MERRY MERRY MURDER

When I burst outside the church, the first thing I noticed was the red-and-blue flashing lights. The night was so bright and crisp, the lights seemed to reflect off the very air, making it blinding. It took me a moment to realize that no one was on the sidewalk on this side of the street. All the excitement was happening on the other side, at Andrew’s Gifts.

More people spilled out of the church doors behind me, but I barely noticed. My eyes shot to the parking lot, to the empty space where Dad’s car had been. Rita’s car was gone as well. Nothing had happened to either of them.

But not everyone was so lucky.

Across the street, a stretcher was being carried out of Andrew’s Gifts. On it, was a sheet-covered body. And following behind, a grim-faced Detective John Buchannan was barking orders at anyone who’d listen to him.

He jerked to a sudden stop, as if he sensed someone watching. His gaze zeroed in on me standing across the street for a heartbeat before he spun around and marched right back into the gift shop.

That look might have only been brief, but there was no questioning its meaning.

Whatever had happened next door wasn’t a mere accident. If my guess was right, it appeared as if someone had been murdered . . .