Seasons of Deception

By Kate McLachlan

The short story "Seasons of Deception" introduces Beatrice Scott, the sleuth who appears in Kate McLachlan's mystery novel "Ten Little Lesbians." In "Seasons of Deception," Beatrice investigates the quick decline of her elderly gay neighbor after a suspicious woman moves in with him. Leigh, her lover, is unable to help, which is a mystery in itself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kate McLachlan
• Release date: Jul 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311868305

Kate McLachlan

Kate McLachlan is an award-winning author of lesbian fiction. Her debut novel, Rip Van Dyke, won two Goldie Awards in 2011. She has been a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award (2015 for "Christmas Crush"), for two Rainbow Awards (2014 for "Murder and the Hurdy Gurdy Girl" and for "Return of an Impetuous Pilot"), and for another Goldie (2013 for "Murder and the Hurdy Gurdy Girl.") Kate lives in the Pacific Northwest with her wife, Tonie Chacon, who is also a writer. They have dogs and cats, but no parrot (yet).

Book preview

Seasons of Deception

By Kate McLachlan

Copyright 2015 Kate McLachlan

Published by Kate McLachlan at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Seasons of Deception

Ten Little Lesbians sample

About Kate McLachlan

Other books by Kate McLachlan

Connect with Kate McLachlan

Acknowledgements

Seasons of Deception first appeared in the anthology Lesbians on the Loose, Crime Writers on the Lam, edited by Lori L. Lake and Jessie Chandler, Launch Point Press (2015). I’d like to thank Lori and Jessie for allowing me join the great group of authors included in that anthology, and I’d also like to thank them for the terrific job they did editing Seasons of Deception. The story wouldn’t be the same without them.

Seasons of Deception

Beatrice pulled into her driveway and saw that Kenny Wingate had built a haunted house on his front porch. All month long the orange Halloween lights lining his eaves flashed through her windows on the other side of the cul-de-sac, keeping her awake at night. At Christmas time Kenny’s yard was filled with giant inflatable reindeer and Santa Clauses. On the Fourth of July he lined his yard with tiny flags and shot off the loudest fireworks. Aside from Kenny, it was a quiet neighborhood, and residents kept to themselves. Kenny was the closest thing they had to a kid.

Kenny Wingate was seventy-four years old.

On this particular day, he had a new dog, which caused Beatrice to break from her usual habit of a casual wave and tiny smile. She got out of the car just as Kenny walked by, still wearing his usual uniform of Birkenstocks and many-pocketed shorts and, his ropy legs tanned from near year-round exposure to the sun. Instead of closing the garage door, she stepped out to the sidewalk.

You have a new dog, she said.

Yes. He smiled and bent to pat the dog’s head. It barely reached mid-calf, but he was limber despite his age. This is Doro. She’s a Shih Tzu.

Beatrice leaned down and let the dog lick her fingers. Hi Doro. You’re a cutie. She rose. What happened to Nellie?

I had to put her down last week.

I’m sorry.

Yeah. She was sixteen, though, and the pain pills weren’t working anymore. I couldn’t let her suffer.

I understand.

I didn’t see the point in waiting, Kenny said. It’s no good being alone, you know. Beatrice did not answer. "Besides,