Lie Catchers Read Free Page A

around, comes around,” Ivor commented. “They’re worth more now than they ever were.”
    “Amazing,” Parker said. “Your hobby makes sense since you like jewelry so much.”
    “It does, doesn’t it? And I’ve taught myself how to string necklaces, bracelets and earrings so the hobby isn’t as expensive as it could be,” she said, looking pleased.
    The waitress brought Parker and Chet’s hamburger and fries, so the two men dug into their food.
    Ivor asked, “How do you like the Viking B&B?”
    “Fine,” Parker said. “We each have big rooms with comfortable beds and they make a great breakfast, huh, Dad?”
    “I’ll be putting on some pounds, for sure. Jenny’s sticky buns are irresistible.”
    Liv nodded. “Jenny Skogland ran that place alone after her husband died.” She checked with Ivor. “For about twenty years? Anyway, when her granddaughter, Mallen, got divorced, she came to help Jenny. Mallen’s devoted. Efficient. Smart. Pretty, too. Right, Ivor?” She winked; Ivor frowned.
    “I’d say Mallen’s in charge now,” Parker observed. “Jenny seems sharp in the brain, but not so, physically. She was still up when we got in last night, so we sat and talked about the old days until after midnight.”
    “Really?” Liv asked. “She’s usually pretty quiet.”
    Chet pointed to Parker. “He can get people to talk. Just like his sisters.”
    Parker shrugged. “Jenny’s ninety-seven, with a lot of history stored up in her brain. Mallen seems to play interference, interrupting when Jenny talks about the old days. I guess she thinks guests will be bored by Jenny’s topics, but I’m not.”
    With a shake of her head, Liv said, “When Jenny mixes up the past with the present, she gets embarrassed, then flustered. I think Mallen is trying to save her from the pain.”
    Smiling, Parker said, “That’s probably why I like Jenny. I get mixed up all the time.”
    Liv wrinkled her brow at his comment and changed the subject. “I assume you didn’t find Tilly today.”
    Parker nodded, his mouth full.
    “But you’ll see her at the cannery tomorrow.”
    Swallowing, Parker said. “Bright and early. Maybe I’ll swing by to see you afterward. Would that be all right? I don’t want to cut into your writing time.”
    She squirmed in the bench seat.
    Chet held a French fry mid-air. “You write? Are you published, Liv?”
    “I am. Magazines and e-zines; features mostly.” She waved a hand as if to say her work wasnʼt important.
    “She publishes under a pen name,” Ivor said. “Good luck wresting it out of her.”
    Parker’s interest spiked at the challenge. He wanted to read her articles, especially the one about detectives.
    She touched Chet on the shoulder. “Excuse me, but if you’ll let me out, I’ve got to do a few things in the store tonight.”
    Ivor motioned that he was ready to leave as well, so Parker rose and shook Ivor’s hand. “See you at Lito’s Landing tonight.”
    When Parker grasped Liv’s hand, she said, “How about noon tomorrow, Detective? Come through the store and upstairs. I’ll leave the front door open.” At his nod, she left, with Ivor saying his goodbyes and following her out.
    Parker and Chet took their seats again to finish up their food.
    “Nice people,” Chet said. “She doesn’t know you’re a Treasury agent, does she?”
    With a shake of his head Parker said, “The chief and I agree it’s best to keep the Fed involvement off the radar.”
    “You think Ivor will be able to help you figure out Everett Olson’s money trail?”
    “I hope so. It’s a close-knit town so I have this sinking feeling I’ll have to interview practically everyone.”
    “Petersburg comes with a little baggage.”
    “What do you mean, Pop?”
    “Well, you said Tucker Barber and Tilly Grant would provide you with your best information, right?”
    “I did.”
    “And they seem deeply connected to Liv Hanson.”
    “I don’t know about the ‘deeply’