast that he was gone before I could catch my breath. I collected the errant soaps and walked back inside. I’d been hoping no one had caught the exchange, but of course my mother had seen it all. She motioned to me, and I walked back to her, prepared for a scolding.
    Instead, she hugged me. “Nicely done, Ben. I believe you are in control after all.”
    I just shook my head, then I started trolling through the crowd more earnestly, trying to spot anyone else who wanted to help themselves to our handcrafted products. It suddenly occurred to me that my office would be the perfect place to spot miscreants, but unfortunately it was occupied at the moment. That still left my grandfather’s and mother’s offices open, though. But I needed someone on the ground to nab any culprits I found, and unfortunately, my entire family was busy at the moment helping legitimate customers. I did the best I could acting as the entire store security team, but I wasn’t sure if it was enough on a day like we were having. Who knows how much inventory walked out without the benefit of a receipt? That was just one more loss attributable to my idea for the festival. At least we were selling lots of things legitimately. I decided my presence walking among the customers might have a more detrimental effect on the shoplifters than spying down on them from above, so I started walking through the store, keeping my eye out for anyone trying to rip us off.
    A little while later, I heard an incessant tapping that I couldn’t place. It sounded as if a lovesick woodpecker was declaring its passion on one of our windowpanes, and it took me longer than it should have to realize that it was the contessa trying to get my attention from above.
    I trotted up the stairs and found her standing behind my desk with a scowl plastered on her face. “It took you long enough to get here.”
    “Things are a little busy on the floor right now,”