Organized for S'more Death

by Ritter Ames

  Table of Contents

  Organized for S'more Death (Organized Mysteries, #4)

  Organized for S’more Death

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  When Only an Organized Recipe Will Do

  Excerpt of Frugal Lissa Finds a Body | CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  Here’s what critics are saying about Ritter Ames’s Organized Mysteries series

  “A delightful new cozy mystery series starring an intriguing heroine—Kate McKenzie. Twists and turns abound, entertaining the reader throughout! I loved it and look forward to the next installment. Ritter Ames is a new star on the cozy set!”

  ~ Michele Scott, bestselling author of the Wine Lovers Mystery Series, featuring Nikki Sands

  “Organized for Murder is a very enjoyable first in a new series. Ritter Ames really hit it out the park with this debut, and with her organizational tips included (throughout the book and at the end), I know this is one book I will be hanging onto. If you haven't discovered this series yet, I highly recommend picking it up.”

  ~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

  “Organized for Murder by Ritter Ames is the first in a new cozy mystery series, Organized Mysteries. This is a quality cozy mystery. The story is well-written and the mystery kept me guessing. This is a great start to a new series, and one I am looking forward to revisiting. Great characters, fantastic writing, and a clever mystery all combine to make a really wonderful book.”

  ~ Brooke Blogs

  “I am a huge lover of cozy mysteries, and this by far is one of my favorites. I loved the premise of the main character Kate being an organizer and I loved all the organizational tips that I picked up throughout the story.”

  ~ Doctor's Notes

  “The plot was well paced and the author added some great twists. I was surprised by the actual murderer. I enjoyed all the organizational tips that started each chapter.”

  ~ Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book

  “The story, very cleverly put together, never tips the reader who actually kills Amelia. Ritter Ames keeps ratcheting the suspense...It was thoroughly enjoyable with well-developed, 3-dimensional characters.” ~ BookTalk with Eileen

  “I like the main character, Kate, and her sidekick/neighbor Meg, as well as both of their families. I look forward to seeing the characters develop more as the series proceeds. The organizing tips are actually pretty useful...I have to admit made me think about adding them to organization of my own home. If you enjoy cozy type mysteries, I think you'll enjoy this light fast read.” ~ Murder Most Cozy

  “I loved that Kate was happily married since most cozy sleuths are single. She also had twins, and that is unusual too. I loved the relationship between her and her family, and between her and Meg. There were plenty of twists and laughs, and lots of situations that had me thinking I knew what was going on. But then I’d be thrown for another loop, and I’d have to start over trying to figure out whodunnit.” ~ I’d Rather Be at the Beach blog

  “The characters are well written and stay true to who they are from the beginning to end of the book and they feel real as if you could meet the in real life...The author...had me constantly trying to figure out who the murder was until the end of the book.”

  ~ Hiding from My Kids blog

  “Ritter Ames crafted a clever plot for this cozy mystery, with a plethora of possible suspects, each with plausible motives for murder. My suspicions ping-ponged back and forth between a handful of Nethercutt family members, but never for a moment settled on the true culprit. (Brilliant!) Organized for Murder is a great read – engaging and full of memorable characters that leave the reader eager to return to Hazelton, Vermont for more mysteries (and tips) from Kate McKenzie.” ~ Girl with Book Lungs blog

  “The characters are well-developed and likable. Ames has created realistic characters with their various problems and faults. She doesn’t make Kate a stuffy organizer without problems. She makes her down-to-earth with worries and concerns readers can relate to.”

  ~ Mason Canyon on the Thoughts in Progress blog

  “This book really threw me for a loop! I was guessing clear up to the very end, and...I really like when a book does that...This book was not predictable at all! The organization tips in this book are also great and will be really useful.”

  ~ Melina’s Book Blog

  “The characters are well developed and I thought Kate handled investigating in a methodical way, which fit her character perfectly. Her friend, Meg, is a great sidekick.” ~ Socrates Book Reviews blog

  Books in the Organized Mysteries series

  by Ritter Ames

  ORGANIZED FOR MURDER (#1)

  ORGANIZED FOR HOMICIDE (#2)

  ORGANIZED FOR SCHEDULED SABOTAGE (#3)

  ORGANIZED FOR S’MORE DEATH (#4)

  ORGANIZED FOR S’MORE DEATH

  by Ritter Ames

  ORGANIZED FOR S’MORE DEATH

  by Ritter Ames

  ebook Edition

  Copyright © 2017 by Ritter Ames

  Cover design by Lyndsey Lewellen

  http://www.ritterames.com

  .

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to your online retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  Organized for S’more Death

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I HAVE A VERY LOYAL street team who I couldn’t live without. These ladies are so loyal and patient—and impatient in the fabulous kind of way that keeps me writing—I can’t thank them enough for their support. And all my titles are in some way thanks to my super fans and readers.

