Spicy Lasagna Murder: Book 13 in The Darling Deli Series Read Free

confirmed that there was no one else within earshot. He leaned closer to them and said in a low voice, “It isn’t public knowledge yet, but this is going to be my last year here. I’m planning on retiring, and hopefully moving with Augusta somewhere that’s better for our health.”
    “Oh no. Will the farm be closing down?” she asked.
    “No, no, I plan on keeping it and renting out the land for use. I’m hoping to keep up most of the same crops here, just with different people tending to them. Renting out the house and land should be enough to keep the two of us afloat for quite some time.”
    “That sounds like the perfect plan,” Moira told him. “I’m glad you’re going to get the chance to take some time for yourselves. Where do you think you’re going to move to?”
    “Florida,” he said with a self-conscious grin. “Cliché, I know. A lot of people retire there, but for good reason. It’s affordable, with a great climate and great food.”
    “That sounds nice,” she told him. “I hope the two of you enjoy living there. You’ve definitely earned it. Keeping this place up and running must have taken a lot of hard work over the years.”
    “It was a labor of love,” he told her. “It was nice talking to you, Ms. Darling, Mr. Morris. You two have a nice time and enjoy yourselves. I have to go and greet some of my other guests.”
    Moira thanked him once again for the invitation, then turned to walk with David over to the food tent. He took her hand and smiled down at her, and she leaned into him, happy. This day was turning out to be just wonderful.
     

CHAPTER THREE
    After checking out what the food tables offered and saying hi to the few other guests that she knew, David and Moira decided to turn their attention to the corn maze.
    “Better to figure it out before we eat too much,” he said. “We can come back and get our plates once we’ve earned it.”
    “And then, after we don’t feel like walking anywhere, we can take a hayride,” she said, looking over to where the two beautiful bay horses were hitched to the wagon.
    “Sounds like a plan,” the private investigator said with a grin.
    The corn maze was different each year. The farmhand waiting at the entrance offered to give them a map of it, but they both declined, preferring to figure it out on their own. Moira knew from experience that the farmer tried to make the maze as tricky as possible, and it was always satisfying to make her way through without any help.
    The farmhand asked them to wait for a few minutes so that they wouldn’t run into the last person who had gone into the maze. When he gave them the signal, the couple stepped forward eagerly. Once the tall stalks of corn surrounded them, it was as if they had entered another word entirely. The noise from the people chatting under the food tent died away, and other than the faint whinny of a horse and the lowing of the cows in the distance, they could have been anywhere.
    “Does he do a haunted maze in October?” David asked as they walked. They were taking turns deciding which way to go, and so far hadn’t been able to tell if they were making progress or not.
    “Yep,” she said. “He actually does two; a smaller maze for kids with things that are more fun than frightening, and a really creepy one for adults. Candice and I have gone every year for a long time.”
    “That sounds fun,” he said, grinning. “I’ll have to check it out this year.”
    They continued walking. The day, which had started off chilly, was heating up, thanks to the cloudless sky. Moira was beginning to wish she had worn a different top, or at least brought a shirt so that she could take off her sweater. The thought of the cold soda in the coolers back at the food tent made her quicken her step.
    “What’s that?” David asked suddenly, pointing over the corn.
    Moira looked in the direction he had indicated to see a black plume of smoke floating into the clear blue sky.
    “Hmm,” she