Snow Laughing Matter: Alaska Cozy Mystery, #12

By Wendy Meadows

An Enjoyable Excursion

Another icy winter begins to settle into Snow Falls, Alaska. Sarah isn't feeling her usual self as her attempts to become pregnant have yet to bear fruit. With her husband Detective Conrad Spencer out of town, Sarah and Amanda decide to visit their old friend Manford, who is passing through with the local circus. Despite Sarah's sadness, she sets out with the hope of enjoying the circus performance.

 

A Clown's Circus

Yet when the circus act ends, a killer has left a mysterious message in the form of hidden pies, both in Sarah's car and home. When a circus worker is found dead, events take a turn for the worse. Sarah is torn, caught between the desire to walk away from being a cop to become a mother and the need to catch a killer.

 

A Revealing Riddle

With the identity of the murderer masked as a clown, Sarah finds that the killer has an advantageous secret trick up his sleeve. Relying on the help of friend and former colleague Los Angeles Detective Pete, can Sarah outsmart the riddles of a clown who turns laughter into screams?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Majestic Owl Publishing LLC
• Release date: Apr 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201146085

Wendy Meadows

USA Today bestselling author, Wendy Meadows, is a passionate Cozy Mystery Author whose meticulously crafted stories showcase witty women sleuths and engaging plots. Her primary influences include but are not limited to mystery genre greats Joanne Fluke, Ellery Adams, and James Patterson. To date, she has published dozens of books, which include her popular Sweetfern Harbor Series, Maple Hill Series, and Alaska Cozy Series, to name a few. In a previous life, Wendy worked as a Graphic Designer, earning her Graphic Design Certification at the prestigious New York based Sessions School of Design. With this valuable artistic background, she designs her own book covers. In fact, she began writing fiction soon after designing numerous book covers for other fiction authors. When she isn’t writing about female detectives and their tactful crime solving, you can find Wendy either tending to her hobby farm, playing video games, relaxing on her back porch, or coloring in her growing collection of adult coloring books. She also loves spending quality time with her husband, two sons, two cats, and one adorable Labradoodle. Together, they call “The Granite State” home sweet home. To find out more about Wendy Meadows both personally and creatively, feel free to visit her official website at www.wendymeadows.com

Book preview

chapter one

Amanda giggled as a silly clown tumbled off the back of a miniature firetruck and landed on his butt. The clown, dressed in a goofy firefighting suit, quickly grabbed his painted cheeks with frantic hands, jumped up as if he were the one on fire, and ran over to a burning dollhouse surrounded by other silly clowns. Each clown was desperately trying to throw pails of water onto the burning dollhouse but were splashing each other instead. Oh, these blokes are a laugh.

Sarah grinned, took a bite from a cherry-flavored snow cone, and watched the fireman clown who had fallen off the back of the firetruck run over to the burning dollhouse and begin blowing on it with his mouth. A clown standing close by kicked him in the butt and ordered him to go get a pail of water. The crowd laughed. I'm glad Manford invited us to this winter circus.

Amanda glanced over at Sarah. Are you sad he isn't living with you anymore?

I was, Sarah confessed, but he seems so happy to be traveling with this new circus. Sarah spotted Manford among the clowns, wiping water off his clown costume. The guy appeared to be thrilled. I'm glad he convinced Mr. John to bring the circus to Snow Falls. This town needs to laugh.

I couldn't agree more, Amanda said, patted Sarah on her arm, and went back to watching the show. She dipped her hand into a giant red and white popcorn bucket and drew out a handful of buttery popcorn. They sure are funny, she giggled.

Sarah smiled. It was nice having Manford home—even for a short time. Sure, she was trapped in the middle of an icy winter that was far from being over, but so what? She and Conrad were trying to have a baby. Amanda's husband had come home and stayed for a bit before being called back to London. Manford had managed to get hired by a decent circus that paid him good money. And no more murderers had showed up on the scene since Conrad had killed the monster who had tried to end Manford's life. Life was...well, life was good. I wish Conrad were here, she told Amanda. I hate that he's away. I know he has friends in New York and that he's always on call to help them...but I wish he were home.

