Cold Turkey

by Shelley Freydont

  Berkley Prime Crime titles by Shelley Freydont

  FOUL PLAY AT THE FAIR

  SILENT KNIFE

  Specials

  COLD TURKEY

  Cold Turkey

  Shelley Freydont

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA)

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England For more information about the Penguin Group, visit penguin.com.

  COLD TURKEY

  A Berkley Prime Crime Special / published by arrangement with the author Copyright © 2013 by Shelley Freydont.

  Excerpt from Silent Knife by Shelley Freydont copyright © 2013 by Shelley Freydont.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

  BERKLEY® PRIME CRIME and the PRIME CRIME logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA).

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) ,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN: 978-1-10161820-2

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Berkley Prime Crime Special / August 2013

  Cover illustration by Robert Crawford.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Contents

  Also by Shelley Freydont

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Special excerpt from SILENT KNIFE

  Chapter 1

  Liv Montgomery leaned over and adjusted the laces of her running shoes. She hadn’t done any serious running since coming to Celebration Bay to be the town’s event coordinator three months ago. She hadn’t run in a Turkey Trot in years. Mainly because the holiday season was her busiest and it didn’t allow time for anything but work—that and the fact that New York City, home to the greatest marathon on earth, didn’t have a Turkey Trot.

  But Celebration Bay did, and her assistant, Ted, had convinced her that her participation would show serious support of the town.

  “Are you sure you don’t need me?” she asked.

  Ted lifted an eyebrow, his favorite don’t-be-trying expression. Ted was somewhere in his sixties, she guessed, since he never gave out details about himself; tall, thin, with a shock of white hair and a permanently amused twinkle in his killer blue eyes.

  If he’d ever been married, he didn’t say, and she’d never asked. Not that she was looking in that direction; she was just thirty and not ready to settle down yet. Heck, who was she kidding? Event planners didn’t have time to settle down.

  She did have one man in her life. He was watching from the sidelines with her two landladies, Miss Ida and Miss Edna Zimmerman. He had white hair too, only his eyes were brown. He stood about knee-high and was a Westie terrier named Whiskey.

  Behind them, the park was packed with people. The roped-off holding area must contain more than a hundred participants. The earlier fun run had attracted over two hundred children and adults. The Turkey Trot 50 yard dash was filled with children. The town had already collected two truckloads of donated food.

  Edna and Ida waved. They were standing at the very front of the crowd lining the sidewalk that enclosed the town green, which wasn’t so green in the middle of November. Liv loved it here.

  She waved back. “Okay, but—”

  “No buts. Go enjoy yourself, unless you plan to go for the gold, in which case run like you were pursued by demons.”

  Liv grinned at him. “Not me. I’ll be lucky to finish in the first twenty. I’m not exactly in prime shape. And I haven’t attempted a 10K in I don’t know when.” She leaned over to touch her toes, squatted down, and stood again.

  “You could have fooled me. You look mean and lean . . . even in hot pink.”

  Liv looked down at her bright thermal vest. “Don’t want to be mistaken for a bear,” she said.

  “We’ve posted over a hundred No Hunting signs along the route, sent out dozens of announcements, and posted the route with police cruisers to thwart anybody from attempting to hunt that stretch of woods. Besides, we don’t get too many bear hunters around there anyway, deer hunters mostly.” He grinned. “No one would mistake you for either.” He looked past her and his eyes widened. “Though I’m afraid you can’t hold a candle to that guy.”

  A tall, buff, Nordic-looking man took his place among the other runners, most of whom were outfitted in sweats, jeans, or jogging suits. The newcomer was wearing shiny black running tights and a red-and-black thermo stretch crew. A black headband accentuated stylish white-blond hair.

  He was impressive. But arrogant. Thor leading a band of three less-than-enthusiastic followers, who reluctantly took their places around him.

  Two of the men were fortyish, in decent enough shape from what Liv could tell based on how they looked in their nylon running suits. The third was Thor’s exact opposite. Short, paunchy, and bald. He was wearing gray sweatpants and a faded Notre Dame sweatshirt that might have fit him twenty pounds ago. He was already huffing and puffing.

  “They don’t let anyone run without signing the waiver, do they?” Liv asked Ted.

  “Not a chance,” Ted said through a grin. “That’s why you have that nifty turkey sticker on your chest. No turkey, no trot.” Laughter got the best of him.

  “You’re such an inspiration.”

  “Okay, chop-chop, they’re getting ready to start.”

  She took a final stretch, pulled her headband over her ears.

  “Come on, Pudge,” one of the men said. “You agreed to the run. It’s good for you and it’s good for business.”

  “Yeah,” Thor said. “It’ll make them think you’re just like them.”

  Their shorter and definitely “pudgy” companion frowned. “I’m here, aren’t I? But I’m freezing my tail off.”

  “Surprised you could find it in all that extra flab,” Thor said.

