Page 96 of The Matchmaker Club

“You deal with Frank, and I’ll take care of that.”

Lucas nodded. “Okay.”

There was a scream of laughter from Lainey from behind the shed.

“Got you!” Austin said.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Lainey ran toward the gate, and Austin tripped trying to catch up with her.

“Olly, Olly oxen free!” Lainey yelled as she closed the gate behind her.

I booked it toward the front door to find Lucas and Frank, watching my aunt climb into the bed of her truck and falling inside with a loud thud. She peeked her head up. “I’m okay!”

Frank glared at me. “Are you all on drugs?”

“Nothing that’s illegal in the state of Maine.” I crossed my arms. “Are you done here, Frank? Because Lucas and I would really like to get back to our party, if you don’t mind.”

Lucas put his hand at the small of my back. “Ah, Frank here is concerned about the deer crossing signs. It seems some vandals struck yesterday.”

Bill scampered out into the driveway, and I nearly did a double take when he wasn’t wearing any pants. Only his T-shirt and tighty-whities. I nudged Lucas and hinted in Bill’s direction with a nod of my head.

Lucas burst out with a laugh.

“You find vandalism funny, Mr. Freeman?”

He cleared his throat. “No, sir.”

Bill got on his hands and knees and crawled between a bush with his butt in the air. I tightened my lips, a giggle dying to spill out. Lucas looked over at Bill, and a hand instantly went over his mouth.

“We got fourteen red-nosed deer from one end of this town to the other, and the only one spotted near one of them last night wasyou.”

“Like I said, I had to go.”

“Another funny thing too. Drummond recalls you buying white inventory stickers, and wouldn’t you know they’re the same exact size as those red-colored ones. Seems like a mighty big coincidence, wouldn’t ya say?”

“Those stickers were for me,” I interjected.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sure you heard we’re moving out. We got those to help label the boxes, but unfortunately, they were stolen.”

Frank let out a sarcastic huff. “You’re trying to tell me someone broke into your house and stole inventory stickers to vandalize every damned sign in this town?”

“Nope. After Drummond’s, we headed over to Fanny’s Pond. It was hot and we left the windows open. I’d forgotten about the bag I left on the back seat. We guessed some out-of-towners must’ve taken it.”

Frank shifted his jaw.

Lucas clapped his hands together once. “I hope this helps you solve your case.”

“Have a good night, Frank,” I added with a touch of sugar.

Frank grunted out a “night” before heading back to his SUV. As he drove away, Bill came out from behind the bushes and ran back toward the gate.

“Feel like a glass of wine?” Lucas asked.

“Oh yeah.” Lainey climbed out of the truck and ripped her skirt on the way down. “Let’s make that two glasses,” I added.

This was going to be a long night.