I wish both of our hubbies were home, Amanda told Sarah. She stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth and then quickly brushed a few stray kernels off her lovely purple dress with white pinstripes. I'm wearing a new dress and my hubby isn't around to see, she said through a mouth full of popcorn. Only you and these little clown fellas get to see me all flashed up.

Sarah glanced down at the plain gray dress she was wearing. She hadn't felt like getting all flashed up for the circus and picked her usual neutral color gray. Although her friend Manford was back in town, Sarah felt sad inside. So far, Dr. O'Brien, the fertility specialist she and Conrad kept visiting in Anchorage, had not been able to give them very promising news. And with Conrad away helping an old friend who had been framed by a crooked cop, she just didn't feel up to being flashy. But, she reminded herself, she would put on a brave face because Manford was in town. Maybe when spring arrives, we can convince our husbands to drive us to California to see Pete? Then we can both get dressed up.

Amanda shoved more popcorn into her mouth and mumbled something about how her husband might as well be living back in London as a silly clown caught the back of his trousers on fire and hopped about. Silly bloke.

The crowd sitting inside the large red and white-striped tent was warmed by giant heaters that gave the clownish scene a warm glow. Everyone laughed and clapped as the clown antics continued. Sarah recognized the majority of the faces in the audience, including Andrew and his family, who sat across the main ring from them, enjoying popcorn and snow cones. Andrew was guffawing at the clowns. Sarah smiled. It was nice to see a good man like Andrew laughing with his family instead of being caught up in the middle of his tiring police work. This is nice, she whispered, even though she missed Conrad, and focused back on the show.

An hour later the circus performance ended, and she tossed on her thick white coat and trudged out of the main tent into a freezing snow. My...this wind, she told Amanda, squinting against the freezing particles of ice threatening them.

Amanda ducked her head down and leaned into the wind as other folks from Snow Falls rushed past them, heading toward their cars and old trucks parked in a large field. She worked her way through ankle-deep snow that was hard, crunching on a layer of ice still frozen underneath. At least we had a good laugh.

Sarah lowered her face and shoved her gloved hands into the pockets of her coat. Manford said he'll meet us at the cabin in about an hour. That gives us enough time to cook, she called over the wind, pushing through the treacherous snow. As she did, a hand grabbed her elbow. What in the—? Sarah tuned around and saw Andrew. Oh, hey Andrew...you startled me for a minute.

Andrew, dressed in a warm brown hunting coat, didn't seem bothered by the wind. As a matter of fact, the man seemed as fresh as a spring daisy. I want to thank you both for helping Manford convince the circus to come to town. My wife and boy really enjoyed the show. As a matter of fact, Andrew motioned around at the happy, departing crowd as a strong gust of wind tore at the muffler hat on his head, I’d say the entire town is grateful.

I'm glad, Sarah smiled. I've always enjoyed the circus.

Me, too, Amanda added. I especially like the food. I'm just sad this circus didn't sell kosher hot dogs. But the cheeseburgers were splendid.

All five of them, Sarah teased Amanda, her voice barely carrying over the wind. The night was dark now—too dark. The bright circus lights were enough to chase away some of the darkness, but Sarah knew the drive back to her cabin was going to be very cold and very dark. And popcorn and snow cones and cotton candy and three sodas.

And still room for dinner, Amanda beamed and patted her belly. Homemade vegetable beef soup, sweet cornbread and a chocolate cake. Yum.

Andrew shook his head at Sarah. Your friend sure has an iron stomach. If I ate that much, I'd need a stomach pump.

That's because you aren't from London, Amanda joked.

I guess, Andrew laughed. Well, I'm due at the station for night duty soon. I just wanted to say thanks. I'll see you ladies later.

Bye, Sarah waved at Andrew.

Bye, Amanda called out. She watched Andrew vanish into the crowd and then patted her belly again. Maybe we can bake two pans of cornbread instead of just one?

Sarah laughed. Oh you, she said and pulled Amanda toward the parking lot field. Hop in.

