Read Online Orphans of Wonderland by Greg F. Gifune - Free Book Online Page B

it’s appreciated.”
    â€œLike I told Katelyn, I can’t promise any results, but I’ll do what I can.”
    â€œThat’s all we can ask. Of course we expect to pay you for—”
    â€œDon’t worry about it. If things become complicated, which I’m not anticipating at this point, I might need some expenses covered, but that’s it. I’m not doing this for money, Adam.”
    â€œThat’s very kind. Please, come in,” he said, finally escorting him inside.
    Joel stepped directly into a modest living room that opened up into a kitchen. Katelyn was standing at a bar in the kitchen area, drinking a bottle of water. When their eyes met, she offered a reserved smile.
    â€œHello again,” Joel said.
    â€œPlease, come in.” Katelyn motioned to a stool opposite her. “I hope the directions were effective?”
    â€œYes, perfect.”
    â€œAnd how was your drive?”
    â€œLong. Boring. The usual.” He forced a smile, but it felt as awkward as the ones Katelyn and Adam threw back. After removing his coat and giving it to Adam, who placed it on the back of a nearby couch, Joel slid onto the nearest stool and put his case on the bar between them.
    Their townhouse looked as formal as they were, almost sterile: all-white walls, counters and appliances, understated furniture and a few random pieces of inexpensive minimalist artwork scattered throughout. Cold , Joel thought.
    Katelyn, dressed in moccasin slippers and a pink sweat suit, her dirty-blonde hair pulled back into a sloppy ponytail, motioned toward her refrigerator with the flair of a spokesmodel. “Something to drink?” she asked. “Some hot cocoa maybe? Or water, soda, maybe a beer? Something stronger?”
    â€œThank you, I’m fine.” Joel opened his case, removed a notebook and a pen.
    Adam sat on a stool to Joel’s right. “Old school,” he said, attempting humor.
    â€œOld guy.” Joel chuckled and then turned back to Katelyn. “When you were at my house, you said you had some other things to tell me, but if you don’t mind, I have a few questions I need to ask first. Some may be a bit uncomfortable for you, but they’re necessary.”
    â€œI understand,” Katelyn said. “I’ll answer anything I can.”
    â€œGreat. Ready to start?” When she responded with a nod, Joel referred to his pad and some earlier notes he’d made. “Was your dad on any medications?”
    â€œHe took a pill for high cholesterol. He’d been on that one for about four or five years, I think. He had some pain issues too—his legs and back mostly, from all those years on his feet—but didn’t take prescription drugs for that, mostly Tylenol, that kind of thing. He also self-medicated with liquor now and then.”
    â€œBut no other prescription drugs?”
    â€œNot that I know of. There was something else, though. He had a strange bottle of pills in his medicine cabinet. It was the typical kind of pill bottle you get from a pharmacy, but there was no label on it, which I found odd.”
    â€œDo you remember what the pills looked like?”
    â€œSmall,” she said. “White.”
    â€œDid they have any markings or numbers on them?”
    â€œNo. They looked a little like aspirin, but I don’t think that’s what they were.”
    â€œYou don’t still have them by any chance, do you?”
    â€œNo. The police took them when they went through his apartment as part of their investigation. I was told they planned to get them tested, but apparently the bottle was lost.”
    Joel arched an eyebrow. “Lost?”
    â€œ Misplaced was the word the detective used. He said these things sometimes happen, things are filed or catalogued incorrectly, but that they’d likely turn up at some point. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned about it, frankly. As far as I know they still