A Crafty Killing Read Online Free PDF

lot and the rusty Dumpster, and to the gray, cloud-filled sky above it. All her dreams for the future had died with Chad.
    She checked the pocket of her skirt, but found no more hard candies. Damn.
    Katie looked down at the cover of the journal on the desk before her. No. If she was honest with herself, her hopes had died the day Chad had invested in Artisans Alley.
    “Katie?”
    Katie started at the sound, and then anger flared through her at the sight of Vance Ingram standing in the office doorway—the man Chad had considered to be second in command at Artisans Alley. Vance always reminded Katie of a skinny Santa Claus, thanks to his snowy hair, neatly trimmed white beard, and blue eyes half hidden behind gold wire-frame glasses. At that moment, she wasn’t feeling quite so charitable.
    “I came as soon as I heard. What in blazes happened?” Vance asked, his voice shaking.
    “Where were you last night? I thought you always helped Ezra close.”
    Vance winced at her tone.
    She hadn’t meant to sound so accusatory.
    “I was”—Vance hesitated—“called out of town.”
    The lack of conviction in his voice made it sound like the lie it probably was.
    “It was only for one night,” he continued. “How could I know—”
    Katie waved a hand to stop his explanation. “It’s up to the police to figure out who killed Ezra and why. He trusted few people. You were one of them.”
    Vance ignored the compliment, looking guilty. “Did you find him?”
    She shook her head. “Mary Elliott, one of the Victoria Square merchants, did.” Vance nodded. “Ezra had to be coming down the stairs or standing at the base of it when someone hit him from behind, and probably fractured his skull,” Katie said. “The till was empty, but it looked to me like someone took the money to cover for killing him.”
    “Who’d want to do that?” Vance asked.
    “That’s what the police are asking. Did Ezra have any enemies? Any problems with the artists or maybe bill collectors?”
    “He had no enemies that I know of. Ezra could charm your socks off—if he wanted to.”
    “And if he didn’t?” Katie prompted.
    Vance shrugged.
    Katie glanced down at the stack of bills and payment books still spread across the desk before her. “Did you or any of the other artists make an investment in Artisans Alley?”
    Vance shook his head. “Not unless you consider the rent we paid for our booths as an investment.” He let out a mirthless laugh. “More like pouring money down a drain. As far as I know, Chad was the only one Ezra ever let invest in the place. To tell you the truth, I think he wanted Chad to take over for him someday. He was real fond of your husband. It nearly broke Ezra’s heart when Chad died.”
    Mine, too . Katie thought about what Vance had said, or maybe it was the way he’d said it. Could he have been jealous of Chad’s relationship with Ezra? She’d probably never know.
    “I figured I was the only one with a financial stake here. That’s why I’ve tried to take charge,” Katie said. “I’ve been going through the files. What I’ve found isn’t pretty. Artisans Alley is in deep financial trouble. Did Ezra confide that kind of information to you or any of the others?”
    “No. In fact, I think it irked him when Chad would question him about it. I saw what Chad was trying to do and Ezra fought him at every turn,” he said bitterly. “But without Chad, we would’ve closed long before this. Most of us have just been hanging on out of habit.”
    Jealously and admiration? Maybe she was reading Vance all wrong.
    Katie set the ledger aside. “Walk with me,” she said, getting up from her chair.
    Vance followed her into the main display area. Shrouded in shadows, the place looked anything but inviting. “Take a look around,” she said. “What do you see?”
    He frowned and shrugged, his gaze taking in the uninteresting space. “Art.”
    He was so familiar with the place he probably didn’t see the mishmash