Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 01 - Death Is Clowning Around Read Online Free

clowns either. If you weren’t part of the Uptown Clown’s organization, you were considered beneath them. It was creepy in a white supremacy of clown’s way.
    By the end of the survey, I was sure I didn’t believe in anything that they stood for. I pushed the submit button anyway and was returned to the original site so I could buy the bobble-head clown. Then I realized that in order to buy it I’d have to use my real name so I could use my credit card. That just didn’t feel like a good idea. I exited out of the program.
    Just then I heard a knock at my door. Shelby went nuts, barking. I looked through the peephole and saw Tom Owens. My pulse skipped a beat. What the hell was happening to me? I’d never reacted to anyone like that. Sarah was right, he was handsome , but please, I’m thirty-two years old and shouldn’t be reacting like a teenager.
    “Shelby, go lie down,” I shouted. She responded immediately, by jumping on the bed. I opened the door. “Yes?”
    “I was wondering if you’d like to go and get a drink?” He rocked back on his heels, looking sheepish, but his smile was warm and inviting.
    I wasn’t in town to get a date, but still I couldn’t settle my heart rate or breathing, not to mention the butterflies in my stomach around this man. One little drink wouldn’t hurt, would it? I shrugged. “Sure, just a minute.” I grabbed my white sweater, made sure Shelby had water and then closed the door.
    “Will your dog be okay?” he asked, shifting his weight from one foot to another.
    Was he as uncomfortable as I felt? I glanced at him and smiled, not sure who I was trying to reassure, him or me. “Shelby’s fine for a while.”
    “Great.” He paused. “So, what do you like to drink?”
    “Diet Coke,” I replied bluntly. I’d never acquired a taste for alcohol and I wasn’t going to start now.
    “How about pie?”
    “Oh, I love pie.”
    “Okay. Then it’s the local diner for Coke and pie. It’s just a few blocks. Is it okay to walk or would you rather I drive?”
    He had manners. I’d give him that. “No, walking is fine.”
    “Great.”
    We walked in silence. It was a bit unnerving. I hoped it wasn’t an omen for the rest of the evening. Well, at least I’d have pie to keep my mouth occupied. When we got to Joe’s Diner, Tom opened the door and let me walk through. As soon as he came through the door, people started saying hi to him and waving. I felt like I was part of a parade.
    We sat down in a booth and a waitress came over, smiling sultrily. Her breasts barely fit inside her uniform, which was in serious need of cleaning. “Howdy, Tom. The usual?”
    “Of course, Doris.” He made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a snort.
    Her smile broadened. Then she handed me a menu. I glanced over at Tom. “What’s your usual?”
    “Coke and a piece of hot apple pie.”
    I handed the menu back. “I’ll have the same, except make mine a diet Coke.”
    “Sure.”
    She left and the silence continued. A few minutes later, the waitress came back with our sodas and left. I couldn’t take it anymore. “So Tom, do you pick up every woman that comes into town for the festival?”
    He threw back his head and laughed. It was rich and full of fun. “No, in fact this is a first for me.”
    “Well, me too. I don’t usually go out with people who come to my hotel room and knock on the door.”
    He raised one eyebrow and smirked, “that’s good to know.”
    His smirk was irritating and I could never master the one eyebrow thing either. Anyway I didn’t care if he thought I picked up everyone who knocked on my door. Did I? No. Maybe I’d just get some information. “So, Sarah says you’re the local sheriff.”
    “Yeah. Gainsville isn’t a very big town so there are only four of us, I’m in charge.”
    “Not much crime here?”
    “Not really. Usually it’s pretty peaceful and quiet. I like it that way.” He took a sip of his Coke. “So, what do you do when you’re not