The Devil Wore Sneakers Read Online Free PDF

softened. “I’ll order our meals.” He rose, and she grabbed his arm.
    “Have you heard any gossip about who killed Ryan?” Please, let him have a clue.
    “Sorry, Luce. All I know is that Target disappeared. The police searched the woods without luck.”
    She glanced at the table of laughing older women. “His pet was his family. I hate to admit it, but he treated that animal better than he treated humans.” She looked at Liam. “Who are people blaming for his death?”
    “No one knows. Most of Barley is in a panic about a killer hiding out until he’s ready to shoot again.”
    “I don’t blame them. Who’d expect a murder in a town where the school’s science projects are front-page news?”
    “I never expected a headline to be about Ryan’s murder. Excuse me. I’ll order the food.” He went through the swinging door near the end of the bar.
    Uneasy, she glanced around the restaurant. People threw her covert looks. Maybe one of them was Ryan’s killer, watching her and thinking he or she would never be caught.

Chapter 5

    The heat and the aromas in the kitchen welcomed Liam as he inhaled the fragrances.
    Talking about Ryan’s death and being near Lucy after years of separation was more difficult than he’d imagined. The week after they’d broken up had been the worst. He’d tried to get back together with her, apologize, tell her he’d made a mistake, but she’d rejected his attempts. Then she’d left. What had surprised him the most after reading her recent email was his own eagerness to see her.
    Dangerous. The easy way out was to avoid her, but he’d wanted to talk to her one more time. So he’d set out to find her at the funeral.
    He’d spotted her right away when he’d driven to the cemetery. Her long, dark hair stood out from the two blondes at the ceremony. She’d been a welcome sight. Her curves in that little black dress had had him on the edge of running across the grass to her. When he’d gotten close and looked into her brown eyes, he’d recognized distrust and pain. Emotions he’d caused.
    “Hey, boss, how was the funeral?”
    Liam faced his cook, Sadie, who stood on the other side of the heated pickup shelf. Her apron covered her long, jean-clad legs and hung to below her knees. Her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail, and she topped off her clothes with a Boston Red Sox cap. She’d scared a few Yankee fans while waving a kitchen knife, but few cooks could compare their cooking to hers.
    “Small turnout, Sadie. Miss Watson is eating with me. Whip me up two plates of the chicken and dumpling special.”
    “Will do.”
    Chip, the towheaded dishwasher, popped up beside her. His round pink cheeks made him look much younger than eighteen. “My sister told me all the kids are talking about Mr. Watson’s murder at the school. They know who did it.”
    “The kids at the high school can give us the name of the killer, but the police can’t?” Liam could almost believe him. “Okay, go ahead. Who shot him?”
    “The man with the hook did it.”
    Sadie shook her head. “Don’t repeat that to Miss Watson.”
    Chip gave her a sheepish look.
    “Do me a favor,” Liam said to the boy. “When you hear a joke that’s not fifty years old, let me know, and remember, don’t upset Lucy with gossip.”
    “Then she won’t like the picture of the funeral posted online.”
    Chip’s news grabbed Liam’s full attention. “What are you talking about?”
    “Someone put up an image of Mr. Watson’s coffin on his teacher page. Lots of kids are sharing it.”
    Great. He’d better warn Lucy. What was wrong with people? As Liam walked away, Sadie lectured the dishwasher on the seriousness of Ryan’s death.
    In the dining room, the group of older women tossed glances at Lucy and whispered to each other. No doubt they were offering their opinions on who’d killed his friend. He hoped they had a better theory than the kids and Chief Sullivan.
    “Everything okay, ladies?” he