Read Online Ghost On Duty (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 2) by J. D. Winters - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: J. D. Winters
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losing hope that he could be the killer.
We talked for a few more minutes and then he hurried off to an appointment before I could probe him for his reasons in suspecting Lance. But I couldn’t buy that theory. Think of his impeccable attire. Think of his standing in the community. No, that wasn’t going to work either.
But I had things I had to get to as well. I waved at Jill, who was busy as could be and looking like she was in her element. At least she seemed to have found her place in the scheme of things for now.
I got into my car and headed out to Ned’s place. I got all the way up the driveway before I remembered Peg’s advice about bringing protection. That gave me an icy shiver, but it was too late to do anything now.
Besides, Ned was the one who’d scared me. And he wasn’t going to be an issue, was he?
Still. I did wish Dante had come along. He wasn’t in the passenger’s seat, so I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be seeing him this afternoon. Funny—he was more than a ghostly presence to me. He was a friend and comfort. I missed him.
The big old house looked sad and eerie as I drove up to the entry. If I was going to be able to explore at all, I was going to have to figure out a way to get in. I stared at the house for a long moment or two, wondering why I’d come. But I was here now. Might as well give it a real try. I got out with a sigh, and began to walk around the house. No open windows. No unlocked doors. This was hopeless.
I went up to a window and looked in. Then another. Nothing inside but empty rooms with old-fashioned utilitarian furniture. Not even any crime scene yellow tape—after all, the murder had happened at the cliff. At least that was what we were assuming.
For some reason, I was getting more and more positive that I needed to get in there, that there was something, something important, that I would see if I could only get in.
I turned, looking around. Where might Ned have hidden a key? I checked every door mat, tried a lot of flower pots, and all for nothing. Frustrated, I turned slowly, looking out into his yard. No chair swings, no art work, no lounge chairs. But there was a barbecue out the kitchen door in back. I opened it and found only rusting innards and a greasy smell. No key.
And then I ran my hand along the back of the metal guard. Something was back there, something taped with duct tape. I pulled hard and brought it out to look at. Bingo. I couldn’t believe it. It was actually a key. Now to find out it still didn’t match any lock that I could get to.
Chapter Eight
I tried the kitchen first, and to my surprise, that was it. The door swung open. Wow. This was surely my lucky day. I glanced around quickly to make sure Dante wasn’t around somewhere making good things happen for me, then I slipped the key into my pocket and went inside. I closed the door, then began a slow exploration through the house.
It was creepy, being in someone’s house. It was creepy enough when they were just gone for the day, but when they were dead….
I shivered. I really wasn’t thrilled to be doing this, but somehow, I knew I had to. The house was neat and clean for a place the police had swarmed and searched just a day before. Maybe the housekeeper had been in since.
That made me think of Peg. She had cleaned these very rooms in her day. Imagine trying to poison your employer! What could have set her off that badly? It made me wonder how many other people had wanted Ned Barlow out of the way over the years. And finally, someone had actually done it.
I went into the study where I’d seen the gun racks on my first visit. True enough, the guns were gone. The racks were still there, but they looked a bit forlorn standing there empty. I had no idea where he might have stored the rest of his collection. I took the stairs to try the rooms on the second floor.
There was what I supposed was his bedroom, and a couple of guest bedrooms. And then there
We talked for a few more minutes and then he hurried off to an appointment before I could probe him for his reasons in suspecting Lance. But I couldn’t buy that theory. Think of his impeccable attire. Think of his standing in the community. No, that wasn’t going to work either.
But I had things I had to get to as well. I waved at Jill, who was busy as could be and looking like she was in her element. At least she seemed to have found her place in the scheme of things for now.
I got into my car and headed out to Ned’s place. I got all the way up the driveway before I remembered Peg’s advice about bringing protection. That gave me an icy shiver, but it was too late to do anything now.
Besides, Ned was the one who’d scared me. And he wasn’t going to be an issue, was he?
Still. I did wish Dante had come along. He wasn’t in the passenger’s seat, so I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be seeing him this afternoon. Funny—he was more than a ghostly presence to me. He was a friend and comfort. I missed him.
The big old house looked sad and eerie as I drove up to the entry. If I was going to be able to explore at all, I was going to have to figure out a way to get in. I stared at the house for a long moment or two, wondering why I’d come. But I was here now. Might as well give it a real try. I got out with a sigh, and began to walk around the house. No open windows. No unlocked doors. This was hopeless.
I went up to a window and looked in. Then another. Nothing inside but empty rooms with old-fashioned utilitarian furniture. Not even any crime scene yellow tape—after all, the murder had happened at the cliff. At least that was what we were assuming.
For some reason, I was getting more and more positive that I needed to get in there, that there was something, something important, that I would see if I could only get in.
I turned, looking around. Where might Ned have hidden a key? I checked every door mat, tried a lot of flower pots, and all for nothing. Frustrated, I turned slowly, looking out into his yard. No chair swings, no art work, no lounge chairs. But there was a barbecue out the kitchen door in back. I opened it and found only rusting innards and a greasy smell. No key.
And then I ran my hand along the back of the metal guard. Something was back there, something taped with duct tape. I pulled hard and brought it out to look at. Bingo. I couldn’t believe it. It was actually a key. Now to find out it still didn’t match any lock that I could get to.
Chapter Eight
I tried the kitchen first, and to my surprise, that was it. The door swung open. Wow. This was surely my lucky day. I glanced around quickly to make sure Dante wasn’t around somewhere making good things happen for me, then I slipped the key into my pocket and went inside. I closed the door, then began a slow exploration through the house.
It was creepy, being in someone’s house. It was creepy enough when they were just gone for the day, but when they were dead….
I shivered. I really wasn’t thrilled to be doing this, but somehow, I knew I had to. The house was neat and clean for a place the police had swarmed and searched just a day before. Maybe the housekeeper had been in since.
That made me think of Peg. She had cleaned these very rooms in her day. Imagine trying to poison your employer! What could have set her off that badly? It made me wonder how many other people had wanted Ned Barlow out of the way over the years. And finally, someone had actually done it.
I went into the study where I’d seen the gun racks on my first visit. True enough, the guns were gone. The racks were still there, but they looked a bit forlorn standing there empty. I had no idea where he might have stored the rest of his collection. I took the stairs to try the rooms on the second floor.
There was what I supposed was his bedroom, and a couple of guest bedrooms. And then there
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