A VENEER OF MURDER (Mrs. Fix It Mysteries Book 3) by Belle Knudson Page A

jumped, putting her hand over her heart. “You scared me.”
    “Were you doing something that you shouldn’t be?”
    “Yes.”
    He chuckled. “You don’t often admit that.”
    She shrugged. “Looks like they are about to begin.”
    They both turned to the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dean was in a suit. Kate had never seen him dressed that well other than at his wedding. He looked good. He cleaned up well. Jessica was the epitome of taste with her conservative pink sheath dress. Seeing her with Dean, Kate wondered what she had ever seen in Dudley. He was frumpy and old compared to her new husband.
    “I’m surprised you are here,” Kate whispered.
    “I am the chief of police. I have to make these appearances once in a while.”
    “Have you made your peace with Dean?”
    “We’ve come to a détente. Seems ridiculous to hate him since he probably didn’t break up my marriage.”
    “Very mature of you.”
    Mayor Harvy Stuart stepped up to the podium next to the ribbon. Everyone quieted down.
    “I’d like to welcome everyone to the rededication of the Rock Ridge Community Center as the Dudley Stuart Community Center. I’d like to thank Dean Wentworth and his crew for doing a great job at renovating the place. Harvy and I spent a lot of time at the center when we were young adults. I have fond memories.”
    He droned on for ten more minutes. Kate was impatient to get to Jessica’s house to finish staging it for sale. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other. Scott’s gaze went around the crowd.
    “What are you looking for?”
    “I’m a cop. I can’t stop observing.”
    “Find anything?”
    “No.”
    Jessica and Dean were handed a large pair scissors then cut the ribbon. A cheer went up in the crowd. Kate glanced back at where Clem had been standing, but he was gone. She wanted to talk to him so she looked around. She saw him again with Kendall. They seemed to be having an argument.
    Kate wanted to get closer to hear, but she couldn’t leave Scott without an explanation. Kate might be able to ask Kendall at some point how she knew Clem.
    “You have that look in your eye,” Scott said.
    “What look?”
    “You are pondering something. You better not be investigating.”
    “I don’t see the cops with any suspects.”
    “We are working on several leads. Your Meghan had led a bit of a wild life in college. We’re looking into that.”
    “Wild life?”
    Meghan? She didn’t even have a boyfriend.
    “Yes.”
    “Sounds like you are grasping at straws.”
    Scott shrugged. “We have to track down anything. Did she talk about anyone bothering her?”
    “You have my statement, Scott. I have nothing to add.”
    She didn’t want to talk about it again with him. They had no leads as far as she knew. She felt like she had to do something to shake up the investigation. Meghan had been her friend. She owed her at least that much of her time and effort. She had to find the killer.
    She didn’t enjoy interfering, but if they weren’t making any progress, maybe she could. People talked to her. She was all over town. Even if people thought she was dating Scott they still trusted her.
    Scott eyed her with a frown on his face. “What’s on for the rest of your day?”
    Her head spun with the rapid change in subject. Was he giving her tacit permission to follow her own investigation? He seemed frustrated with it all, which was odd. He was one of the most patient men she’d ever known. 
    “I have to finish staging Jessica’s house for sale.”
    “Staging?”
    “Make the house look its best to get the right price, though I have a feeling I know who is going to buy it.”
    He looked down at her with eyes the color of steel. “Who?”
    “Kendall Stuart wants it because it is the biggest house in Rock Ridge.”
    “Figures.”
    Kate laughed. “I guess you’ve dealt with her then?”
    “She has a reputation already. Celia mentioned her once when we were at lunch.”
    “You had lunch with