Stake & Eggs Read Online Free

muffins when they heard
     the
clump clump clump
of heavy boots on the front porch.
    “Doogie,” said Toni, starting to rise in her chair.
    “Took his own sweet time,” said Petra.
    Suzanne glanced at her watch, a silver-and-gold Timex that Walter had given her for
     their ninth anniversary. Unfortunately, poor Walter had never made it to their tenth
     anniversary.
    “Suzanne?” Doogie was stumping around in the café now, kicking clods of snow from
     his boots, generally making a slushy mess.
    The three women came flying out to greet him.
    “Thank goodness, you’re here,” said Suzanne.
    Sheriff Roy Doogie’s face and ears were red as pickled beets. He wore his modified
     Smoky Bear hat and an oversized dark green snorkel parka over his khaki sheriff’s
     uniform. He was a big man, broad across the shoulders, beamy in the hips. But right
     now, his hooded gray eyes darted back and forth. Sheriff Doogie was on full alert.
    “Where is he?” asked Doogie.
    Toni hooked a thumb. “Out back.”
    “And you’re sure it’s Ben?” asked Doogie.
    “Ninety-nine percent sure,” said Suzanne.
    “And you’re sure he’s dead.”
    “If he’s not dead, it would be a miracle,” said Suzanne.
    “Okay,” said Doogie. He blew breath onto his hands to warm them, then said, “I’ll
     go have a look.”
    “Come through the kitchen,” said Suzanne, gesturing. “It’s easier going.”
    “You want us to come out, too?” asked Toni. She’d gotten over her initial shock and
     was suddenly all jacked up about viewing the body.
    “You stay put,” said Doogie. “This is not a paramilitary operation.” He cocked a rheumy
     eye at Suzanne. “You, too.”
    “What am I?” said Petra. “Chopped liver?” They had all three followed Doogie into
     the kitchen. But Doogie threw them a warning glance, then slipped out the back door.
    “He didn’t warn you, because you’re the non-snoopy one,” Suzanne told Petra. “The
     one least likely to get involved.”
    Petra frowned. “When a murder happens at the Cackleberry Club, we’re
all
involved.”
    “Good point,” said Suzanne. She nibbled at her lower lip. And realized that this was
     really very bad timing. Kindred’s big Fire & Ice Festival was due to kick off in two
     days’ time. This nasty little incident could definitely put a crimp in things. And
     she’d already spent time, money, and beaucoup energy on a couple of events the CackleberryClub was slated to host, like Thursday’s Crystal Tea and Sunday’s Winter Blaze.
    Still, a man had
died
out there. That certainly trumped a lot of other concerns. Suzanne suddenly wondered
     about Ben’s wife, Claudia. How was she likely to handle this dreadful news? Even snooty
     people had feelings, Suzanne thought, hard as that could be to believe sometimes.
    Doogie stomped in from the cold some five minutes later. “Yup, he’s dead as a doornail,”
     he declared, clapping his hands together.
    “You saw the wire?” Suzanne asked.
    “Yup, I did. Even in that snow-washed world. Amazing what the eye can sort out when
     it needs to.” Breaking out of his parka, Doogie lifted his big head and gave a suspicious
     sniff, as if he might be sourcing a leftover sticky bun or cinnamon donut.
    Petra, who was leaning against the big industrial stove, arms folded across her ample
     chest, said, “So that’s your expert opinion?”
    “It is,” said Doogie, pulling off his suede mitts, ubiquitously known as choppers.
     “Since I don’t know of any transplant operation that could remedy his type of situation.”
    “That bad, huh?” said Toni.
    Doogie nodded.
    “Maybe I should go out and take a look,” said Toni.
    “Don’t!” Suzanne, Petra, and Doogie all cried together.
    “It looks to me like there might be other snowmobile tracks out there,” said Doogie,
     “but it’s awful hard to tell for sure. The snow’s coming down hard and the wind is
     ripping like crazy, so everything’s drifted.” He pulled out