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Ruby asked.
    â€œA cancelation. Isabel Collins,” Cora said, searching her cell phone for the app that would issue the refund immediately. She loved the convenience of running certain parts of her business from her phone. No clunky cash registers or receipts. It was as green and as convenient as it could get.
    â€œHumph,” Ruby said. “Good riddance to bad trash.”
    â€œWhat? She seemed nice enough to me. That is until . . . ”
    â€œUntil what?”
    â€œShe said she has better things to do with her money. She was kind of, I don’t know, cocky about it.” Normally Cora hated to make snap judgments and tried not to. “Odd. She was so lovely the other day. And so enthusiastic.”
    Ruby made a singsong sigh sounding like “oh well.” But then she said, “Maybe she was drunk.”
    â€œWho?” Jane said as she walked in. “Who is drunk?”
    â€œIsabel Collins canceled and she was kind of rude about it,” Cora said, ignoring Jane’s question for the moment.
    â€œWhat? That sweet lady?” Jane said.
    â€œThat sweet lady you’re talking about is a drunk and I’ve seen her trash-talking a grown man to tears,” Ruby said and smacked her hands together to brush off whatever dirt or dust the broom straw had left behind.
    Jane’s eyes widened as she looked at Ruby in surprise. “Really?”
    Jane and Cora giggled at the thought of Isabel Collins being drunk, let alone trash-talking anybody.
    â€œI just can’t believe it,” Cora said, still giggling. “I guess this town is full of surprises.”
    â€œStick with me, kid, and I’ll fill you in on everything,” Ruby said.
    Cora knew this was true. Ruby was a valuable asset to them, once you got past the gruff exterior. Cora and Jane glanced at one another, and Cora refrained from rolling her eyes.
    â€œThe baskets look great,” Jane said, changing the subject. Jane did not like to gossip. She’d been the butt of mean-spirited gossip far too often. “Do you think they need a little something? How about some little shiny bags full of candy? Halloween is right around the corner.”
    Ruby shook her head and laughed.
    â€œWhat’s so funny?” Jane asked.
    â€œWe just discussed the baskets,” Cora said. “Wondering about ribbons and paper flowers. Ruby likes them just the way they are. I agreed.”
    â€œWhat?” Jane looked incredulous.
    Cora nodded. “It’s more elegant this way. So simple, you know?”
    â€œWhatever happened to glitter girl?” Jane grinned.
    Cora started to answer. It was a stage she had gone through—every bit of her paper crafts used glitter for a few months. She was admittedly taken by glitter and all things sparkly.
    â€œLet’s hope glitter girl is gone and buried,” Ruby said and then left the room.
    â€œWhat’s the big deal?” Cora said to Jane. “A little glitter never killed anybody.”

Chapter 8
    Later that same day, Jude called to check on his broom-straw shipment. The caterer then called with a few changes to the menu—again. And all of the registered locals called to cancel. Cora had no choice but to refund them. What was going on? One cancelation wasn’t suspicious, but three of them? Was there another event going on that weekend in town? Cora didn’t think so, but she went to her computer and searched until she found the local paper online. She had thoughtfully planned what weekend to start the retreat so local crafters would have the opportunity to take classes. The annual fall arts and crafts festival was scheduled in a few weeks. Last week the annual fall heritage tour took place. She hadn’t participated, but hoped to next year.
    As she searched, the name “Sarah Waters” jumped out at her. N EW L EAD IN S ARAH W ATERS M URDER . Good news. People were certainly on edge since the woman had died under suspicious