Praise for Mama Does Time
Who knew that a who-dun-it would not only keep you guessingbut have you laughing! Deborah Sharp is the new Edna Buchanan.Hoda Kotb, NBCs
Today Show co-anchorWith a strong, funny heroine, colorful characters, and a look at a part of Florida the tourists rarely see, Deborah Sharp has an engaging new series. Make sure Mama Does Time does time on your bookshelf.Elaine Viets, author of
Clubbed to Death: a Dead-End Job MysteryDeborah Sharps witty way with words makes Mama Does Time as much fun as a down-home visit with your quirky Florida cousins.Nancy Martin, author of the B
lackbird Sisters MysteriesNot since the late Anne George has there been such laugh-out-loud Southern fried fun. Deborah Sharps Mama Does Time is a hilarious page turner with crisp and intelligent writing.Sue Ann Jaffarian, author of the
Odelia Grey Mystery seriesDeborah Sharp is the freshest, funniest voice to come along since, well, since I cant remember when. Shes wise, shes wily and, what matters mostshe knows the hearts of people. Mama Does Time has it allmurder, mystery and a brand new take on Floridas particular version of mayhem. Mama, aka Rosalee Deveraux, is an absolute hoot. And Mace Bauer, her middle daughter and the savvy, surefooted heroine of this romp of a book, is a most welcome addition to the ranks of detective fiction.Bob Morris, fourth-generation Floridian andEdgar-nominated author of the Zack Chasteen Mystery series
Mama Does Time: A Mace Bauer Mystery S 2008 by Deborah SharpAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Midnight Ink, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.As the purchaser of this ebook, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on screen. The text may not be otherwise reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, or recorded on any other storage device in any form or by any means.Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the authors copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.First e-book edition S 2010E-book ISBN: 978-07387-2023-4Book design by Donna BurchCover design by Lisa NovakCover illustration S 2008 by Mark GerberEditing by Connie HillMidnight Ink is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.Midnight Ink does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific reference will continue or be maintained. Please refer to the publishers website for links to current author websites.
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Manufactured in the United States of America
To the original Mama, Marion Sharp,
and to my husband, Kerry Sanders.
I love you both to pieces.
Acknowledgments
The good folks of Okeechobee, Florida, and the states cattle belt inspired fictional Himmarshee. You might recognize a few landmarks, but most everything else is made up.Any mistakes in the book are mine, and not the fault of the experts I consulted. Henry Cabbage, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and two of the agencys biologists, Lindsey Hord and Steve Stiegler, guided me on gators. Allen Register, owner of Palmdales Gatorama, also helped.Okeechobee County extension agent Pat Hogue answered my cattle questions, and the Clemons family welcomed me to the Okeechobee Livestock Market, in the same spot since 1937. Jack Knight showed me how a cattle buyer bids at auction.The staff at the SPCA Wildlife Care Center in Fort Lauderdale allowed me to tag along on the care and feeding of critters.My mom and real-life sisters encouraged me, and loaned their best traits to Mama, Mace, Maddie, and Marty. My husband gave his gorgeousness to Carlos Martinez. Any negative resemblance to these fictional counterparts is pure coincidence. (Yall believe me, right?)A long line of newspaper editors, including USA Todays, taught me to ask questions, listen carefully, and write tight. (Okay, so maybe this could be tighter, but I cant leave anyone out!)Several writers groups in Fort Lauderdale assisted my transition from journalism to fiction writing. Thanks to leaders Carol Lytle, Jon Frangipane and Wendell Abern, Shelley Lieber, and, especially, to my friends Joyce Sweeney and the super-talented members of the Thursday Night Group. A special nod to Kingsley Guy for the great title.Former acquisitions editor Barbara Moore saved me from the slush pile, and the creative folks at Midnight Ink shepherded my book to publication.Agent Whitney Lee held my hand (electronically, anyway), calmed my insecurities, and combed over my contract.Thanks to those above, to those Ive missed, and especially to YOU, for reading Mama Does Time.
Mama just wanted to look pretty for high-stakes bingo night at the Seminole casino.But her beautician left the peroxide on too long, and shes been shedding like an Angora sweater ever since. Now, it turns out a patchy dye job is the least of my mothers worries.It all started with a phone call. I was just about to plop down with my left-over fried chicken in front of the TV, wanting to see if I could spot any of my ex-boyfriends on
Cops, when the damned thing rang.Mace, honey, youve got to come down here and help me. Im in a lot of trouble.Mamas voice was shaking. She sounded scared, like the time the raccoon came crashing from the attic through the bathroom ceiling while my little sister, Marty, was in a bubble bath.Slow down, Mama, I told her. Now, take a deep breath.My mother is excitable. Im used to such calls. Maybe she needed me to solve a romantic crisis, or come pluck a snake out of the engine of her vintage turquoise convertible. I work outdoors in Himmarshee, Florida, in the wild regions north of Lake Okee-chobee. Im accustomed to snakes.Start at the beginning and tell me whats wrong, I said.I heard a shuddery sigh, and then silence. She cleared her throat. Finally she spoke.Theyve got me down here at the police station, Mace. They think Ive killed a man.If the kitchen counter hadnt been there for me to grab a hold of, Id have fallen out flat on the checkerboard pattern of my linoleum floor. I leaned my back against the wall and slid down slowly until my butt hit the baseboard. There I sat, clutching the receiver and searching for the proper response when your mother announces shes got one foot behind bars for murder.Just sit tight and dont say another word. Ill be there as soon as I can.I knew my advice would go untaken. The only time Mamas mouth is shut is when shes chewing on something.There was a mans body in my trunk, Mace.A strangled sob came through the phone. Then the story started pouring out.There was an accident, she said, running the words together. Everything started at the Dairy Queen. Or maybe at bingo. Id ordered me a butterscotch dip. Then, two police cars came. I couldnt even get a second cone. A pretty young girl hit me. The man had a diamond pinky ring. She stopped for a breath. Youd better call your sisters, Mace.The ability to make sense deserts Mama under stress. That doesnt mean she stops trying. I needed to get to her before she conversated herself right into a correctional facility.Not another word. Do not say another word to anyone, you hear? You can fill me in when I get there. And Mama? Dont worry. Everythings going to be all right.Even as I said it, I didnt believe it. But I hoped I sounded like I did. My two sisters and I spend a lot of time reassuring our mother that things will turn out fine. The amazing thing is, they usually do. But getting Mama from Point A to Point A-OK requires delicate maneuvering, truckloads of patience, and a fair amount of prayer.I wasnt sure this time if all those things together would be enough.
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