“. . . by the generous donation of . . .” Lucille Foster began to read off a list of people who had agreed to match the prize money offered to the winner of the Official Celebration Bay Haunted House. “All proceeds to go to the new community center. Already we have raised twenty thousand dollars.”
Applause, and a few woots.
“Ten thousand will go to the winner of the contest to help offset expenses and operating costs. All ticket proceeds for the first Halloween will go back into the community center donation fund. Each of the runners-up will win five hundred dollars to use as they see fit.
“I want to thank everyone for their generosity and let you know that donations may be dropped off at town hall, sent to the mayor’s office, or dropped in one of the many receptacles around town. Now, Mayor Worley, if you’ll announce the three finalists.”
The mayor stepped back up to the lectern as Lucille returned to her seat.
Mayor Worley cleared his throat. “There is one more person I would like to thank particularly . . .”
Lucille paused, then turned back to the podium, her smile managing to appear gracious and humble at the same time. It was impressive.
“Mrs. Amanda Marlton-Crosby,” the mayor continued.
Lucille froze in place, her smile unwavering. Then, recovering herself, she smiled more broadly and sat down. Beside her, Janine Tudor didn’t even try to hide her surprise or her delight that Lucille had been superseded by another.
“Amanda,” the mayor continued, “has generously donated the full ten thousand dollars for the prize money so that the community center can keep all of the proceeds gathered thus far.”
Applause and whistles followed. The three male judges exchanged looks. Janine sat ramrod straight. Next to her, Lucille crossed her legs and continued to smile, but her foot jiggled with perturbation, the red soles of her expensive shoes blinking like a stoplight among the ceramic pumpkins.
“Wow,” Liv said. “Why didn’t we know about this?”
Ted shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“No. It’s just really a surprise.”
“From the look of things,” Chaz said, “a surprise to the judges, too.”
The mayor stretched out his arm. “Amanda? Will you come up and present the check to the winner?” The mayor applauded into the microphone and everyone joined in as Amanda Marlton-Crosby climbed the steps to the stage.
She was in her thirties, Liv guessed, with spare, plain features and brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was wearing slacks and a red plaid car coat. Not how Liv would have chosen to dress if she had been a wealthy heiress, especially next to Lucille and Janine, who always dressed for the occasion. Maybe Amanda Marlton-Crosby had gone for a totally different look knowing she couldn’t compete.
The mayor adjusted the microphone so that Amanda could speak into it.
“Thank you, Mayor Worley,” she said in a voice so low that the entire audience leaned forward to hear. The mayor moved her closer to the microphone. “It is my honor and my pleasure to be here tonight and to be able to support the contest and its admirable goal of aiding the community center.” She had none of the panache of either of the other two women onstage, but evidently she had money to spare.
“But I know you’re all anxious to get out of the cold so . . . Mr. Mayor?”
The mayor fumbled inside his pocket, checked another, and finally pulled out an envelope. “Had you going, didn’t I?” Chuckling, he opened the envelope.
“The three finalists are . . . Patty Wainwright of Miss Patty’s Learn and Grow Center, for her Family-Friendly Ghosts and Goblins.”
Cheers, whistles, and applause.
“Ernie Bolton’s Monster Mansion.”
More applause and several woots.
“And Barry Lindquist’s Museum of Yankee Horrors.”
“Way to go, Barry,” someone yelled, followed by more applause.
The mayor smiled and nodded as the three finalists climbed the steps to the stage and stopped in a line, looking hopeful. All three were dressed in Halloween colors: Patty Wainwright wore a black skirt and a pumpkin-colored car coat, her hair plaited in two braids, Addams Family style; Ernie wore an orange and black striped sweater and bright orange earmuffs; and Barry Lindquist had added a jaunty orange tam to his dark green jacket and jeans.
The mayor held up his hand for silence, which for once everyone obeyed. “And now . . . the winner of ten thousand dollars and the title of Official Celebration Bay Haunted House—”
“Devil worshippers!”
