Organized for S'more Death

by Ritter Ames

  “Thank you. I was an event planner before Keith and I married, so I understand the importance of a good cup of coffee.”

  “You sure do.”

  Meg gave her a look that she could only read as a “get nosy” order, but Kate raised and eyebrow and gave a slight shrug instead. So the redhead jumped in. “I don’t mean to sound curious or anything Tina, but we’re surprised to see you here. How did you find us?”

  “Oh, that was nothing,” the tiny brunette said, waving an equally tiny hand. “Gus told me all about talking to Keith about his hockey career, and with him being a public figure in this state and all, it didn’t take me a minute to find your address.”

  One mystery solved, Kate thought, and she made a mental note to discuss privacy issues with Keith and get a post office box for his public address. In the meantime, however, it was time to try to home in on the next question for Tina. “Did you need to see Keith for some reason?”

  The oven dinged, and Kate moved Tina’s small black clutch from where it sat in the middle of the table, only to have it snatched from her hands. “Sorry, I was just making space for the cookies.”

  “I know,” Tina tried to smooth everything over with a quick laugh. “I was just helping. I didn’t mean anything by the way I took it from you.”

  “No worries.” Kate walked to the stove and opened the door to check the tone of the cookies. “They look perfect, ladies. Meg, can you get dessert plates for us from this cabinet, while I carry the cookies over?”

  “I’m sorry,” Meg said, rising from her chair. “I should have asked if I could help.”

  “Really, it’s nothing. I’m just a hand short of what I need.” As Meg grew closer, she whispered. “Her purse weighs a ton.”

  Meg looked back. “It’s so small. What could be in there?”

  “Gold bars? Maybe she’s running away from Gus.”

  “She might want to get rid of her car if she does that. The vehicle kind of stands out...a lot.”

  Meg left first with the dessert plates, and Kate grabbed a trivet for the table and followed.

  “I know this isn’t the best way to present cookies, but I love keeping any kind of chocolate dessert warm and gooey as long as possible. So I always leave baked goods like this on the metal sheet as we eat them,” Kate said. She set the dozen fragrant wonders in the middle of the table and grabbed a thin cookie lifter from her utensil caddy. One fresh cookie went on each of the three dessert plates.

  “This smells heavenly,” Tina said.

  “Wait until you taste it,” Meg assured her.

  The cookies were warm and messy and delicious, and Kate wasn’t surprised when Tina’s eye bugged out in wonder.

  “So, Tina, you were telling us why you needed to come and see me,” Kate worked at solving the mystery again. “Or is it Keith you want to talk to?”

  “No, it’s you and Meg who I wanted to see. You found Paul’s body, right?”

  “Yes...” Meg let the syllable trail off.

  Kate saw that a keyring had slipped out of Tina’s purse. A gold filigreed keyring that held the monogram AM intwined in black letters. “That’s a very distinctive keyring, Tina. Is that a family heirloom?

  “Kind of,” she said, pulling it out and stroking the emblem. “My grandmother gave it to me when I got my first car.”

  “So AM are her initials?”

  “No, they’re mine,” she clarified. “My maiden name is Massetti. That’s why I drive a Maserati. It’s not exactly the same name, but close enough.”

  “And your middle name must be Tina,” Meg pushed.

  Tina sighed, then chuckled. “No, I got saddled with being the namesake of my great aunt, Albertina. She was named after her father, my great-great uncle, Alberto.” She put the keyring back into her purse and pulled out a lethal looking silver handgun. “You have it all figured out, don’t you?”

  “What? We don’t have anything figured out,” Meg stammered.

  Tina nodded toward Kate. “You might not, but she does. You know I’m here for the phone. Right?”

  “I don’t know...” Kate lost her voice as the gun moved in her direction. Tina stood up from her chair, so she could pivot back from the table and more easily cover Meg and Kate with the gun at the same time.

