Becklaw's Murder Mystery Tour (Jo Anderson Series) by Dane McCaslin

that girl into anything that looked right for a fallen woman.
    Lily was easier to dress. She was slightly built, without the issues that Josie had (a polite way of saying she was flat-chested) and could use any one of the dancer dresses available. Leslie chose to put her in a bright pink number that had cream-colored lace marching down the front and on the short train. The bodice was laced up with pink silk ribbons, and a ‘modesty panel’ had been added for the reserved Lily. Even if I hadn’t known she was a librarian, I would have still guessed that. Or a nanny. She seemed to be one who could coax the most recalcitrant child into behaving. I had watched her at the meeting this morning and was confident that I had pegged her correctly.
    That, dear reader, was definitely an error in judgment, as I was eventually to discover.
    We made the move from the Manchester YMCA back to the KOA trailers, welcomed with open arms by the McLaughlins. Miss Bea and Mrs McLaughlin were still a bit cautious with one another, but Mr McLaughlin more than made up for his wife, cracking jokes and helping us move our bags into the trailers.
    The boys had a two-bedroom affair near the entrance to the park, complete with a barbecue grill and deckchairs. We ladies were put into a three-bedroom mobile home on the edge near the line of spruces that marched next to the campground. It gave me a sense of privacy among the many other trailers parked near us, and I was happy to take the bedroom furthest from the front. I was thrilled to have my own room again, since I was not looking forward to another night of ‘bells and whistles’ from the two other gals. As much as I had gotten fond of Miss Bea and Leslie, I was fine with not sharing too much personal space with them.
    We still had a little while before taking off for the fairgrounds, so I invited Leslie to go on a walk with me. I needed to get out into the open and stretch my limbs, and I also wanted a chance to chat with her outside Miss Bea’s keen hearing.
    I’d had a funny feeling since that morning, one that I could not put my finger on, and I needed to air the topic from another perspective. I’m not psychic in the least, but I’ve always had somewhat of a gift, you could say, for discerning the intentions of others.
    Someone who had joined our troupe had upset the emotional balance, and I wasn’t sure which it was. Well, that’s not precisely true. I had a strong suspicion that Josie was going to be trouble with a capital ‘T’, and I was fairly certain that I knew what kind of trouble she’d brought with her. What I wasn’t sure of was who her ‘partner in crime’ could be. Andy? He had seemed infatuated with her and had given LJ fits over his flirting with Leslie. To my mind, Julian was out of the running; he was too meek and laid back to cause any problems. The same went for Bert. I saw him as a decent guy, not given to obvious reactions to much of anything, and not one to start a fuss over a girl.
    Leslie and I strolled down the path, having called out a farewell to Miss Bea and an assurance that we’d be back in twenty minutes or so. The day was clear and absolutely still; not even the slightest breeze moved the trees and the air was icy. I shivered, tucking deeper inside my sweatshirt and pulling the jacket tighter around me. I liked cold weather, maybe even loved it, but that was when I was snug inside a warm house, feet covered and a good book at hand. The faster we moved, though, the warmer I got, and soon I was able to relax the tight muscles in my back and enjoy the view.
    ‘So what’s on your mind?’ asked Leslie as we turned right at the office and continued around the campground’s perimeter. The McLaughlins had planted beds of flowers native to the area: creamy thistle and blue star, pensternon and Colorado blue columbine, milkweed and cowbane; a lovely mix of whites and blues against the green of the trees. The effect was breathtaking, and I found myself