1 Death Comes to Town Read Online Free Page B

Grace and Jon were having behind her when she heard Jon say her name. Now she was all ears. Trouble? What was he saying about her always causing trouble?
    She swung around and faced him with a glare. “I don’t cause the trouble. Trouble just happens to find me.”
    Jon opened his mouth to say something at the same time that Grace opened her mouth to say something else but the screeching of the microphone as the Mayor was about to make his speech cut them both off. Jon snapped his mouth shut with a hard stare at Darcy. Everybody in the crowd quieted down and faced the podium where Steve Nelson was now smiling nervously.
    “Can you all hear me?” The crowd shouted a resounding “Yes!”
    The ceremony began with the Mayor making his speech about the town of Misty Hollow’s history. A glorious history, he said, starting back in the Revolutionary War and continuing through a series of remarkable events that led to the wonderful town they all knew and loved today.
    Darcy knew all of this. She had researched the town’s history and probably knew it better than anyone else. Plus, Steve gave this same speech, or some variation of it, at just about every town event he had ever spoken at.
                  After what seemed like an eternity the Mayor’s speech ended. Then the celebrations got into full swing. As night fell the fog started to descend upon them once again also. The fog got thicker the later it got and Darcy wondered if they would be able to see the fireworks when it was time. As she listened to the music playing Darcy reflected that even the thick fog couldn’t dampen the town’s enthusiasm for their festival.
    When nine o’clock rolled around and it was time for the fireworks the fog seemed to miraculously part over the center of town for the ten minutes it took for the fireworks to light up the sky. As soon as they were done the fog soon descended upon them once again. Darcy shivered as the fog seemed to penetrate her clothing.
    When the fireworks were over the festivities continued on with music and dancing. Darcy stayed for another hour or so but when it looked like the other townsfolk were dispersing she decided to head home also.
    As she did her thoughts kept returning to Anna, though, and why she had suddenly stopped talking just as her sister had shown up.
    ***
    Darcy walked home alone after the festival thinking about how lovely the town had looked all decorated and how beautiful the fireworks had been. It was difficult to see where she was going as the beam from her flashlight was bouncing off the curtain of fog in front of her. She was going on instinct alone as she walked this path everyday of her life and could do it with her eyes closed.
    Despite the fog she felt great and the good feelings from such a wonderful day had succeeded in pushing her silly dream she had and Millie’s appearance right out of her head. Anna and her actions at the festival kept coming to mind, but she figured that would work itself out.
    As she reached her porch she could see that Smudge was waiting for her. He was such a good cat. As she got closer to him and reached out to pet him he meowed very loudly at her. Instantly Darcy was on edge. Smudge was a good cat and he was trying to tell her something now.
    There was something wrong.
    Smudge bolted off the porch and quickly sprinted part way across the pasture that separated Darcy’s property from Anna’s. When he got to the edge of the flashlight’s beam he stopped and looked back at her. “Lassie’s got nothing on you, huh Smudge?”
    Darcy followed him through the fog to Anna’s house. He was a black and white shadow moving just at the furthest reach of her light. When she got to Anna’s front door it was open. That wasn’t right. Not this late at night. Darcy hesitantly pushed the door open a little wider. She really didn’t want to see what was on the other side. Her instincts were screaming at her. She knew it wouldn’t be good.
    As the door