  “You know,” Tina said. “Paul underestimated me. Thought I was a moron. But I can tell when someone is quietly putting all the pieces together. Now, which one of you is going to give me the phone? My source in the police said both of you said in your interviews last night that you found Paul’s body because you went by to return his phone. Where is it?”

  “We don’t have it,” Meg said. “We left it in Keith’s Jeep, and the guys went to pick up the rest of the stuff we didn’t grab from the cabin last night. We can’t give it to you until they get back.”

  Oh, thank goodness, thought Kate. Meg’s quick thinking could buy them some time. She would have preferred that Tina just decided the phone was gone and left, of course, but obviously something in her expression or questions earlier tipped Tina off that her cover was blown. Which meant they had to worry about their husbands and the boys coming back and walking into this. Church services would be over in fifteen minutes, which doubled the risk and could involve her daughters and inlaws walking into the same mess.

  “Damn!” Tina cursed. “Well, we’ll just be patient and eat more of these delicious cookies until your men return.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  BEST HIKE HACK RULE—

  There are always times when we’re told to go for the heaviest to get the better-built item. But when hiking, the rule is exactly the opposite. Keep things lean and mean, so when as we move through the travels we can focus on our surroundings, and not keep thinking about how much our shoulders and backs hurt.

  MEG LOOKED AS ALARMED as Kate felt. George and Jane would be back soon with Sam and Suze. She expected the churchgoers would return ahead of the Jeep since it had been less than three hours between the guys leaving and the current time. While technically they could arrive back sooner, given the tasks they went to accomplish, including stopping by to connect with the constable in charge of the local side of the murder, she figured it more likely they would soon be held at gunpoint with two seniors and two second-graders. Not that she wanted the guys to return with Mark and Ben yet either.

  Her best friend sat across from the table and mouthed the word sorry. Kate knew Meg felt guilt over offering a lie to buy them time, without realizing it meant both their families were at risk. She produced her best brave smile and tried to nod in support. They might have already been dead if not for Meg’s quick thinking. She didn’t want her friend wallowing in the negativity while their only ally was positive thinking.

  She wished there was some way to contact Lieutenant Johnson, and prayed he would have an aha! moment that led him in this direction.

  Just when she had almost decided to try some Hail Mary, last ditch effort, so Meg could get away and call the police, even if it meant that Kate ran the risk of being shot in the defensive effort, the next surprise came.

  The rattle of the garage door opening caught Tina’s attention.

  “Good. They’re back,” she said, gleefully. “Once everyone gets in here, you can take me out to the Jeep and get the phone.

  Suddenly, the doorbell went berserk and began ringing nonstop. Tina turned toward the front door, shouting, “What the hell is going on?”

  That was the break Kate needed. She grabbed the still very warm baking sheet and stepped onto the tabletop, slamming Tina in the back of the head as she tackled the gunwoman to the ground. The Baretta skittered across the kitchen floor and Meg dove for the weapon.

  Tina was down and hurt, but she wasn’t completely knocked out.

  “There are trash bag zip ties in the drawer by the sink,” Kate said.

  “Gotcha!” Meg found the zips right away and tossed them to Kate.

  A huge black shape appeared behind the window curtain on the back door, then the
shape disappeared again, and Jefferson came in through the laundry room a few moments later. “You both okay?”

  Meg hurried over to him with the gun shaking in her hand. “I’ll be much better when you take this.” Then, hands-free once more, she helped Kate tag team Tina, who was again trying to escape.

  With the extra help, the murderer was quickly subdued, but her mouth was still going loud and nasty.

  “I’ve had enough of your trash talk,” Kate said, opening a second drawer to pull a roll of bright red duct tape she and Meg often used in the organizing business. She ripped off an eight-inch section and used it to shut Tina up completely. Then they manhandled her into a chair, Tina fighting their control at every turn.

  When they saw through the front window the elder McKenzies’s LaSalle pull up to the curb, Jefferson asked. “You want me to take care of her?”

