Rituals of the Season

HOME FIRES

KILLER MARKET

UP JUMPS THE DEVIL

SHOOTING AT LOONS

SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT

BOOTLEGGER’S DAUGHTER

Sigrid Harald novels:

FUGITIVE COLORS

PAST IMPERFECT

CORPUS CHRISTMAS

BABY DOLL GAMES

THE RIGHT JACK

DEATH IN BLUE FOLDERS

DEATH OF A BUTTERFLY

ONE COFFEE WITH

Non-series:

LAST LESSONS OF SUMMER

BLOODY KIN

SUITABLE FOR HANGING

SHOVELING SMOKE

For Natalie Jeanette Maron,

our longed-for, unexpected, totally welcomed bonus

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My thanks to Sheila Kay Adams for her cousin’s definition of spinsters and old maids; to Louise Guardino of the A/B Afterburners for enlightening me about softball bats; to Aria and John McElhenny, who let me borrow a clever feature from their own wedding reception; and to Daniel “Chipp” Bailey, Chief Deputy Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, NC, for his technical expertise.

District Court Judges Shelly S. Holt and Rebecca W. Blackmore, of the 5th Judicial District Court (New Hanover and Pender Counties, NC), and Special Superior Court Judge John Smith continue to keep me updated on North Carolina law and court procedures. I owe them more than I can ever repay.

Margaret Maron

Johnston County, NC

Many believe that politeness is but a mask worn in the world to conceal bad passions and impulses, and to make a show of possessing virtues not really existing in the heart; thus, that politeness is merely hypocrisy and dissimulation. Do not believe this; be certain that those who profess such a doctrine are themselves practising the deceit they condemn so much . . . True politeness is the language of a good heart.

Florence Hartley, The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, 1873

DEBORAH KNOTT’S FAMILY TREE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10

The white sedan was later than expected, so late that the driver of the nondescript car parked on the shoulder was beginning to wonder if something had already happened to her. Then suddenly, there she was, zipping along in the fast lane of the interstate, her usual ten miles an hour over the speed limit, as if North Carolina’s traffic laws did not apply to her.

You’d think somebody in her position would be a little more observant of the law, the driver thought wryly, pulling back onto the highway. After all, she’s sent people to jail for stuff not much more serious than speeding.

In half an hour, the daily reverse flow from Raleigh would start to clog this stretch of highway, but right now traffic was still light, and in less than a minute both cars were side by side, traveling at the same speed.

The thirty-something woman appeared to be singing along with her radio when the second car pulled even. She glanced over casually, then her eyes widened in recognition and she smiled as she powered down her side window with a motion for the other to do the same.

“Hey!” she called cheerfully, her eyes flicking back and forth from the road ahead to the car beside her. “How’s it going?”

“Going good right now.”

The revolver came up to shoulder level and the woman’s eyes widened in disbelief. Before she could flinch or