Trouble in the Tarot Read Online Free PDF Page A

rub up against his legs, purring loudly. Morty loved Sean—the detective, not so much. Sean reached down and scratched Morty between the ears.
    “See, even Morty agrees with me.”
    “Not a chance, Romeo. Besides, you’d get bored.” I laughed. “But seriously. You’re not getting any younger. Don’t you think it’s time you settled down?”
    “Not a chance,” he threw my words back at me and winked. “And you’re right. I probably would get bored.” I smacked him playfully. “You want me to be serious? I can seriously say it will take one special woman to ever make me want to settle down for good. I love women. All women.”
    “I know, and that’s the problem. But I am curious. Why did you ask that question?”
    “I just wanted to know if I would have a date for this weekend.” He grinned.
    “You are such a devil.” I shook my head and glanced to the side, then did a double take. “Wow, is that Mimi Pots?”
    Sean squinted and looked in the same direction. “Sure is. Shocker, right? That makeover might have made her pretty on the outside, but she’s still just as sour on the inside.”
    Now she sported a full set of gleaming white dentures, her hair neatly styled, and summer slacks and a blouse that took ten years off her appearance. She’d warmed up to me okay, but she hadn’t liked Mitch one bit. Hadn’t liked anyone in town, actually.
    “I don’t know. Everyone has some good in them,” I said. “It looks like she even made a friend. Isn’t that Bernadette Baldwin of BB’s Baked Goods?”
    “Doesn’t surprise me that those two became friends.” Sean scoffed. “Bernadette isn’t very well liked, either.”
    “Be nice. They’re coming our way.” I smiled wide when Mimi and Bernadette stopped by the gazebo. I’d heard of Bernadette, but I didn’t really know her. But having been judged my whole life, I was always willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.
    Bernadette was sharply dressed and well put together with neatly trimmed, short dark hair. She had to be in her fifties or sixties, but she wore her age well. My lips flattened when she didn’t even attempt to smile back.Just like Mimi, I guess she didn’t feel the need to wear her “pretty” on the inside.
    “Where’s your granny? Home baking?” Bernadette said smugly. “She should rest those old bones. She doesn’t have what it takes to beat me in the bakeoff. Isn’t that right, Mimi?”
    Mimi gave me a slight wince, but then shrugged. “I predict a huge victory, Bernadette,” she said, glancing at my tarot cards.
    “You tell your granny to leave my booth alone. Playing dirty won’t increase her chances of winning. Besides, I’m meaner, and that only means I fight dirtier.”
    “Hey, isn’t that Sam?” Mimi pointed off in the distance.
    Bernadette whirled around. “Why, that little cheater. He’s bringing pastries to the crew putting together the bakeoff booth. Come on.” She hustled off after him with Mimi hot on her heels.
    I was suddenly reminded of Parks and Rec manager Quincy kicking Ozzie’s Animal Angels’ sign over by his booth, Trixie accusing the Knitting Nanas of tampering with the Sewing Sisters’ booth, and now Bernadette said someone had messed with her booth. Could it have been Sam since Sam’s Bakery was in direct competition with BB’s Baked Goods? Either they’d all gone crazy, or someone was trying to sabotage the entire carnival.
    All of this mischief was making me dizzy. I shook my head, filing away the clues and list of possible suspects when my cell phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID. Whaton earth was Gretta Frey doing calling me at this time when I knew for a fact that she was working at her mini-mart? “Gretta, is anything wrong?” I asked as I answered.
    “Yes, something’s wrong.” She sounded annoyed and out of breath. “There’s been a scuffle.”
    “Why are you calling me instead of the police?”
    “Because Granny is one of the people