Organized for Picnic Panic (Organized Mysteries Book 6) Read online

  “Is there a room I can lock him in?” he asked Brandi.

  She snatched a keyring from her desk drawer and hurried toward the hall. “Right this way.”

  Building security and Boston PD arrived one after the other, so Kate only had to tell her story once about seeing Gina’s husband dressed up like a park maintenance worker at the Hazelton community picnic. She called Lieutenant Johnson and handed her phone to the senior Boston PD officer, so he could give the official word of the capture.

  When the phone was returned, she called Gil, “Neighbor, have I got a scoop for you.”

  As she finished her call, two officers ushered a handcuffed Matthew Sledge back into the lobby. They read him his rights as they walked, citing Kate’s evidence. The murderer declined a lawyer, and the fight suddenly went out of the man. He shook his head and looked at the floor.

  “Yeah, I was there,” Sledge admitted. “I left Boston before dawn yesterday to catch Gina in the act. She didn’t even try to hide that she was cheating. It wasn’t like the Vermont radio guy was the only one, either. Still, I was off yesterday for the holiday, and I thought if I was there, and I confronted her...” He shook his head. “Crazy. No other word for it. I guess I was just running on adrenalin. Not really thinking.”

  “Did you follow her from where she was staying?” the officer asked.

  Sledge shook his head. “I tracked her by the GPS on her phone. Found her motel and saw the guy she was with later sneaking in with coffee and donuts. Big spender.”

  “Then you followed them from there?”

  “No, he left after about fifteen minutes,” Sledge recounted. “But she’d mentioned plans to attend the town picnic. I just parked and waited until she left. I was wearing jeans, and I found the green maintenance shirt when I broke into one of the service huts.”

  “And you didn’t bring a weapon? What was your plan for being there?” Keith asked, shocked. Then he looked embarrassed and said, “Sorry, officers. I shouldn’t have spoken up. This is your domain.”

  But the officers waved off the apology and turned back to their prisoner as he spoke again.

  “I hadn’t intended to kill her. I... I wanted to get incriminating photos. Something to help in a divorce settlement.” Sledge stopped for a moment, then sighed. “But then I watched the fight between the man and his wife. It mortified me to see the scene between Gina and the couple. How humiliated the wife was. Worse, I knew that was what I had to expect too.”

  As if running out of fuel, he crumpled to the lobby floor and buried his head in his hands. His voice was somewhat muffled as he continued, “My loving wife wandered over with the empty wine bottle soon after, too tipsy to realize her own husband was standing by the trash bins wearing the green uniform shirt and cap. I confronted Gina about the fight—about us—and she laughed at me. She laughed. I expected it, sure, but that was too much to take. Without thinking, I yanked the bottle from her hands.”

  He looked up. His face was tear-stained. “Gina told me to toss it for her ‘like a good little drone.’ She laughed again and turned away. That was the final straw. It was... It was so easy. I simply acted, bringing the heavy end of the glass bottle down on the back of her head... I didn’t panic until I saw all the blood. I wasn’t alarmed when she fell to the ground, but... all that blood. All that blood. I turned her over so the back of her head wouldn’t show, and I tried to hide her behind the bins. Then I took off as fast as possible. By the time the police reached me by phone, I was halfway to Boston and hoping I could bluff if they checked the GPS later.”

  Sledge used the shoulders of his jacket to wipe the sides of his face. His nose had stopped bleeding, as had his tears, but one eye was already turning black. The police pulled him up from the floor and frog marched him to the elevators.

  Keith only had the split lip. Brandi called the firm’s medical tech to come to the lobby and administer first aid before he and Kate left.

  “It’s just like old times, going to an awards banquet and looking like I just came out of a hockey brawl,” Keith said.

  “I think you look terrific,” Brandi said, grinning at him.

  “I do too,” Kate said, seeing this as a good time to pry her husband away from his number one fan. “But we need to get to the hotel if we’re going to be ready on time for the event.”

  As they left the building, Keith asked his wife, “Did you realize you had the Taser pointed in the wrong direction?”

  “Nope. And we can be thankful that Matthew Sledge didn’t realize either, or your face might not be as ruggedly handsome as it is at the moment.”

  “As long as you’re by my side, Katie, I don’t care,” he said.

  “Always,” she said. “Always.”

  HOPE YOU ENJOYED Organized for Picnic Panic. Keep reading for fun tips, picnic tricks and make-it-to-go food recipe ideas from Kate McKenzie—

  THANK YOU FOR TAKING the time to read Organized for Picnic Panic. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author’s best friend and much appreciated. Thanks again!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  USA TODAY bestselling author Ritter Ames writes the Organized Mysteries series, the Bodies of Art Mysteries, and the new Frugal Lissa cozy mystery series. These series and their varied locations give Ritter more opportunity to coax her husband into additional travel for “research.” For more information about her and her books, visit her website at www.ritterames.com, check her out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RitterAmesBooks/ or Subscribe to Ritter’s Newsletter to learn when books are released or she’s running special giveaways for her fans.

