Christmas Caramel Murder Read Online Free PDF

close the curtains so the audience can’t see the actors.”
    â€œAnd the actresses?”
    â€œYes, and the actresses, too.”
    â€œOh. Okay. I can do that,” Freddy said, sounding eager to please the famous actor-director. “I’m sorry I got it wrong, Miss Bascomb.”
    Irma York, who was acting as one of Tory’s assistants, leaned over to whisper something in Tory’s ear. Tory nodded, and cleared her throat.
    â€œIt’s okay, Freddy. Irma’s going to come backstage right before the play ends, and she’ll tell you when to ring down . . . er . . . never mind. Bonnie will tell you when to close the curtains.”
    â€œGee thanks, Miss Bascomb!” Freddy said, sounding greatly relieved. “I like Irma. She’s a friend.”
    â€œAll right. One more time, people. Let’s take it from Mrs. Cratchit’s entrance.”
    Irma climbed the four steps at the side of the auditorium that led up to the stage level and ducked behind the velvet curtains. The actors maintained the places, and the final moments of the play were repeated. Tiny Tim spoke his line, five seconds passed, and then the curtains closed.
    â€œPerfect!” Tory called out. “Good job, Freddy! I’m going to let Irma stay back there and cue you for our Santa and Mrs. Claus appearance. Irma? Can you hear me?”
    â€œYes, Miss Bascomb.”
    â€œWe’ll open the curtains right after the actors clear and the stagehands dress the set for Santa. Cue Freddy when it’s time, will you?”
    â€œYes, Miss Bascomb,” Irma answered, sounding every bit as muffled as Freddy had earlier.
    â€œSound? Listen up. We’ll need the sleigh bells. Make them soft at first and then gradually louder until they reach a peak.”
    â€œGot it, Miss Bascomb,” someone said from backstage.
    â€œStagehands?” Tory raised her voice so that the crew could hear her backstage. “I’ll need you to move the table to the back of the set just as soon as the actors clear. Then bring in the tree and light it. Set Santa’s rocking chair next to the tree.”
    â€œYes, Miss Bascomb,” another male voice answered.
    â€œIrma? Just as soon as the stagehands are clear, cue Herb and Phyllis to take their positions in the wings. Then cue Freddy to open the curtains to the dressed, but empty, set.”
    â€œEmpty, Miss Bascomb?” Irma asked.
    â€œYes. And the moment the curtains are open fully, the sleigh bells will begin to ring to announce the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. Does everyone have that progression?”
    There were murmured assents from behind the curtains, and Tory continued her instructions. “When the sleigh bells reach a peak, Santa and Mrs. Claus will enter stage right. Santa will give us one ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ and then go directly to his rocker. Once seated, Mrs. Claus will hand him his lap robe and retire to the table, where the Christmas gift bags will be arranged. Is everyone clear on that, so far?”
    Again, there were assenting murmurs. Tory waited for a moment and then she called out, “Action!”
    Once the curtains opened, Hannah turned to watch Lisa’s face in the reflected light from the stage. She looked extremely nervous, and her hands were clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles were white.
    â€œRelax. It’ll be fine,” Hannah whispered, even though she had no valid reason to think that it would be so. Then the sleigh bells began to ring, growing louder and louder, until Santa and Mrs. Claus walked out on the stage.
    Hannah heard Lisa’s sharp exhalation of breath, and she realized that she had also given a gasp of shock. When she turned to look, Lisa was staring at the stage with an expression of disbelief. Hannah couldn’t blame her one bit. Phyllis was wearing a Mrs. Claus costume that was unlike anything Hannah had ever seen before in her life.
    The red velvet bodice was so