Pattern of Betrayal (Vineyard Quilt Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

lights would flicker and then go out. When they came back on, the “body” would be found, and the mystery would begin.
    She leaned closer to him. “Quit worrying about the time, and get your part done. You need to start planting clues.”
    He nodded and then turned in his seat toward the other guests. “I say,” he began in what had to be the worst British accent Julie had ever heard, not to mention overly loud. “You look a tad familiar, old chap. Have we met?”
    The other guests swiveled their attention to Daniel as they tried to figure out who he was talking to.
    Brandon looked up from his chicken and glanced around the table as if to check and see if Daniel was really talking to him.
    Julie had to admit, the kid was pretty good.
    On cue, Shirley ducked her head in shame. She let out a gusty sigh, dragging everyone’s attention from Brandon to her.
    Everything was going as planned.
    “I don’t think so, sir,” young Brandon replied. “I’m new to these parts.”
    “I see.” Daniel sat back in his seat, his eyes narrowed in dramatic fashion.
    A long pause followed. The next line was supposed to be Inga’s, but she was having trouble getting into the swing of the evening. It would have been better for everyone if Julie had been successful in luring Hannah out of the kitchen to play Inga’s part, but Hannah had stated quite emphatically that she would quit on the spot if they did anything otherthan ask her to serve dessert. Poor, stoic Inga had been brought on instead. And she was already failing miserably.
    Shirley nudged Inga with one shoulder, somehow making it seem like an accident.
    “Oh.” Inga turned a bright shade of red. “Uh. What about you? I don’t remember seeing you around much.” She recited her lines in her usual deadpan monotone.
    Daniel adopted a cool air, like a riverboat gambler holding four aces. “My wife and I like to travel. We’ve been through here many times. Haven’t we, dearest?”
    Shirley beamed at him. “Oh, yes, and we just love staying at the Quilt Haus Inn whenever we’re in the area.” Shirley’s animated performance was as over the top as Inga’s was below it.
    “Indeed we do.” Daniel smiled at Julie, who was playing the part of the innkeeper—big stretch—and then shifted his attention back to Brandon. “But I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve seen you somewhere before. On the riverboat, perhaps?”
    Brandon shivered. “No sir, I get sick as a dog on the water. No sir, that wasn’t me on the riverboat.”
    Julie checked the clock. Seven thirty. They still had half an hour of playacting and banter before the lights were scheduled to go off. So far, so good.
    The thought had no sooner crossed her mind than the lights flickered and went out.
    Knowing they were in the midst of a murder mystery dinner, it should have taken no one by surprise when the room went dark—surely not enough that they would scream.
    But someone did.
    Chills ran down Julie’s spine. The lights weren’t supposed to go out so early. But there must have been a simple explanation for it. Hannah probably got the “kill time” mixed up.Any minute now, she would flip the lights back on, and the mystery would begin. There was no need for alarm.
    But the lights didn’t come back on.
    “What’s going on here?” It was a male voice, and Julie thought it sounded like Liam.
    “Julie?” This from Shirley.
    “Are the lights supposed to stay out this long?” Joyce asked.
    “I would have thought they’d be back on by now.” This came from Sadie.
    “Hannah,” Julie called.
    “What happened?” Hannah replied from the dark kitchen doorway.
    “You didn’t do this then?” Julie asked.
    “Definitely not.”
    “You must have blown a fuse or tripped a breaker,” Daniel said.
    Julie carefully stood, keeping her hands on the table. “OK everyone, we seem to be experiencing a technical difficulty. I apologize for the delay. Please remain in your seats while Daniel and I check the