Fiasco on the Farm

This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Fiasco on the Farm – A Whisper Creek Mystery Book One ©2022 by Jennifer C. Wing. All Rights Reserved. Contents FOR STEVEN, MAYA & SCOTT 1. DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER 2. LONG ROAD HOME 3. THE MILE HIGH CITY 4. HOLDING CELL 5. THE HOUSE ON SILVER MAPLE ROAD 6. TOWN ROYALTY 7. SUNDAY SUPPER 8. THE BARN 9. ONCE UPON A TIME 10. JAILBIRD 11. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 12. SOUNDING BOARD 13. LATE NIGHT READING 14. YOGA DAY 15. SECRETS 16. SCENE OF THE CRIME 17. MOTIVE 18. THE MADELEINE HOTEL 19. FRIENDS & WHISKY 20. ANOTHER PIECE 21. BE PREPARED 22. MISTER HENRY 23. HARDY HOMES 24. THAT LAWYER UP IN BOSTON 25. DANGER-PRONE DAPHNE 26. TULIPS & DAFFODILS 27. STARS 28. BASEBALL BAT 29. JITTERBUG ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR BOOKS BY J.C. WING SNEAK PEEK AT LOST AT THE LAKE FOR STEVEN, MAYA & SCOTT The inspiration for this series came to me during a family color trip to Ouray, Colorado in October of 2021. I jotted down titles and other suggestions on a torn piece of brown paper bag with my left hand—my right hand was all wrapped up and awaiting surgery number five—from the front seat of our Jeep while the four of us travelled along autumn colored mountain roads. Thanks for that trip together, but more than that, thank you for believing in me. I’m convinced that I have the best support system anyone could ever wish for. I love you, guys. 1. DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER The sound of Theo’s three-inch heels sounded in the long foyer as she stepped inside the offices of Adams, Kennedy & Brandeis and walked toward the receptionist’s desk. The incredibly late lunch she’d just eaten felt like a heavy stone in her belly. She should have known better than to order an entrée with caramelized onions. She’d made that mistake before. For the most part, the chef at Fillion’s did the menu justice, but he had no business messing with onions. “Hey, girl.” Theo looked up and saw the receptionist peering over her gold reading glasses with large gray eyes. The woman sat behind a high desk with a sign comprised of large, shiny black letters on the wall behind and above her head. The door to the main office was also tucked away back there. When Theo came to work for the firm, she thought this space looked like a well decorated hidey hole. Now she knew it was the first step in the office’s well-designed line of defense. No one got past the lobby without Kendra’s say so. And more oftentimes than not, Kendra had something to say. “Hey, Kendra,” she said with a smile and a poorly disguised burp. She swallowed, then cleared her throat. One of Kendra’s well shaped brows arched. “It’s almost four and you’re just now coming back from lunch.” It wasn’t a question. Nothing went on in the office Kendra didn’t know about. “Don’t your clients know it’s called the noon meal for a reason?” “It’s been one of those days. I should have just worked straight through and picked up dinner on my way home, but I was famished. I couldn’t wait any longer.” “Well, did you at least eat something good?” “You would think onions wouldn’t be that hard, right?” she asked. “Pretty basic. I mean, they’re in almost every single entree. I haven’t attended any fancy culinary schools, but I’m guessing they cover onion prep pretty early on.” Kendra watched her. As far as rants went, this one didn’t even come close to registering on the scale. “I know I’m always asking the folks at McDonald’s not to put them on my kids’ cheeseburgers.” She made a noise with her tongue. “I also know they don’t listen ‘cause I’m always scrapin’ ‘em off that blob of ketchup and mustard smeared on the inside of those soggy ass buns.” Theo belched again, this time a little less quietly. “I decided to give Fillion’s another try. You ever been there?” Kendra’s eyes had yet to leave Theo’s face. She tipped her head forward sending thick strands of inky black hair forward to cover the front of her tailored blouse. The buttons on that blouse were straining to hold the voluptuous Kendra inside the silky fabric. Her build was on the larger side of average, but Theo was forever wondering who it was that had the authority to come up with such a scale. “Those kids I just mentioned?” Kendra said, shuffling papers around her desk. Her nails were long and painted the color of Sangiovese wine and had swirls of gold painted on the surface that caught the lights arranged in the ceiling above them. “I got three of ‘em. All under the age of ten. They’re cute as buttons, most of the time, but they’re loud. On most days, I think they’re alright, but the kind of folks who eat at Fillion’s? I’m guessin’ they wouldn’t be so enamored.” “That’s because they’re snobs.” Theo looked up to see a tall, beautiful woman who looked more like a model than a legal secretary appear from the door that stood behind Kendra. Trix had worked at the firm longer than Theo had and had the reputation of being the best legal secretary Adams, Kennedy & Brandeis had ever employed. She’d worked at a few of the countless law firms the city of Boston had to offer. Theo wasn’t sure what the going rate for a capable legal secretary was, but she hoped the firm was willing to keep paying Trix enough to stay. She considered herself lucky to be one of