Read The Treble Wore Trouble (The Liturgical Mysteries) for Free Online Page A

a three minute Alleluia section that was to be played while the king was being crowned. Very impressive.
    My truck rattled its way down the mountain roads and, as the final Alleluias sounded, I pulled into my parking place beside the police station. A Saturday in St. Germaine, in early March, was generally what we in the law-enforcement profession called "dull." There were no tourists to speak of. The skiers, if there were any left, had headed up to Sugar Mountain, or maybe Beech, but with the temperature climbing I thought the number of folks choosing to brave the slopes might be slimming.
    I parked the truck and went into the police station. It was on the square, next to the Town Hall and just across one of the side streets from the Slab Café. Dave was sitting behind the counter, busy typing on the old Dell computer, either filling out the monthly reports we needed to file with the state to keep some of our funding intact or updating his Facebook page. It was hard to tell with Dave. Still, he always got the reports finished on time, and neither Nancy nor I had any desire to tackle them. So however Dave managed his time was fine with us.
    "Donuts?" I asked, as I came in.
    He looked up. "In your office, boss," he said. "I stopped by the Piggly Wiggly about an hour ago. Amelia threw in a few extras 'cause they were made yesterday."
    "I hope you ate those old ones," I said. "I've been waiting all morning for a fresh bear claw."
    "Already finished those old ones off. There's nothing better than a free, day-old donut." Dave smacked his lips and hit a button on his computer keyboard. The printer lit up and started putting out paper.
    "The monthlies," Dave said. "Our hard copies. I've already filed the electronic ones. And you'll be happy to know that I did buy some bear claws."
    The SGPD reports needed to be filed by the 21st of each month for the month previous. Not a problem. Dave had them done with hours to spare.
    "Thanks," I said. "And thanks for doing the reports. Anything of a constabulary nature afoot?"
    "Not a thing," said Dave. "No calls and no messages."
    Dave was dressed, as usual, in his pressed khaki trousers and a light blue button-down oxford shirt, covered with an argyle sweater vest. His tan jacket was hanging on the freestanding coatrack beside the front door. Dave didn't carry a gun, but had a badge somewhere in his desk that he might be able to find, if pressed.
    "Anything on a rabid possum at Mildred Kibbler's house?"
    "I read about that," said Dave. "But she hasn't called. If she sees it again, I suspect we'll get a 911."
    "I told Meg I'd check."
    "Oh, yeah," said Dave. "That's next door to Ruby, isn't it?"
    I nodded and went into my office. There on the desk was the box of donuts. I opened it.
    "Dave," I called. "Here on my desk seems to be a large, supposedly full, box of donuts. A dozen in fact, if the label is to be believed. Plus the extras that Amelia tossed in."
    "Yeah?"
    "Yet, when I open this box, there is but half a bear claw left."
    "Well, yeah," said Dave. "But it's a fresh one. You're lucky I saw your truck coming around the square. Otherwise ..."
    "I don't know how you keep your schoolgirl figure," I said, my disgust apparent. "I run fifteen miles a day and have to wear expando-pants. You sit behind a desk, eat donuts by the hundreds, and never gain an ounce."
    "It's a gift," said Dave. "Like my unassuming good looks."
    I stuffed what was left of the pastry into my mouth. Almonds, apples, and frosting in a deep-fried fritter that was still warm. Delicious, but none too filling.
    "I'm going to the Slab," I announced. "Gotta get some breakfast."
    "I'll just finish up here," answered Dave. "Then I'm done for the day. Okay with you?"
    "Okay," I said. "Have a good weekend. You heading over to see Collette?"
    Dave smiled. "Yessir. It's about an hour drive down to Wilkesboro. I'll be back on Monday morning."
    Dave and Collette Bowers had become an item again after Collette had shown up in town after a