  The two other men exchanged looks. “Max, lay off,” the taller one said.

  Pudge laughed. “It’s okay, Joe. Max here doesn’t bother me. Let him have his fun. I know how to throw my weight around.” Pudge patted his stomach.

  The other two chuckled. Thor grinned. “Five says I can run the 10K and beat you back to the hotel bar before you even finish the 2K.”

  “C’mon, Max. It’s just a friendly race,” Joe said.

  Pudge looked sideways at him. “Why not make it ten?”

  Liv frowned at Ted. “Do you think I should say something about not betting?”

  “For ten bucks? I don’t think you need to bother. If they were taking bets from others, that would be another thing.”

  Thor narrowed his eyes. “Deal.” He adjusted his headband. “Eric, Joe, and I will be waiting for you in the bar. Loser buys the
drinks.” He grinned; it was competitive and smug.

  Liv hoped Pudge got there first. She didn’t like people like Thor.

  The bullhorn sounded to announce the start of the race. Everyone took their places.

  The four men crowded in ahead of her. She couldn’t resist. She said loud enough for them to hear her, “The winner should donate to the Celebration Bay Youth Program.”

  The second horn sounded and the marathon began. Thor shot out in front. Liv doubted if he could keep up that pace, but she didn’t really care. She planned to run her own race at her own speed.

  The route ran east toward the lake and then south down Lakeshore Road.

  A half mile later, those running the 2K turned west and began the loop back to the town square. After another quarter mile, those running the 5K course also turned off.

  The 10K course continued south into farm country.

  Trees lined the side of the road, at first as windbreaks to the fields behind them. Later patches of woods shared the vista with farmland. Every few yards, No Trespassing and No Hunting signs were posted on fence posts and trees.

  Liv only noticed them in a blur. She forgot about side bets, award presentations, quilt demonstrations, Pilgrim’s Feasts, and everything else as her feet and body settled into a familiar rhythm. She was in the zone, and running was everything. She overtook a small group of runners. There weren’t many; most participants had signed up for the shorter races.

  Liv saw the first water and first aid station up ahead. She didn’t slow down but grabbed a cup of water from a volunteer, downed it, and dropped it to be picked up later by the cleanup committee.

  The route entered the woods, the air became considerably colder, and Liv readied herself for the long haul. Her goal wasn’t to win, but to enjoy, and she settled into a steady, comfortable stride. Time ceased to matter, the cold disappeared, and it was just Liv and the pulsing rhythm of the run.

  For a while she was alone on the road. She hadn’t passed Thor, and she hadn’t seen him in at least twenty minutes, so he must be way ahead. No one had passed her.

  Her legs began to burn. No doubt about it, she was out of shape. She probably should have stuck with the 5K. She tried to get in a run at least three times a week, but between her job, her dog, and the weather, she hadn’t been as disciplined as she should have been. She’d feel it in the morning.

  She saw another water station ahead.

  “Go, Liv,” the volunteers cried. She recognized Fred Hunnicutt as she grabbed water and kept running. She was fifty feet past them when a loud report rent the air. Liv slammed to a stop. A backfire probably, but cars were prohibited from the course until the race was over. There were No Hunting signs posted all along the route and at every road, track, or path through the woods.

  Still . . . She turned and ran back to the water station.

  Fred and the other volunteers were looking frantically around.

  “What was that?” she asked, gulping for air. “A backfire?”

  Fred, who was her event traffic controller, shook his head. “More like a gunshot.”

  “A hunter? He could hurt someone.”

  “I don’t think—” Another shot rang in the air.

  “Definitely gunshots,” Fred said. “Damn hunter. Didn’t he see the signs?”

  “We’ve got to stop him,” Liv said. “Can you tell where it’s coming from?”

  “I think it came from that direction,” Fred said, pointing into the woods.

  “Sounds like it’s coming from Henny Higgins’s place,” said Rufus Cobb, another volunteer.

  “I thought he was off visiting his daughter.”

  “He is, least he was.” Rufus chewed on his mustache, a habit when he was perturbed.

  “Who is Henny Higgins? We have to stop him,” Liv said. “There are several hundred people at risk.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Fred said. “Rufus, you stay here and keep everybody on the road and headed back to town. Liv, you can keep running. I’ll check it out and if it’s Henny, I’ll make sure he stops. Darn fool.”

  “I’m going with you,” Liv said. She had a responsibility to keep things running smoothly and safely, though never in her wildest dreams had she thought she’d need to keep people from getting shot at during a Turkey Trot.

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  “I’m going.” She lifted her chin.

  Fred gave in. “All right, but stay right behind me.” He started toward the woods. There was an opening in the brush, barely more than a path. Fred pushed the brush aside and Liv followed on his heels into the woods.

  The brush immediately closed around them. They could have been in the wilderness. It was eerily quiet except for the sound of their trampling feet and their own breathing.

