Star Spangled Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    An hour later the whole family had piled into Bill’s truck and was bouncing down the old logging trail that led to the pond. The kids were all piled in the back, along with beach chairs, towels, a cooler and a portable grill. Lucy and Bill were in front, with the windows open. The radio was blaring out an oldies station and they were all singing along to “She Wore an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.” Zoe was singing loudest of all, delighted at this change in the usual routine.
    When they came to the makeshift parking area in a clearing near the pond, they found it was packed with cars. It was full to overflowing and there wasn’t room for the truck, so Bill had to drive into the underbrush in order to leave the road clear.
    â€œGood thing it’s old and has a few dings,” said Lucy. “I guess a lot of people had the same idea we did.”
    â€œThis heat’s bringing ’em all out,” grumbled Bill, busying himself handing out all the picnic paraphernalia. Toby and Elizabeth had run ahead with the towels and chairs. “I’ll take the grill, Lucy, if you and Sara can tote the cooler. Zoe, is this bag of charcoal too heavy for you?”
    Zoe was offended. “I’m a big girl, Daddy.”
    â€œDo you think it’s a church picnic or something?” wondered Lucy. “I mean, only local people know about the pond, and I can’t believe the whole town is here. I’ve never seen it this crowded before.”
    â€œHigh school reunion, maybe? Something like that?” mused Bill.
    â€œCould be. It’s the right time of year.”
    Indeed, when they approached the pond they saw that the large granite boulders surrounding it were covered with people. Quite a few swimmers were in the water, too. Music from portable radios filled the air, and the inevitable cries of “Marco Polo” could be heard.
    â€œWow,” said Bill. “The population boom is out of control.”
    â€œIt’s people like us,” said Lucy. “We broke the zero population growth pledge. We have two extra children.”
    â€œOkay. We’ll keep Sara and Zoe and eliminate the other two.”
    â€œBill!” protested Lucy. “We can’t do that! And we don’t have to. Look, nobody’s on our rock.”
    For as long as any of the Stones could remember, the family had always spread out their blanket and chairs on the same enormous rock.
    The family formed a little procession, almost like a caravan, with Elizabeth and Toby leading the way. Toby was balancing a stack of folding aluminum beach chairs and Elizabeth had a canvas bag full of towels and sun lotion. Bill was next, toting the portable grill, followed by Zoe who was carrying the charcoal and a string bag containing some balls and frisbees. Lucy and Sara brought up the end, carrying the big red-and-white plastic cooler between them. It was heavy and Lucy was feeling a bit out of breath.
    â€œDo you want to rest a minute, Mom?” asked Sara.
    â€œNnnnnh,” said Lucy, distracted by Toby and Elizabeth’s odd behavior.
    They’d reached the rock and started putting down their stuff when they suddenly began laughing hysterically and bolted back down the trail to the rest of the family.
    â€œThose people are tanning all over!” exclaimed Elizabeth.
    â€œThey’re butt naked,” added Toby.
    â€œAll of them?” asked Lucy, shading her eyes with her hand and taking a closer look.
    Her chin dropped. It was true. Every single one of the people sunbathing at the pond was stark naked. Not a single person was wearing a stitch: not the babies, not the grandmothers, not the mommies and the daddies. Not even the very pink, corpulent man who was standing up and stretching.
    Lucy dropped her side of the cooler and clapped her hands over Zoe’s eyes.
    â€œBack to the truck!” she barked.
    â€œC’mon, Lucy, be a