  “You’ve already saved our lives. You don’t have to deal with the responsibility of taking her into the cops, too,” Kate said. “Keep her in that chair, Jefferson, and if she moves feel free to shoot her. Meg, if you’ll call Lieutenant Johnson and ask him to send someone to collect this murderer, I’m going to go out and meet my inlaws and my daughters to ask them please go to lunch and come back later. Wish me luck.”

  .

  By the time the grandparents fed Sam and Suze and brought them back home—after Kate texted Jane the “all clear”, Keith and Gil had returned, and the state police detail Lieutenant Johnson dispatched at Meg’s request collected Tina Griffin and hauled her away to jail. When the girls challenged the boys to a game of basketball, the parents sent the kids outside to play, and the three adults in the middle of the melee that morning had the perfect opportunity to bring everyone else up-to-date.

  “I knew those cookies are the staff of Life,” Meg said. “If Jefferson hadn’t come over for cookies, he wouldn’t have seen Tina through the window waving a gun. And Kate wouldn’t have burned her hands grabbing the still hot pan and knocking her in the head. Keith, you should have seen your wife take that hurdle, using the tabletop to launch herself at Tina while the woman’s back was turned trying to figure out the unending doorbell ringing.”

  “That was pretty awesome, Jefferson,” Kate said. “How did you accomplish it?”

  The big man pulled a tiny gadget from his pocket. “We security experts have our secrets. But it might not have worked if you hadn’t left the van outside in the drive. Being able to let her hear the garage door open got her focusing on that entrance to the house, so when the doorbell started, and she got flipped to the other direction, I knew it would give Meg and Kate a chance to change the dynamic.”

  “But what if we hadn’t?” Kate said. “What if we were frozen and couldn’t react?”

  “How many murderers have you caught now?” he asked. “And how many times did you freeze?”

  “He’s paying us a compliment, Katie,” Meg said. “Accept the fact that people know you’re awesome whenever you need to be, Batgirl.”

  “Got it, Wonder Woman,” Kate replied, still feeling a lot of heat in her face.

  “Guess I can take down everything I did in your house today, Meg and Gil,” Jefferson said, heading for the backdoor.

  “I still owe you cookies since the ones I baked today went flying all over the floor,” Kate replied.

  “And let’s just keep everything at half-mast, Jefferson,” Gil said. “In case we want to add in the extra power later.”

  “Can do,” he replied. “I’d rather go home and eat lunch anyway.”

  “You know, I’m hungry too,” Meg said. “I can order a pizza delivery if anyone else is game.”

  “Every day, Meg Berman. Every day.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  HOW TO PACK FOR AN Awesome Road Trip—

  The best way to pack for any type of driving trip is to think carefully before starting. Packing and repacking is a huge time waster. With a little pre-planning, packing becomes a breeze the first time and every time. Think about anything that won’t be necessary until you reach your destination. Everything which meets that criteria gets packed first, so those items end up in the back (farthest from the door) or underneath everything. Anything that is easily accessible should be the items you expect to use throughout the driving part of the journey, like cameras, activity bags and snack sacks. And purses, of course. Never bury a woman’s purse under a travel load.

  “OH, MEG, THIS VIEW is fabulous,” Kate cried. The kids were in school, the husbands were busy with work tasks, and the women took off on their own personal field trip up to Skyline Drive and enjoy the gorgeous views of Vermont, New Hampshire, and the Adirondacks from the top of Mount Equinox.

  Meg grabbed Kate’s shoulder and pivoted her in the opposite direction. “Have to take advantage of clear days like today. See that peak way off in the farthest distance?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re seeing Mount Royal in Montreal.”

  “Amazing.” Kate, then rotated again in a full circle. She adored the panoramic view with the deep gorges of the miles of valleys and the soaring mountain peaks. “I swear there is not one shade of green that is not represented in this gorgeous landscape.”

  “They don’t call us the Green Mountain State for nothing,” Meg said, smiling. “And look at that sky. Have you ever seen a blue sky any clearer than this one?”