  After what seemed an eternity, Fred stopped and stuck out an arm, halting their progress. Liv stretched to see beyond him. They were standing at the edge of a small clearing. A dirt track ran off in the opposite direction, just wide enough for a car or truck to pass through.

  At the edge of the clearing, a wooden shack sagged in on itself. A thin stream of smoke curled from a brick chimney. A rusted-out shell of a truck was set up on concrete blocks among several piles of scrap metal, and a newer truck was parked in front of the shack.

  The newer truck wasn’t in much better condition than the other one. The back window was covered by plastic, which was kept in place by gaffer tape, and the back bumper was held up by wire. The paint job, which had once been green, maybe, alternated between rust spots and patches of primer that had turned to a dirty gray.

  “That’s Henny’s truck,” Fred said. “He musta come home early. Henny! It’s Fred Hunnicutt. Don’t you go shooting anybody. Henny? You hear me?”

  Nothing.

  “Henny? Henny, you come out here and talk to me.”

  “Look. Over there.” Liv pointed to the dirt road that ran into the woods.

  “What?” Fred asked.

  “I thought I saw somebody. A bit of color. There. There it is again.”

  “Henny?” Fred hurried toward the road. “Don’t shoot.”

  “Is this Henny inclined to shoot people?” Liv asked as she ran after Fred.

  “Oh yeah. Bitter old misanthrope, that’s Henny. Didn’t you see all those No Trespassing signs we just passed?”

  Liv shook her head. She’d been too busy looking for a wounded deer or bear and praying that she wouldn’t find a wounded human. “Everyone was told no hunting or shooting of any kind between the hours of ten and two.”

  “But Henny’s been gone for weeks. He wasn’t supposed to come back until after Christmas.”

  Fred slowed. The road was narrower here, and a smaller track branched off to one side. Fred hesitated.

  “Where does this road go?”

  “Comes out on the county road. But we put up signs over there, too, even though the race comes nowhere near. Better safe than sorry.” Fred shook his head. “Better let me go first, Liv.”

  “Not a problem.” Liv was having second thoughts about insisting on coming.

  They’d barely gone another thirty feet before Fred stopped abruptly. Liv only barely managed not to plow into him. Her foot hit a patch of wet leaves. She skidded and had to grab Fred’s jacket to keep from falling.

  Then Liv saw what had caused Fred’s abrupt halt.

  A man was lying on the ground. One of the runners. Black running pants and red-and-black thermo stretch crew jacket, black headband and white-blond hair. And kneeling beside him was another man, holding a shotgun across his knees.

  Chapter 2

  “Good Lord, Henny, What have you done?”

  Henny Higgins pushed to his feet. He was small and skinny with bandied legs that looked like a Popsicle sticks the way they stuck out from his jacket.

  “Weren’t me,” Henny said in a voice much lower than Liv expected. “Somebody got to him first.”

  “Is he . . .” Fred began.

  �
��Sure is. Must be one of your marathoners. Looks like a damn ballerina, if you ask me.”

  “Dead?” Liv managed. “Fred?”

  Fred looked back at her. “I’d better call an ambulance and Bill.” He reached for his walkie-talkie.

  “Did you check his pulse? Try CPR?”

  Henny scowled at her. “Didn’t need to. I know dead when I see it. You another one of them marathoners?”

  “Liv Montgomery. I’m Celebration Bay’s event coordinator.”

  Fred was talking on the walkie-talkie.

  Liv moved toward the body, willing him to be alive and trying to remember the steps of the last CPR class she’d taken. At least they had a no-indemnity clause in case of situations just like this. Heart attacks, embolisms could happen anytime, anywhere.

  And it just went to prove the commercials about silent killers. The man looked fit. He’d been boasting of it just before the race began.

  “Sir, can you hear me?”

  “Fred, what’s she doing?” Henny asked.

  Liv didn’t hear the answer. She’d knelt down by the man and saw what she hadn’t seen before. This was no heart attack or stroke. There was a big ragged mess of flesh, blood, and polyester where his heart had been. Definitely dead.

  Liv gagged, forced water and bile back down. Don’t mess up the crime scene. She staggered to her feet. Turned to Fred, who was looking a little green himself.

  “Bill’s on his way.”

  Liv nodded, oddly disconnected from the scene. “Who did this?” she asked. The three simple words wobbled out.

  Henny shrugged, looking totally unruffled. “Don’t know. Don’t care. Shouldn’a been on my property. That goes for you, too.”

  Fred pushed the walkie-talkie back into his orange vest pocket. “You better be telling the truth, Henny, ’cause Bill won’t take it kindly that you murdered a man who was a visitor to our town.”

  Liv was amazed at how calmly they were taking this. She knew she’d moved to a place where hunting and fishing were widespread pastimes, where people weren’t queasy about deer carcasses slung over the roof of a car or about skinning the animal and cutting up parts for the freezer. Hunting was one thing. This was . . . well, this was awful.