The mayor broke off midsentence. “Who yelled that?”
“Repent, ye idolaters, or face eternal damnation!”
Everyone looked around for the source of the rant.
Off to the side, there was a discreet movement as three men dressed in plainclothes surrounded a man dressed completely in black.
“Burn in—” The rest of the sentence was cut off as the men surrounded him and moved just as easily out of the crowd, taking the miscreant with them. Shocked silence reigned.
“They are efficient,” Ted whispered to Liv.
“Very,” Liv agreed. Bayside Security. Liv had hired the security firm months ago on a permanent basis. They were good, inconspicuous, kept an eagle-eye watch over the growing crowds attracted to the town’s events, and worked quickly to prevent disruption and remove troublemakers.
And with their military training, they had disappeared as quickly and as stealthily as they had appeared.
“Shades of Big Brother,” Chaz intoned.
Liv ignored him, but had to admit their efficiency sometimes bordered on the spooky.
“Well, well.” Mayor Worley laughed nervously. “Some of our folks are starting trick-or-treating early this year.” The mayor cleared his throat. “Now, where were we? Oh yes. And the prize of ten thousand dollars goes to . . .” He handed the paper to Amanda Marlton-Crosby.
She leaned into the microphone. “Goes to Barry Lindquist for his Museum of Yankee Horrors.”
Applause, whistles, and yells followed.
Barry Lindquist stepped forward, bowing and smiling. The mayor stood by as Amanda presented Barry with an envelope.
“Congratulations, Barry,” the mayor said, pumping his free hand. “The Museum of Yankee Horrors is Celebration Bay’s official haunted house.”
The mayor announced the second – and third-place winners and presented them with checks.
“And now Joss Waterbury of Waterbury Orchards is serving free hot cider and donuts on the town hall steps.”
While the mayor and Amanda Marlton-Crosby congratulated Barry and posed for publicity photographs, the other two finalists left the stage and the crowd began to disperse. A few people stopped by the stage to offer congratulations.
“Why aren’t you taking photos for the newspaper?” Liv asked.
Chaz shrugged. “Oh.” He looked around like he’d misplaced his camera, then reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He held it out toward the band shell and snapped a photo. “There,” he said, and slid it back into his pocket.
Liv cut a look to Ted.
“When are you going to learn? He’s probably already set up something with one of the other photographers.”
“You’re no fun,” Chaz said.
“Let’s go congratulate the winner and the finalists and thank Mrs. Marlton-Crosby.”
By the time they reached the front, a crowd had gathered around the winners. The judges were chatting with the mayor and Amanda Marlton-Crosby.
Patty Wainwright was accepting congratulations for third place. “Isn’t it neat? I’m going to keep the Happy Haunted House open for the younger kids. They need a fun, less-scary place to celebrate Halloween.”
Ernie, however, stood off to the side, where he was clenching and unclenching his fists and glaring at the j
udges, Lucille in particular. He seemed hardly aware of the people who stopped to congratulate him on a job well done.
Mayor Worley motioned Liv over.
“Liv, I don’t believe you’ve met Amanda Marlton-Crosby.”
“Not formally. Thank you for such a generous gift, the kids and seniors will really appreciate it.” Up close, Amanda seemed even smaller and more nondescript than she did on the stage, but Liv could see that although her clothes were rather simple and shapeless, they were designer.
The two women touched hands. “It’s my pleasure. Now I must really go. I have a guest staying with me for the weekend. Rod should be around somewhere.”
On cue, Rod Crosby, tall and athletic, appeared out of the dispersing crowd and came to stand at his wife’s side. There couldn’t be a wider contrast between husband and wife, her mouse to his dark-haired Adonis.
