Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple Junction Read Online Free PDF

satisfied. After putting on dangly earrings and a charm bracelet, she sprayed perfume into the air and walked into it for just the right amount but not too much. Well old girl, that’s about as good as it’s gonna get. You might as well get your butt on out of here. Taking a deep breath, she started out.
    She decided to walk. It was a nice night, and Stafford’s was only five blocks away. The store was already crowded when she arrived. It appeared that Mr. Jack Wright had a following, aged anywhere from fifteen to eighty. Trying to look blasé as she scanned the room for Jack’s dirty-blond head, she felt a hand on her back and turned to look directly into Jack’s blue eyes.
    “ I’m glad you came.” He smiled at her, flashing that sparkle in his eye, and dimple in his cheek.
    “ Oh! Yes—hi!” Nonchalantly, she straightened the books that she almost knocked off the shelf when she’d wheeled around, startled. She was thankful Jack pretended not to notice.
    “ You’re just in time. I’m getting ready to start.” Walking backward to the front of the room, he added, “Don’t disappear on me when it’s over—okay?”
    Almost everyone had taken a seat, and the room quieted as he approached the front of the store. Tess nodded to him, feeling self-conscious that everyone was watching them with interest.
    She sat down next to an older couple in the back who introduced themselves as Slick and Junebug Calloway and said they owned the diner down the street.
    “ Oh, yes, I’ve been there. I love your place.”
    Lou stood at the front of the room resplendent in her hot pink dress, big hair, and bright makeup. She cleared her throat until everyone stopped talking. “I wanna thank y’all for comin’ out tonight. As I’m sure you’re aware,” she said with a huge smile, “we have a celebrity in our midst. Jackson Wright is an accomplished author who hails from our fine town. His books have consistently hit the New York Times Best-seller’s list, and his ninth and newest book, “Wyatt’s Revenge,” has just come out. We have the decidedly special honor of bein’ the first ones to get a peek at it, as well as to hear a bit of it read to us by Goose Pimple Junction’s favorite citizen, Mr. Jack Wright himself.”
    Everyone clapped as Jack stepped forward, hugged Lou, and thanked everybody for coming.
    Telling the audience he appreciated the turn out, he looked at Tess, locking eyes with her before sitting down in the big overstuffed chair and launching into reading. Firm, confident and funny, Tess liked his style of writing. His voice was strong and smooth—very masculine and powerful. With the intent to hook everyone and leave them desperate to find out the outcome of the book, he purposely ended with a suspenseful chapter.
    Afterward, Tess browsed the new fiction section, while Jack signed books and charmed the socks off everyone who came to meet him.
    “ Well hidee, sugar. I'm so glad you came.” Tess looked up to see Louetta rushing up to her. “Whadja think a the new book? I think it’s gonna be the best one yay-et,” Lou said, turning a one-syllable word into two.
    “ You may be right. And this is a great turn-out tonight.”
    “ Idnit somethin’?” She looked around the store. “There must be fitty people here tonight. I sure am glad you made it out. I know Jackson will 'preshade it.”
    Tess’s mind was working overtime to keep up with the Southern speak.
    “ Well, didja read the books? Which one didja like best?”
    “ The books? Oh, the books I bought—yes, I did like them. Well, it. I’ve only had a chance to read one of them so far. I’ve been working on the house a little, painting, scraping—”
    Lou interrupted, “Oh honey, tell me ‘bout it. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. This place just about runs me ragged. ‘ Course it’s gotten a lot worse since Betty Jane had to quit. She had to have surgery—female problems, don’t ya know.”
    “ So . . . you own the