  “It’s like nature is creating its own travel brochure,” Kate said, shaking her head in wonder. “After what we went through last weekend, I feel like we need to seek out awesome sights like this every day.”

  Meg shrugged. “One of the best things about living in our state is we don’t have to look anywhere else for awesome views. We have them all, three-hundred, sixty-five days a year. And just when we think things can’t get any more beautiful, the season changes and a whole new amazing view appears.”

  “Well enjoy it, my friend, because Stacked in Your Favor should hear this evening if we gain the contract to organize the new fabric store moving in on the main street of Hazelton.”

  “Organizing a fabric store sounds safe and non-violent,” Meg replied.

  “I hear what you’re saying, but I start every job thinking that exact same thing,” Kate said.

  “Because this last murder happened while we weren’t working,” Meg pointed out. “I’m saying the curse is lifted.”

  “Hope you’re right Wonder Woman.”

  “At least we know we can always count on each other, Batgirl.”

  “Ready to hike partway down a mountain?” Kate asked.

  “Beats the climb up,” Meg replied. “Lead the way, boss.”

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  Keep reading to find recipes for Kate McKenzie’s cookies and Jane McKenzie’s trail mix. There’s also a sneak peek at Frugal Lissa Finds a Body, a new cozy series arriving in bookstores summer 2018

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  USA TODAY bestselling author Ritter Ames writes the Organized Mysteries series and the Bodies of Art Mysteries. Both are her way of coaxing her husband into more travel for “research.” For more information about her and her books, visit www.ritterames.com . Follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RitterAmesBooks/ or Twitter https://twitter.com/RitterAmes and click here—Ritter's Newsletter to subscribe to her newsletter and learn when books are released or she’s running special giveaways for her fans.

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  Thank you so much for reading Organized for S’more Death. If you liked this book or a book by any author, please consider writing a short review. We all know it can feel intimidating to write an online review, and time is short for everyone, but even a brief review such as “I liked this book and look forward to the next one by this author...” can make such a difference when a reader is trying to decide on a title by a new-to-them author. Thank you for your support of authors and...Happy Reading!

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  Now, here are the recipes for Kate McKenzie’s cookies and Jane McKenzie’s trail mix. Following t
he recipes, there is a sneak peek at Frugal Lissa Finds a Body, a new cozy series arriving in bookstores summer 2018

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  When Only an Organized Recipe Will Do

  BEYOND TAKING THESE cookies along for easy camping snacks, this is a recipe guaranteed to please a number of tastes. The reason I like the recipe is three-fold:

  1) it’s almost a complete organized meal in a cookie, loaded with fiber from the oatmeal, protein from the peanuts, dairy from the butter, healthy sugar from honey, and even antioxidants from the chocolate;

  2) the cookies can be made ahead of time, and frozen into baking sized balls, so fresh cookies can always be just one pre-heated oven away at any time;

  3) my whole family contributed their ideas to make these cookies the standout they are today. We started with a simple oatmeal cookie recipe, then measured and substituted—and, of course, taste tested for recipe reliability—until we found exactly the mix of ingredients desired. And it goes with us on every field trip, which of course also includes camping trips too.

  McKenzie Family Favorite Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chunk Choco-Chip Cookies

  Ingredients

  ¾ cup packed brown sugar

  ¾ cup honey (the original recipe didn’t call for honey and had 1¾ cup brown sugar instead—but I like the split so that I get the sweet taste honey adds, while still getting the brown sugar kick)

  1 cup crunchy peanut butter (the original said creamy; I just like nuts)

  6 Tablespoons butter softened (if I use margarine I use “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” in cube, not soft tub margarine)

  3 eggs, slightly beaten

  1¾ teaspoons baking soda

  1teaspoon vanilla extract

  3¾ to 4½ cups quick oats (not instant, but cooks in a couple of minutes), I add oats until I get the consistency I want—usually, it’s around 4 cups because of the honey