  In the case of this title, however, I have to single out two longtime street teamers whose creativity played a key role in the ongoing Kate McKenzie story. Heidi Wimmer and Susann Hughey are responsible for helping name the one-eyed, orange and gold cat who found his way into the McKenzie home and soon curled up in Kate’s heart. Kate says thank you, too, ladies.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Use it up,

  wear it out,

  make it do,

  or do without.”

  ~ New England Proverb

  KATE MCKENZIE REACHED across the Berman’s kitchen table to touch Meg’s hand, then pointed to a small gray plastic box propped a
gainst the bottom of the room’s yellow wall and half-hidden behind the leg of the small oak task desk. She could see part of a red rubber band stretched several times around the device’s perimeter, holding a darker gray button against the body of the object. A silent, shining red light glowed behind the desk leg, and she could barely see the halo of light that seeped around the obstruction. She didn’t want to interrupt the story Gil Berman’s guest was telling, so she leaned closer to Meg and asked in a quiet voice, “Isn’t that one of the walkie-talkies we used to try to figure out who was framing me for Amelia’s murder?”

  Meg glanced in the indicated direction, and her face turned nearly as red as her hair. “Mark, you’re grounded,” she growled under her breath. She raised an eyebrow at her husband, then rose from her chair and stomped down the hall.

  Across the table, Gil chuckled, put his finger to his lips for a moment, then resumed discussing old newspaper stories with their guest, author Paul Gaines. A few minutes later, Meg returned, bent to retrieve the small transmitter and turned it off before regaining her spot at the table. She tossed the unit onto the tabletop.

  “What sentence did you give him? Any chance of parole?” Gil asked, removing the rubber band, then making the walkie-talkie twirl on the tabletop. “Remember, he’s only a fourth-grader. He can’t do hard time yet.”

  “I told him we’d discuss his punishment later, but I intimated we might not let him go camping with all of us tomorrow,” Meg said.

  “Pulling out the big guns. I’ll back you, but—”

  Meg waved a hand. “It was just a threat. I’m going to make him work when we get there instead. Lots of firewood to gather if we want to roast hotdogs and make s’mores.”

  “Mark wants to be a writer, too,” Gil explained to Paul, propping his arms on the tabletop, and letting his lanky frame go stoop-shouldered. He turned toward his wife. “I’m assuming he gave you the ‘I only want to learn’ excuse.”

  “Yes, and I countered with the ‘you can’t legally bug people without a court order’ speech.” Meg sat back and crossed her arms. “We’re going to have to do something, Gil. He doesn’t understand the right to privacy. He keeps quoting the First Amendment and freedom of the press like that overrides everything else in the Constitution.”

  Kate chuckled softly, but Paul Gaines laughed outright.

  “He’s obviously of the opinion that the truth shall set you free,” Paul said. “Give him a little time and he’ll figure out how to get to the truth without getting caught.”

  “Don’t you dare say anything along those lines to him,” Meg pleaded. “Mark needs no encouragement.”

  Still dressed from work in his blue oxford shirt and no tie, Gil was a sharp contrast to Paul’s black t-shirt and khaki shorts. Meg had already mentioned how Paul called his own shots since he’d won a Pulitzer for his last exposé on the latest evolution of New York’s mob syndicates, and that she was worried Gil might decide to go for bigger journalistic fish.

  “I never want to hold him back, of course,” Meg had said to Kate earlier. “But I also don’t want him writing stories likely to get him into dangerous situations. I know state politics isn’t as sexy as mob money exposés, but it certainly makes me sleep better at night.”

  So, Kate wasn’t surprised to see a couple of frown lines deepen in Meg’s forehead as they sat and listened to Paul’s urban war stories, and Gil’s face took on a light of both enthusiasm and a little jealousy.

  “Oh, before I forget.” Paul stood and started rummaging around in the pockets of his cargo shorts. “I need to give you the key to the cabin.”

  “I’m sorry that we’re displacing you like this,” Gil said. “I would have never asked Jim for the cabin if I’d known you were going to be staying there.”

  “No problem. I found a guy nearby who has a little caravan setup I can use,” Paul said. “As long as I have electricity for my laptop and phone, I’m good.”

  “And running water,” Meg added, using her fingers to count amenities. “And an indoor toilet and doors that lock and—” She stopped when the men laughed.

  “I can see you have your own ideas about spending time in the great outdoors,” Paul said.

  Meg waved a hand. “I just believe R&R doesn’t have to stand for rough and ramshackle.” When everyone laughed, she added, “This is a trip to give all of us a little break. I don’t want anyone to actually get broken in the process.”

