Devils Among Us (Devin Dushane Series Book 1) by Chastity Harris

coloring
would be similar. Ms. Clairol had been kind to her cousin’s fiery red hair.
Devin couldn’t help but think that this is what a Mom should look like, what
her Mom should have looked like now. Though her hair was brightly colored it
was clipped and curled into a subdued cut and her freshly pressed cotton blouse
and long khaki skirt were both practical and ladylike. It was probably a safe
bet that she had a tissue in one pocket, a cough drop in the other, and a
casserole in the freezer.
    “Devin, I’m so sorry! How rude of me just to gawk at you
like that, you must think I have no manners at all!” She straightened her
shoulders and smoothed out her already flawless skirt. “I knew of your
resemblance to Laney, of course, but it’s something else entirely to see you in
person.”
    “I understand, Mrs. Christianson, believe me, I get that
reaction a lot.”
    “Please call me Beth, you’re Bobby’s daughter, for heaven’s
sake.”
    Still not used to that introduction!
    Beth smiled warmly and motioned to one of the roomy white
rocking chairs on the porch. She’d left a tray of cookies and a frosty glass
pitcher on the small table in between the chairs. “Please sit down. Can I get
you a glass of lemonade? It’s fresh.”
    Devin had to laugh out loud. “I would love some lemonade!
You are the first person in town who hasn’t offered me sweet tea!”
    When she smiled Beth’s eyes warmed so much they almost
became liquid. “I don’t know why I assumed you wouldn’t like tea. Laney didn’t
like it much either, she always said it tasted like you scooped up dead leaves
out of the woods and boiled them!”
    “Well I would have to agree with her! And all the sugar in
the world couldn’t help that.”
    “How do you like Fenton so far?” Beth was exactly the kind
of person you’d want on the welcome committee, she was warm and cheery and made
you glad to be where you were.
    “It’s a nice little town. I’m actually surprised at how much
I like it.” Devin’s forehead puckered as she thought about that. Now where did
that come from?
    “And why is that? Did you think we were all going to be
dreary and unfriendly?”
    “No it’s not that exactly. I’ve just always loved Richmond and I didn’t think I could enjoy any other place all that much. I lived in Phoenix for a little while and overseas, and I’ve spent some time in L.A., but none of
them appeal to me like this.”
    “Maybe you’re just a small-town girl at heart.” Beth should
be in real estate, she was ready to close Devin on moving to Fenton
permanently.
    Devin chuckled. “I doubt that, it’s more like a nice place
to visit. But everyone has been very friendly and helpful.” She shook her head
as she thought about Shane. “Maybe a little too helpful.”
    “I’ve heard that Adam Lentz and Shane Whitlock are following
you around like lost puppies. Maybe they’re hoping you make a permanent home in
Fenton too.” Beth tried to hide her smile behind her glass of lemonade.
    “That’s all the more reason to get this case solved and get
back to Richmond. I’ve still got a puppy from my last marriage that’s trying to
follow me home from L.A.” Drat. She just remembered that she hadn’t checked in
with Carter or his mom since she’d arrived, she’d have to get on that today or
she would be subjected to another of Mama Dushane’s tirades about an old lady’s
heart only being able to take so much worry.
    Please, she’ll probably outlive all of us by twenty
years. Devin snapped back to the moment when she heard the disappointment
in Beth’s voice.
    “Is that the only reason you’ve come to town? To try and
solve the murder, and then you’ll be gone?” Her rocking chair had gone still.
    Devin debated momentarily what to tell her. She was a
proficient liar, she had to be to keep her distance. But it didn’t seem right
to give Beth false hope that Devin might become a fixture in Fenton.
    “Mostly. I needed something to do