Amanda hurried into the passenger seat of Sarah's jeep and began rubbing her gloved hands together. The light from the circus barely reached the parking lot and the inside of the jeep was completely dark. But she immediately knew something was wrong. Something was…squishy. Hey...what is this? Amanda quickly jumped back out into the icy wind and felt behind her. Is this...pie? she asked, raising her gloved right hand in front of her face, examining what appeared to be the contents of a coconut cream pie.

Sarah ran over to Amanda. What's wrong? she asked.

This, Amanda exclaimed in a disgusted voice and showed Sarah her gloved hand. I just sat on...a pie.

Sarah made a confused face. A pie? she asked. Amanda nodded her head. Stand tight. Sarah carefully peeked her head into the passenger seat and spotted the pie Amanda had sat down on. You're right, she said and pulled out an aluminum pie pan, the kind that was available at any local grocery store. A pie. A ruined pie, now.

Oh...that Manford, Amanda fussed and began slapping pie from her backside. Oh...my coat is going to need a good wash.

Sarah studied the pie and then looked at the pink coat Amanda was wearing. She eyed the icy winds grabbing at the pink ski cap on Amanda’s head and then eased her eyes off through the darkness. Sure, Manford, she said in a quick voice. In her mind's eye, she saw a creepy snowman wearing a leather jacket and chewing on a candy cane. The snowman was waving at her from the darkness. I'm back, Sarah...I told you I would be...how do you like my present?…A pie in the face...

Sarah quickly shook the image away. You can fuss at Manford later. Let's get home.

Amanda fussed to herself. I'm going to clobber that little bloke, she promised and crawled back into the jeep.

Sarah ran around to the driver's side, tossed the pie into the back seat, and then jumped behind the steering wheel and got the heat going. All of a sudden she felt very cold and very scared. Why? Surely, she thought, Manford had placed the pie in her jeep to trick Amanda. After all, Amanda had been teasing Manford a lot since he’d arrived back in town—and of course, Manford had been doing his share of teasing, too. Surely the pie was his way of getting back at Amanda for calling him a runt. We'll be to the cabin shortly; you can clean up when we get home.

Amanda pulled off her sticky gloves, made a face at the mess, and placed the gloves down onto her lap. She warmed her bare hands at the heating vent. That little runt is going to get it, she griped. I'm going to wallop him right in the nose...POW!

Go easy on him, Sarah pleaded as a worrisome thought entered her mind. The pie in the back seat wasn't frozen. Surely if Manford had hidden the pie in her jeep before his performance, it would have become frozen; the temperatures were well below freezing. Manford certainly didn't have the time to carry out his prank before they got to the car. When the show ended, numerous children rushed Manford and the other clowns, asking for balloons and cheering when the clowns passed out candy.

Sure, sure, take his side, Amanda complained. Upset, she studied her sticky gloves and then finally decided to laugh. I guess it was pretty funny...that little trickster.

Sarah followed a long line of trucks exiting the parking field, staring at brake lights glowing like hideous red eyes. The pie wasn't frozen... she whispered.

What, love? Amanda asked.

Huh? Oh...I was just talking to myself, Sarah replied as her jeep finally reached the exit. She turned right and eased down a dark road behind other trucks.

Amanda turned her head and looked at Sarah. Love, you seem...bothered, she said in a careful voice. I didn't want to say anything. Is it...because you and Conrad are not...pregnant?

Sarah felt a heavy sadness touch her heart. I wish I were pregnant, she confessed in a sorrowful voice. I've been praying...so much. Conrad has been praying. I guess...it’ll happen when it's time.

Amanda reached out and rubbed Sarah's arm. It'll happen, love, I promise. Prayers are heard by a loving God who doesn't ignore us. In the meantime, there's a reason. I'm not sure what that reason is. Amanda looked at Sarah with a gentle smile. Maybe you're supposed to tolerate my silliness just a bit longer? she tried to joke.

Maybe, Sarah struggled to joke back but failed. Her mind was on the pie. If Manford wasn't the culprit...who was? June Bug, she said and then bit down on her lip.

Oh love, please, talk to me, Amanda begged. We're sisters.

Sarah slowed down and watched the truck in front of her turn left onto Polar Road. I've been...having bad dreams again, she confessed in a low whisper. The snowman is back.

"Oh love, why didn't you