  Picnic Tips and Tricks

  *KEEP APPLE SLICES FROM turning brown by slicing the apples and reassembling the fruit to its original shape. Use a rubber band to hold the slices together—protected again in the center of the apple—and your slices will remain fresh looking and fresh tasting. Do the same for fresh pear slices.

  *EATING AT A PICNIC table and don’t want to deal with a flyaway tablecloth? Use a fitted twin sheet instead, and the cloth stays put.

  *PICNICKING ON THE GROUND and worried about creepy crawlies? Sprinkle talcum powder around the edges of your picnic blanket and see bugs make a U-turn. Ants in particular don’t like crawling over the stuff.

  *NOT GOING TO HAVE A sink nearby for hand washing? Carry your own Sticky Fingers Station. In a medium sized bucket or plastic bin, collect a package (or two) of wet wipes and a roll of paper towels. Or if you want to be especially green and thrifty, wet a wash cloth for each person, plus an extra for emergency cleanups, and put each cloth into a sealed sandwich zipper bag—but if you use this option, be sure to add some liquid soap to the bucket too.

  *USING PLASTIC GLASSES for drinks, but you don’t have lids to keep out bugs? Grab some cupcake holders and poke a hole in the center for the straw, then turn the holder upside down to fit over the top of the glass to thwart any flying insects.

  *LIKE KATE, USE MUFFIN tins—both the six- and 12-muffin size—to transport and separate condiments like catsup, mustard, sliced onions, barbecue sauce, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, relish, horse radish, and anything you’d want to add to your meal (but not mayonnaise; too risky on a warm day). They’re also good for drink add-ons, like lemon slices, and kids can set their cups into the holders to allow them two hands for pouring drinks from larger bottles or jugs. Whatever you load in the tins, just cover the tops with plastic wrap and go, and you can stack the empties together for the trip home to save space.

  *CARDBOARD DRINK CONTAINERS, the kind that fold out from a cardboard flat to make a four- or six-division carryall with a hand, can be found in convenience stores and donut shops. While these carriers are made for transporting multiple bottles or, cups of coffee or sodas, they double as a great way to keep plastic eating utensils and straws organized for a picnic. Just fill each division with the necessary items, then grab the handle and go!

  *WEDGE FROZEN BOTTLES of water between
food items in a cooler, to keep everything cold and well packed. Also, remember that while heat rises, cold travels downward, so don’t forget to add a layer of ice in zippered bags on top of the food before replacing the cooler lid.

  *A QUICK TRICK TO KEEP away flying insects is to fill a plastic zipper bag with water, then use a string and paperclip (poke the end of the paperclip through the top of the bag) to hang from a tree limb or post. The water will catch the light and the refraction frightens off winged bugs.

  *ANOTHER TRICK TO OBSTRUCT pushy insects from trying to crash your picnic is to use plastic shower caps to cover bowls and plates of food. The elastic is great for fitting tightly over any open container, and it frustrates busy bugs.

  Picnic Food Ideas

  *AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE watermelon pillars in Organized for Picnic Panic, you can slice half-inch wide watermelon rounds, then cut each circle into six pie-shaped slices. Use your knife to slit the rind in the middle of each slice and insert a wooden popsicle stick for easy eating and no more sticky fingers.

  *WANT TO SERVE PEANUT butter with celery, but don’t want the mess of all the celery and peanut butter sticking to each other? Leave about an inch of peanut butter in its container, then cut celery sticks to fit inside too. Stand all the celery sticks you can fit into the peanut butter, then replace the lid. At the picnic, everyone can grab a celery stick and peanut butter, but there’s no mess for fingers.

  *SALT, PEPPER, AND ANY powdered herb or spice are easily transportable for picnics. Just reuse small plastic Tic Tac containers, or fill straws with each type of seasoning and clamp off the ends until you need what is inside. Don’t forget to label each one.

  *A QUICK AND EASY-TO-eat picnic dessert is to cut off the tops of strawberries and fill the middle with chocolate pudding or chocolate ganache. Then set the strawberries point-side-down in a clean egg carton. They’ll transport well and wow picnickers at the end of the meal.

  What reviewers say about the

  first book in the new

  Frugal Lissa Mysteries

  Frugal Lissa Finds a Body

  by Ritter Ames—

  VERY ENJOYABLE

  “This was a fun mystery to read. I like the premise and I like the characters, especially Lissa, her BFF Abby and her two sons. What a joy to see their interaction, searching for the person who had a stronger motive to kill him and watching the play-by-play actions as things come down to the wire. I can't wait to read the next book. I love this family.”

  ~Dru’s Book Musing

  NEW FUN COZY SERIES

  “This is a wonderful cozy mystery! First in a series, and very likeable characters! There are great frugal tips for your budget within the series, as well tips and recipes at the end! Great way to start off a new series! Can't wait for more!”

  ~ Meg’s Cozy Corner

  GREAT FIRST BOOK IN a New Cozy Mystery!