  The McKenzie and Berman families were using the cabin Gil’s editor owned near Weston, Vermont to enjoy a long weekend in the area’s national forest. A planned outing already months overdue since it had been put off numerous times that summer due to scheduling problems at the newspaper every time Gil thought he had an all-clear. In the meantime, Paul had been borrowing the cabin as a place to stay while he worked on his latest manuscript and sent tie-in newspaper columns to his paper to whet interest in the upcoming RICO trial his information played a key role in securing for federal prosecutors.

  With school starting again soon, it was now or never, and the all-clear signal came for the next few days. Paul arrived immediately after dinnertime to provide the cabin keys. Kate was invited to drop in to meet him when Meg learned Kate’s twin daughters were spending the night at their McKenzie grandparents’ house, and her husband, Keith, was covering for a colleague by trading times for their radio shows for the weekend. Kate watched the body language of the people at the table: Meg crossing her arms and chewing a hangnail, Gil leaning toward Paul and making the coffee cups rattle when he laughed and slapped the table. And Paul, sitting back, comfortable in his spotlight, telling one close call and another almost-missed deadline after the other. All in pursuit of the next story.

  Lights flashed on the wall, and she turned to see Keith’s Jeep pass the house.

  “Oops, that’s my cue.” Kate rose and pushed in her chair. Extending a hand toward Paul, she added, “It was wonderful meeting you. If you want a campfire meal cooked this weekend, stop by and see us. You know where we’ll be.”

  A puzzled expression crossed Paul’s tanned face. “You do know there a full kitchen in that cabin, right?”

  “Yes, but I expect our crew will want us to do the whole outdoor experience as much as possible,” Kate replied. “The boys have already convinced my girls they won’t really be camping unless they’re sleeping outside in a tent.”

  “Which means the fathers will be sleeping in the tents, too,” Meg said, as she scooped up the plate holding a decimated lemon Bundt cake. “Hang on a minute, Katie, and I’ll wrap up a piece of this for Keith.”

  As they moved to the counter, Paul stretched and stood. “I need to be going, too.”

  “You aren’t driving back tonight,” Gil said, rising to walk him out.

  “Have to. I need to get something to my editor first thing in the morning, and I haven’t started writing it yet.”

  “Then stay here.” Gil wrapped an arm around Paul’s shoulders. “You have your notes on your phone, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then, come on and use the laptop in my office.” The men moved toward the formal living room Gil had appropriated for his library and workspace. “We’ll get you set up so you can write and email from here. That’ll give Meg time to make up the guest room too.”

  Kate heard teeth grinding, but Meg never said a word while the guys were within earshot. As soon as the pocket doors slid closed, however—

  “Be happy you’re not married to an inconsiderate newspaper columnist,” Meg said, shoving the plastic-wrapped package into Kate’s hands.

  “I can stay and help.”

  Meg shook her head. “Go home to Keith. I’ll have the room ready in a few minutes. I just hate being treated like ‘the help’ by my husband.”

  “You never said whether Paul is married.”

  “He isn’t right now.” Meg planted a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. “But I have a good idea why he’s already been divorced three times.”

&nb
sp; Kate decided to take the shorter route out the back door. “Does he have any kids?”

  “One daughter. She graduates this year, I think, but only sees her dad on a semi-annual basis.” Meg flipped the light switch for the back porch and followed Kate outside.

  “Does she live far away?”

  “Connecticut. One short train ride from Paul’s New York apartment.”

  The women crossed the soft lawn to reach the gate.

  “I would imagine the daughter has to resent that kind of inattention,” Kate said.

  “You would think so.” Meg held out a hand to grab Rowdy’s collar, the larger of the two loveable Berman mutts and the resident escape artist. “But, she adores him. Drives her mother insane.”

  “Are all of his ex-wives bitter? Or only that one?”

  “Pretty bitter. Though they do all get alimony. The man is a serial adulterer, so I guess he needs to focus on his work to pay their bills. When he’s not playing around, of course.”

  Keith opened the McKenzie’s back door and walked to the end of the wooden deck. When he called out, Kate waved to him.

  “Hang in there,” she said to Meg, stepping through the gate and closing the latch. “I’ll see you in the morning.” Holding up the cake, she added, “And thanks for this.”

  “Thank you for coming over tonight. I wasn’t looking forward to experiencing that much megawatt author testosterone without some backup. Now I have to steel myself to live through the hero worshiping from Gil and Mark until they can get the jerk out of their systems.”

  “Guess I shouldn’t have said he could come for a campfire dinner.”

  Meg shrugged. “It’s fine. I have no doubt Paul will show up during our trip anyway. He’s like a bad penny. You can’t get rid of ’im.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  NOTE FROM THE CALENDAR of Kate McKenzie

  Take a B-complex vitamin every day through spring and summer. Biting bugs, like mosquitos & flies, do not like the smell of blood when this vitamin group is taken regularly.