Mama Sees Stars: A Mace Bauer Mystery Read Online Free PDF

black mud and sopping wet up past his knees.
    “Paul!’’ Savannah called out.
    He lurched toward us, swatting at bugs with both hands. I smelled the insect repellent on him before he arrived.
    “Remind me again, Savannah. Why’d I ever take on a film in this God-forsaken state? ‘A Land Remembered’? It should be ‘A Land Forgotten’.’’
    Carlos stood up. “Love it or hate it, you better get used to it. Nobody leaves Himmarshee until we find out who killed Norman Sydney.’’

“I can’t believe Greg Tilton moved that poor dead man off the fence.’’ My sister Maddie polished off one chicken drumlet and reached for another. “Maybe he thought he was doing a scene from Rescue. ’’
    “Which one is that now?’’ I asked.
    Maddie snapped her fingers in front of my face, but since they were slick with pesto sauce, it was more of a sssttt than a snnaap .
    “The one about paramedics. You’re going to have to study up if you want to be in the film industry, Mace. People will expect you to know these things.’’
    “I’m moving horses and critters from place to place, Maddie. I’d hardly say that makes me a Hollywood insider.’’
    “It’s an important job, Mace,’’ Marty said.
    “Do you suppose I can get Greg’s autograph now?’’ Mama asked.
    “Still not a good time, Mama,’’ I warned.
    We’d been bringing my sisters up to speed on the morning’s events when Mama’s new cousin by marriage stopped by the table in her catering tent to talk.
    “So, whaddaya think of my prosciutto and provolone panini?’’ C’ndee Ciancio hovered over us, beaming proudly.
    “Well, honey, I’m not sure I could spell it, but I sure can eat it.’’ Mama took a bite to demonstrate. “It’s delicious, almost as good as the pulled pig on a bun at the Pork Pit.’’
    Maddie had taken a couple of days off from her school principal’s job, while her assistant principal filled in. Marty was on vacation from her job at the Himmarshee library. Both had agreed to help me with the animals, mainly so they’d get the chance to see some Hollywood stars. So far, I hadn’t needed their help. But that didn’t stop them from coming out to the location shoot, especially after Mama called to tell them about the murder.
    Mama’s new friend, the security man, only needed one look at the doll-sized Marty—big blue eyes, shiny blond hair, and a face so innocent it’d break your heart. He waved her and Maddie over to the tent to join us. My big sister didn’t even need to pull out her scary school administrator routine.
    Now, C’ndee glanced around the tent, which was set up next to her catering truck. “Where’s Sal?’’ She raked bright red fingernails through her mane of black hair. “He loves my sandwiches.’’
    Sal was helping the police keep looky-loos away from the corral, now a crime scene. Carlos was working out there, too.
    “Wrap up a couple of those pan-ninnies in a little to-go bag, hon. I’ll make sure Sal gets them when I leave,’’ Mama said.
    “Will do, Rosalee. I better run. Enjoy, girls.’’
    Maddie waved goodbye with a drumstick. Marty toasted C’ndee with a glass of sparkling Italian soda. “I love this raspberry flavor,’’ she called after her. “It may replace sweet tea as my favorite.’’
    Over the last several months my sisters and I had become friendly with C’ndee. We forgave her for bulldozing her way into Mama’s wedding, not to mention for being from New Jersey. Her new business, C’ndee’s Ciao, was doing well, even though no one in Himmarshee could pronounce it. The second word is Italian, and you’re supposed to say it like “chow.’’
    “Mace, pass me some of that aioli , would you?” Maddie pointed her drumlet at a little pot of sauce on the table. The Pork Pit would call it mayonnaise.
    “A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips, Maddie.’’
    My older sister shot Mama a glare. “I happen to be big-boned.’’
    Marty nodded. “That’s