5 Murder by Syllabub Read Online Free PDF Page B

considering barging in on who knew what. “That’s a good idea. Let’s do it.”
    “He’s not home yet and I’m not waiting. Besides, I’ve faced down bigger threats than some wimpy candle carrier.” Elizabeth forged forward up the porch stairs. Cora Lee nodded. She planted her cane on the first step and followed.
    Aunt Mary looked up the stairs, then at me. Both the other women were already up, and Elizabeth was trying to fit the key in the heavy front door. Cora Lee leaned on her cane, watching.
    I took a deep breath, put my foot firmly on the first step, paused and turned to her. “Stay down here. If something happens, run. Do you have the cellphone I got you?”
    She nodded.
    “Do you remember how to use it?
    I got a scornful look.
    “If something happens, call nine-one-one. After you run away.” I turned back and started up the stairs, grateful for the moonlight that made the climb, if not less treacherous, at least visible. Footsteps sounded behind me. Aunt Mary. I paused, sighed and kept going. At least I’d tried.
    Elizabeth still fumbled with the heavy key, trying to fit it into the lock. “Blast.” She tried the latch, but it was firmly locked. The door didn’t respond to rattling, either. She tried the key again. “I don’t suppose either of you has a flashlight.” Frustration was ripe in her voice as she bent down closer to the door.
    Aunt Mary opened her tote bag purse, fished around and found the small flashlight she always carried. She flashed it on the keyhole.
    Elizabeth glanced up. “That part of your girl scout training?”
    “Came in handy, didn’t it?”
    Elizabeth laughed and the key went in. The door opened with a loud creak. Cora Lee gave a little gasp and clutched Aunt Mary’s arm.
    “What, what!” Aunt Mary clutched Cora Lee right back. “Do you see something?”
    “No.” She dropped her arm.
    “What are you two doing?” Elizabeth pushed the door open a little more. “You coming or not?”
    Aunt Mary gulped.
    So did I .
    Cora Lee straightened and clutched her cane a little tighter. “Right behind you,” she whispered loudly.
    We crept through the doorway into a pitch-black hallway. The only light was the dim beam of the moon that stopped at the porch.
    “What’s that smell?” Cora Lee’s whisper broke the silence like a shout.
    “Shhh. You’ll scare him away. Listen.”
    We did. Cora Lee clutched Aunt Mary again with her left arm, swinging the cane with her right. The gleam of the silver handle shone in the tiny sliver of light from the open door. Elizabeth stood a little in front of us, a barely discernible shadow, turning her head one way and then the other.
    “Ouch! Cora Lee, will you watch what you’re doing? You darn near broke my ankle.”
    I could just make out Elizabeth standing on one leg like a crane in a skirt. I smothered the nervous laugh that almost escaped and my hand that held the cellphone shook a little. I couldn’t seem to make it stop. I let it drop into the open mouth of my drawstring bag. If I dropped it on the floor in this cavernous darkness, I’d never find it again.
    “What is that smell? It’s horrible.”
    I had no idea but Cora Lee was right.
    Aunt Mary sniffed the air. “It smells like someone lost their cookies.”
    “Or worse.” Elizabeth gave a little cough. “Ugh. Where’s it coming from?”
    The rancid smell was strong but there was something else, something faint but familiar. I gingerly sniffed the air, trying to identify the other smell. Candle wax. A freshly blown out candle. Unmistakable. I sniffed again. The horrible odor almost covered it up, but it was there. I quit sniffing and stirred. We couldn’t stay huddled in this room, hallway, whatever it was, all night. I whispered at Aunt Mary, “Where’s your flashlight?” She fished around in her bag, finally pulled it out and flicked it on. The beam traveled but illuminated nothing more threatening than closed doors.
    “Do the lights work in this house?” I