LETHAL OBSESSION by Carey Regenold

Knoxville.
          Ellen
had a recipe for lemon squares to die for. Now she had a reason to whip up a
batch plus a chance to make new friends.  Getting up with her coffee, Ellen
went to check for ingredients.  Perfect, she would start baking this morning.
          What
an excellent opportunity this might be to get out and mingle with people. The
fishing tournament was so much fun Ellen wanted to repeat the experience.  God
knows she needed some friends other than Gene Stone. Maybe they would have a
life together but until then, Ellen needed to make a life for herself. Mark had
been her whole world and her need for other people was simply not there during
her marriage. A circle of lady friends to have lunch with would be so much fun.
 This fair might be just the thing to get the ball rolling.    
                                
          Amplified
banjo and guitar music could be heard from the parking area mixed with the
gleeful squeals of children. The giant double Farris wheel and other carnival
rides twirled above the treetops. 
    Carrying
her dish, Ellen paid her fee and walked thru the piped turnstile.  The
fragrance of fried funnel cake and corn dogs made her stomach rumble for a hot,
crispy treat.            
          Ellen
studied the brochure with the attached map to see how to get to the pavilion.  Carrying
her lemon squares, she picked through the crowd making her way to the Shriner's
Pavilion.     She might even see Gene here.  Wouldn't he be surprised to see
her out and about.                                 
          Ladies
were standing in small groups talking when Ellen walked in.  There was a main
table adorned with pumpkin, colored ears of corn and fall dried flowers.  Ellen
placed her dish on the table along with the others and looked around feeling
self- conscious. 
          No
one noticed her come in.  There were no welcoming smiles or handshakes in
greeting.  All the women knew each other. Ellen was the outsider.  For a brief
second she felt the strongest urge to bolt for the exit but she fought it
down.  Taking a deep breath Ellen looked around and decided to approach a
circle of ladies who appeared to be close to her age. When there was a lull in
the conversation, Ellen extended her hand. 
          "Hello,
I'm Ellen Anderson.  I brought some lemon squares for the bake sale." 
    The
women immediately responded with smiles and handshakes. A pleasant, friendly
woman took Ellen's hand in both of hers. 
          "It's
so nice to meet you, Ellen.  You must be new in town.  I'm Martha Stone and
these ladies are some members from my church.  This is Susan Bradley, Cynthia
Wood, Mary-Louise Carter, and Dorothy Simpson."
          Ellen
was delighted. "Oh, are you related to Sheriff Gene Stone?  He's such a
wonderful..." Ellen paused and looked around. It seems the ladies had all
stopped talking and were staring at her.
    "I'm
sorry.  Perhaps I'm mistaken."
          Martha
smiled at Ellen. "I guess you could say I'm quite related to the good
sheriff.  He's been my husband for close to twenty years.  We have a son who's
away studying at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  If you know Gene,
he must've helped you in some way. I think he works way too hard in our
community, but he loves helping people and I'm sure that's why he got elected. 
I am so proud of him for that."         
          Ellen
knew her mouth was hanging open in shock.  She struggled to pull herself
together and not look as if she had been slapped silly.  Oh my God, Gene was
married.  What if she had not stopped when they were in bed at the cabin?  And
to think she actually harbored thoughts of a future with this man.  He said he
loved her. She trusted him. Oh my God.  
          Taking
a shuddering breath Ellen tried to hide all the volatile emotions crashing
inside her. She plastered on a