Liv didn’t know Amanda’s husband. She knew he oversaw the running of the fish camp where many of the locals kept their boats. The camp had once been the Marlton family’s private marina but was now open to the public. It seemed like an odd thing for the husband of a multi-bazillion-dollar heiress to do. But fishermen, Liv had learned, were a large and diverse group.
Still, she had to stop herself from thinking that he must have married Amanda for her money. That was such a cliché. Maybe they were madly in love. And considering the way he put his arm around her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her cheek, Liv knew she should make an adjustment to her first impressions.
“It’s getting chilly, dear. Let’s get you home.”
For a nanosecond, it looked like Amanda might demur, but then she just smiled and the two of them walked away.
Liv turned back to the others, who were all talking animatedly. Amanda Marlton-Crosby had just dropped ten K and wandered off into the night. And no one seemed to have noticed.
Weird, she thought, and turned her attention to the winner, Barry Lindquist.
“Congratulations, Barry,” Liv said.
Barry smiled, showing big teeth. He was a large man, barrel-chested, but fit. Fortysomething and generally congenial. He’d been divorced for several years and was an object of interest among some of the single women in town. “Thank you. Thank you. It was a haul. But I’m real proud of the way it turned out.”
“Well, you should be.”
Liv smiled at the big man, who smiled back.
Finally Ted broke in. “Where did you get hold of all those mannequins?”
“Here and there. Heck, that was the hardest part, except finding shoes that would fit, especially for the real old-fashioned scenes. Those people sure had little feet.”
Ted nodded.
“And the fun just goes on and on,” Chaz said under his breath.
Liv shot him a look.
“Well, you did a beautiful job,” Lucille Foster said.
Next to her, Janine looked bored. And maybe even perturbed at her fellow judge, Liv suspected.
Janine was used to being the center of attention, and made a point to be the best dressed at every function. But she’d been topped by Lucille Foster tonight. Next to Lucille’s trench coat and Louboutin shoes, Janine’s camel-colored three-quarter-length coat and three-inch black heels looked uninspired.
The way Janine looked at Lucille as she held court among the male judges, the mayor, and Ted and Chaz made Liv cringe. She had cause to recognize that expression. It had been aimed her way on more than one occasion.
“Ernie,” Ted said. “Come on over so we can congratulate you, too. Excellent job.”
“Yes, Ernie, very good,” Lucille said.
Ernie shuffled over from where he’d been standing off to the side. “If it was so good, why didn’t I win?”
Everyone stared.
“Really, Ernie . . .” Ted began.
Ernie turned to Lucille. “You said I was going to win. You promised.”
Lucille shook her head. “I never said that, Ernie. I said you had a good chance of winning. And you did. You came in second out of over one hundred entries. That’s something to be very proud of.”
“Anyone with a pumpkin on their porch entered the contest to help out the community center. I went all out.”
“And you can keep Monster Mansion open to the public, too,” the mayor added.
“For all the good it will do me.”
“Ernie.” Lucille stepped toward him. “Don’t be like that. It was a difficult decision, but the judges agreed.”
“I’m sure they all did. But I know why Barry won.”
“Hey, it was fair and square,” Barry said, and pushed out his chest.
“Oh Lord,” said Ted, but Chaz beat him to the two men, stepping in between them just as Ernie raised his fist.
Chaz caught him by the wrist and held him fast. “Just cool it, Ernie.”
“Get your hands off me. I’m leaving.” Ernie yanked his arm away and spun around. As he did, his shoulder bumped against Lucille, who staggered backward into the other judges. The shawl draped across her shoulders fell to the ground.
Ernie didn’t slow down.
“Are you alright?” the mayor asked.
“Yes, I’m perfectly fine,” Lucille said in a silkily calm voice. “Unfortunate that he feels that way, but we all agreed on the winner.”
“True,” the three male judges agreed.
The men had formed a semicircle of concern around Lucille. Janine stood by, looking ready to spit nails.
