B T Lord [Lord - Murder By Duplicity

Copyright Bety Comerford (B.T. Lord)

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

ISBN-13: 978-1548403485

ISBN-10: 1548403482

Cover Art by Michelle Motuzas

Cover Design by Alison Ouellette

Other books in the Twin Ponds Mystery Series:

Murder on Ice

Murder by Misadventure

A Perfect Case of Murder

To Mary C. and Bob E.

Thank you isnt enough for your enthusiasm and

support for Twin Ponds and all

of my writing endeavors.

Your encouragement keeps me going

PROLOGUE

The heavy sounds of machinery marred the serenity of the surrounding forest. Ugly gashes in what had once been a lovely, wild flower filled meadow ripped across the surface, replacing the flowers with mounds of angry, upturned earth and mud.

Steve Murphy glanced at his watch. It was break-time. Turning off the huge excavator that was responsible for leaving the obscene scars on the land, he wiped his brow with a handkerchief hed pulled out of his jeans pocket. Jeez Louise, but it was scorching out here, more so in the claustrophobic cab where he sat. And it wasnt even the hottest part of the day yet.

Reaching into the cooler he kept next to his seat, he withdrew a bottle of water. Opening it, he took a long hard swallow.

He swung down from the machine and once more wiped his brow with his handkerchief. He saw the men from his work crew gathered by one of the trucks that had been parked under the shade of a small grove of trees. They were sitting together, joking and trash talking, enjoying a respite from the intense heat.

He looked across the meadow, not to mourn the destruction hed created, but to calculate how much work still needed to be done. Steve had no conscience when it came to tearing down trees or ripping up fields. It was a job. It provided money for his family. Thats all it was and it was all it would ever be to him.

Steve took one last gulp of water before turning to join his co-workers, to listen to their ribald jokes, or to bitch about the hot weather. Walking across the field towards them, his eye caught something in the mountain of dirt hed just dug up. He slowed his step and gazed at it for a long moment, trying to convince himself it was just a branch from a birch tree. The meadow was surrounded by birch trees. Yeah, thats what it was. Just a broken branch, bleached out by the sun.

He started once again towards his buddies. But with each step, the thought of what it could be nagged at him and wouldnt let go. He was a good worker. A conscientious worker. As much as he wanted to, he couldnt ignore it. He had to check it out.

Shit, why does this happen to me? There are ten other guys out here. Why couldnt it be under one of their damned machines?

Steve continued to silently grumble as he turned away from the crew and drew nearer to the mountain of dirt, rocks and broken branches the excavator had brought up. Bending at the waist, he stared at what had caught his attention. He hesitated, then reached out with his fingers and pulled some of the dirt away. His eyes widened in disbelief as he took an involuntary step back.

Hey Chuck! he yelled out to one of his co-workers. Get the boss on the horn. He needs to see this ASAP.

Although it was only ten in the morning, the day was already sweltering. If it werent for the slight breeze blowing up from Waban Pond, everyone would have melted hours ago.

Sheriff Cammie Farnsworth stood on a small platform that had been erected in Foster Park, which sat on the shores of the large pond. She felt a bit ridiculous standing there, as if she were about to receive the keys to the city. If Twin Ponds had any. Which it didnt.

Sweat trickled down between her breasts, and her uniform was plastered to her back as she impatiently waited for the mayor of Twin Ponds to show up. Bill Barnes, whod been mayor of the small town since dinosaurs roamed the earth, was fifteen minutes late. With each passing moment, the sizeable crowd that had gathered in front of Waban Pond was growing restless. Not only was the heat blistering, but they all wanted to get this over with.

So did Cammie.

Theyd gathered on this hot late June day to finally close a chapter in Twin Ponds life. Fifteen years before, a young man whod been born and raised in this small town had left to become a hockey legend. Hed returned last year, both in triumph and ultimately in tragedy when hed been found murdered in his bed.

Eli Kelley had once been a huge part of Cammies life and now, on this sizzling day, she was about to spread his ashes over Waban Pond the place where he and she had started playing hockey together all those years ago.

It seemed appropriate to spread his ashes where it had all begun. The townspeople were ready to say good-bye. To have a sense of closure. One more chance to be close to Eli before the winds took away what remained of him, leaving only memories in its wake.

At least that was the thought everyone had when theyd started to gather an hour before.

Now Bill Barnes was screwing this up. Big time.

Cammie blew out a frustrated breath. Not thinking shed need sun tan lotion, she could feel the skin cells on her face screaming in agony as they shriveled under the melanoma-inducing rays from the boiling sun. Originally, shed planned a five minute ceremony, saying a few words about what Eli had meant to the town, before opening the urn and spreading his ashes over the water, all the while praying the breeze wouldnt blow it back into her face.

She could only imagine the risqu jokes her deputy Rick Belleveau would come up with if she managed to get some of what remained of Eli in her mouth.

Unfortunately, Barnes had insisted on making a speech. Which would probably be long-winded, since all of his speeches were long-winded. Cammie was convinced he made long-winded speeches in the shower, if only to hear himself speak. Kelley had become a legend, not only to the world, but to his home-town. Barnes insisted it was not only appropriate, but necessary that he be remembered in florid detail on such a solemn day.

There was no way to fight this. He was the mayor. And responsible for her running for Sheriff. Shed had no choice but to give in to his demands, or risk having him make her life a living hell, especially at budget time. He held the purse strings to her department, and if she hoped to get her staff a decent raise this year, she needed to cooperate.

Even if it meant exposing everyone to possible skin cancer as they waited for his arrival.

She scanned the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Instead, she saw Rick break away from the throng and jog towards her.

She frowned as she noticed that while she was drenched in perspiration, with her curly auburn hair now wet and clinging to her neck, her half Native American/half French Canadian deputy hadnt even broken a sweat. In winter, while she struggled with long underwear, lined gloves, three sweaters, and two pairs of heavy socks under her Polar Tec jacket, the bastard never even wore a hat. Now here he was, looking crisp and refreshed while she probably resembled a piece of soggy, wilted lettuce.

Hey Cam, he whispered. We better get this ash party started, or else some of the townspeople are going to grab that urn from you and dump it into the pond themselves. Its friggin too hot out here to keep waiting for Barnes to show up.