Murder by Artifact (Five Star Mystery Series) Read Free Page A

connoisseur of plaster figurines, even so, he suspected these had to be factory seconds.

    A large, red-coated gnome squatted next to the driveway holding a hand-painted sign. Uneven letters spelled “Flowers.” There was something about the gnome’s pose that conveyed an impression of discomfort, like the little guy was searching for the outhouse and may have waited too long to begin his search. Overall, Tony thought the Flowers family presented a more tasteful display than some in town. Few homes in Silersville didn’t have at least one gnome, fairy, frog or dragonfly parked in the vegetation.
     
    Thinking how he preferred the goofy animal ornaments to the ones painted to look like the back end of a woman bending over, her skirt sliding up, he parked across the road and walked toward the Flowers’ yard. His arrival stirred up a pair of spotted hounds. Jumping to their feet, they stood behind a screen door baying like they’d treed a raccoon. Tony tried to ignore them as he wandered around with a camera and snapped a few pictures. It was easy to see where the donkey and cart had been. Mud and grass had been churned up as the thief had wrestled with the unwieldy piece.

    Wade pulled up behind Tony’s official green-and-white Blazer. Wade was Tony’s unofficial chief deputy and fulltime assistant. “What’s up?”

    “Someone took Blossom’s donkey and cart.” Tony stepped back and took a photograph of the street near the site. “She called me claiming Queen Doreen had done it.”

    “You could have sent Sheila or me out to take the pictures.”

    “Yeah, I know.” Tony straightened. “Then it would automatically become an official investigation and I’d have to do more damned paperwork.”

    Wade climbed out of his car. His curiosity, like Tony’s, had been piqued. “How’d they get it out of there without breaking it to bits? Or did they?”

    “And why?” Tony pointed to the gnome with the dyspeptic expression and several other smaller items, like a cross-eyed frog and a turtle holding a pink umbrella. “Those would be a lot easier to pick up.”

    “Why does Blossom think it was the mayor’s wife?”

    “I gather it’s a feud with some history.” From behind him came the aroma of cinnamon and apples. His stomach rumbled. He saw Wade straighten, and a grin lit his handsome face. Focusing on his deputy’s startling good looks, Tony realized it was time to take Wade off of street patrol. During the height of tourist season, carloads of giggling girls would run stop signs just to get a close look at him.

    Tony turned. Blossom churned her way across the lawn. A plateful of something emitting heavenly scents was clutched in her fat fingers. Dressed in an outfit resembling a recycled circus tent of orange and red, she was barefoot. Even her toes looked overweight. A sweet smile lit her homely face.
     
    “I’m so glad you came by,” Blossom panted. She lifted the paper napkin away from the plate underneath and exposed a pile of fat cookies. “They’re apple. I hear it’s your favorite fruit, isn’t it? I thought you and Wade might need a little something while you investigate.” She batted her stubby eyelashes at both men.

    Wade was the first to recover his poise. “Why, thank you, Blossom, you know I can resist anything but temptation.” He picked a pair of cookies off the plate with one hand.
     
    Tony hated to see his deputy eat alone, so he took a couple as well. Like everything Blossom cooked, these cookies tasted like a little bit of heaven, warm and moist, apples and spice and, as usual, something he couldn’t identify. He stifled his impulse to grab the whole plate and lock himself in the car until he finished them all.

    “You are one terrific cook,” said Wade.

    “Amen,” added Tony. He looked past her to the dogs, still baying wildly. “Didn’t the dogs bark or wake anyone up?”

    Blossom’s head moved slowly from side to side.

    Wade glanced around. “Is that