As the only person who seemed to notice the scarf was still on the ground, Liv picked it up and brushed it off. It was a soft pashmina wool, and while it had just looked burnt orange at a distance, up close Liv could see an intricate pattern of gold and brown. She took a peek at the label. Missoni. Liv pushed down the little geyser of envy she felt erupting in her shallow little heart.
She handed it back to Lucille, who looked surprised. “Oh, thank you, hon.”
Behind her, Chaz made a face.
“Not at all.” Hon, Liv added to herself.
“Well, I had better get going,” Jeremiah said. “Bankers’ hours. Can I see you to your car, Lucille?”
“Or I can accompany you?” the mayor offered.
“Why, thank you both, but my husband, Carson, is here. Oh there he is now. Good night, all.” She struck off across the park.
All the men stared after her.
Janine rolled her eyes.
Liv and Janine never agreed on anything. Janine didn’t even like her. It was heartening to think that there was someone in town whom Janine liked even less.
“Are you guys going back to work?” Chaz asked Liv and Ted. “Or are you going for cider?”
“Both,” Liv said. “And I want to find out what happened to the heckler.”
“I’m sure your big marine has him being tortured in the basement, never to see the light of day.”
“A.K. is not my marine, he’s the head of Bayside Security, and I might point out, he’s been doing a creditable job.”
“Has he now? I love it when you use all those big words. So why don’t we ditch the free cider and all go over to the pub for a burger?”
Liv was going to say no, but her stomach growled at the mere mention of food.
Ted laughed. “That sounded like a yes to me.”
They walked around the band shell to the street, and reached the sidewalk just in time to see Rod and Amanda standing by the passenger door of a silver Mercedes that was idling in the street.
“Really, Amanda?”
Amanda Marlton-Crosby shrugged and looked at the ground.
“Just get in,” Rod said, and opened the car door. “I won’t be long,” he said. “You two will just gab about the good old days all night. Have fun. I’m going to have a couple of beers with the guys and I’ll walk home. ’Night, honey.”
He practically pushed her inside and closed the car door. Stood by while it drove away, then walked off down the street in the opposite direction of McCready’s Pub.
“Guess he’s not going to the pub,” Liv said.
“No,” Ted said.
“But we are,” Chaz said, and hustled them across the street.
“Fine,” Liv said. “And while we’re there, you can tell me why Ernie only went after Lucille instead of the other judges, and why no one told me about the ten-thousand-dollar donation from Amanda Marlton-Crosby.”
Chapter Two
McCready’s Pub was right across the street from the back of the band shell and on a corner of one of the side streets that ended at the square. Since it was on the main drag, the owner had accentuated the Irish look with surface timbers and stucco. A neon sign hung like a marquee over the entrance.
It was a local hangout, loud, boisterous, and occasionally the scene of a good old-fashioned Yankee brawl. Generally late at night when the vacationing families with children were all safely tucked away in their hotel rooms. Fortunately, it was still early on a weeknight.
Even so, the bar was filling up pretty quickly.
“The Monster Mash” was playing at manageable decibels when they entered the pub, and a string of light-up skeletons and pumpkins danced across the mirror behind the bar. Someone had made little beer bottles and placed one in each skeleton’s hand. Liv never ceased to be amazed at the lengths that Celebration Bay residents would go to celebrate holidays.
“Wow, I expected the place to be packed,” Liv said over the music.
“It will be, as soon as they run out of free cider and donuts at town hall,” Chaz said. “Let’s grab that table in the corner.”
As soon as the three of them sat down, a bar waitress sidled over and smiled at Chaz. He was like the pied piper to waitresses. They nearly fell over themselves to wait on him.
They each ordered burgers and beer even though it was only six thirty and normally Liv would try to get in another couple hours of work before calling it a day.
“What a night,” Ted said as soon as the waitress had gone.
“Poor Ernie,” Liv said. “He’s over there at the bar all by himself. I don’t get why he went off on Lucille. It was a committee decision.”
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