  “I REALLY enjoyed this mystery. I enjoyed the main character Lissa, who is sassy, snarky and downright hilarious. The kids are always into some mischief, which I adore. I have to say though, Honey the Dog STEALS THE SHOW! She is so silly filled with character and charm. The story is well written with humor, family, and mystery intertwined into a story that flows very well. There is a lot to love in this book and the mystery is fabulous. The ending is absolutely to die for! I really look forward to future books in this series to see what Lissa, Honey and the gang are up to next.”

  ~ Miss W Book Reviews, Vine Voice

  ENTERTAINING, FUN MYSTERY

  “Lissa has a blog and online business to help support her family while her husband, Dek, travels the world as a photo journalist. She has two adorable little munchkins and a dog named Honey that keep her busier than all get out. Only Lissa has a penchant for finding trouble AND an attitude to go with it, so when she steps in to help a neighbor...she finds a dead body. A dead body who also happens to be the guy she argued with the night before she found him in her neighbor’s garage...I loved Lissa’s attitude and mouth. Her snark made me laugh. And the kids, OMG, two little boys who are hilarious and smart and always trying to get away with anything they can. Honey the dog? She is a goof but the best-est protection and alarm system a family could have...Lots going on, fun read, and a mystery. I read it in one sitting because I needed to know what was going on and how it would end. And the ending is priceless!

  ~ Gale S, Amazon and Goodreads reviewer

  A COZY MYSTERY WORTH every cent

  “I loved the cost saving tips in this book! Spending time with Lissa's family and friends was a warm and inviting experience. I was entertained from the very first page to the very end. I highly recommend this book and new series!”

  ~ Michele Wicker, Cozy Mystery Corner

  THE VERY DEFINITION of a cozy mystery. Loved it.

  “Loved it! Loved the plot! Loved the characters! Ready for more!

  Ritter Ames has done it again. She creates mysteries that are exciting, but reading them is like spending time with friends. As a major fan of her Organized Mystery series, I had high hopes for the new series, Frugal Lissa Mysteries. Ms. Ames and Lissa met every expectation...”

  ~ Jeanie J., Amazon & Goodreads review

  BODY, BODY, WHO’S FOUND a body?

  “Returning to live in the town you grew up in might have advantages, however, there are also disadvantages when the people you went to school with are now those in charge...Without a doubt, Ritter Ames is still one of my favorite cosy mystery writers. This first in a new series has twists and turns, dead ends and old rivalries enough to fill many new books. This is a marvelous introduction to a new “family” of characters I can hardly wait to know better...oh, and the tricks and recipes at the back are enough to make you want to go cook! Highly Recommended.”

  ~ Andrea S., Amazon & Goodreads reviewer

  ENJOYABLE COZY MYSTERY

  “...I love reading about Lissa, her hectic family life with dog Honey and young sons Jamey and Mac whom she often raises alone as Dek is traveling for work. Her life is hectic and author Ritter Ames does a wonderful job of capturing the life of a busy mother. I also like the brief glimpses of Lissa’s blog and the money savings tips included in the book...the mystery is well done with plenty of suspects...”

  ~ Drebbles, Vine Voice

  ANOTHER NEW COZY SERIES from Ritter Ames

  “...destined to become a favourite of mine and I hope of yours, too. I literally fell asleep reading this book, that’s how good it is. And it is good, that’s actually a positive, I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next until I just finally couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore.”

  ~ Laura A., Amazon & Goodreads review

  CHARMING COZY MYSTERY

  “Frugal Lissa Finds a Body is a brand new series from Author Ritter Ames. Lissa and Dek are a lovely young couple with two rambunctious boys and a blonde dog named Honey. While Dek is overseas working as a Photo-Journalist Lissa stays home to look after the family and to write a money-saving blog. When her elderly neighbour calls to say she thinks someone is in her garage, Lissa goes to investigate and finds the body of a man she argued with the night before.

  I enjoyed this book a lot. The characters were delightful and the money-saving tips are an added bonus. I look forward to more books from this Author.”

  ~ Kelly H., Amazon & Goodreads review

  LOVED IT!

  “Really fun mystery, very well written and the characters are well developed so that it pulls you into the story. I look forward to more!”

  ~ Dianne W., Amazon review

  PERFECT START TO A new cozy mystery series...loved it!

  “I loved this book so much. Recipes, tips on saving money (I really needed those perks), snark galore, adorable kiddos and Honey...just like the real life Honey...an adorable dog. Mystery and intrigue...just what you want in a cozy mystery. Ritter Ames never fails to give you a delightful reading experience...I look forward to the next book in this series. Kudos to the author!”

  ~ Cynseer Booklov
er, Amazon review

  BOOKS BY RITTER AMES

  - - -

  THE Organized Mysteries:

  Organized for Murder

  Organized for Homicide

  Organized for Scheduled Sabotage

  Organized for S'more Death

  Organized for Masked Motives

  .

  The Bodies of Art Mysteries:

  Counterfeit Conspiracies

  Marked Masters

  Abstract Aliases

  Fatal Forgeries

  Bronzed Betrayals

  .

  The Frugal Lissa Mysteries

  Frugal Lissa Finds a Body

  Frugal Lissa Digs Up a Body (coming soon)

  Frugal Lissa Hunts a Body (available soon)

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