Casket Case Read Online Free PDF Page B

you?”
    “No, I told her to call the sheriff. It’s probably a raccoon or something like that, but she’s all upset that whatever’s on her steps doesn’t answer her.” I paused. “Besides, somebody has to stay here. Odell just left.”
    I jumped in the Mustang and tore out of the parking lot. Good grief. I don’t always think before I act. I slowed down and headed toward Jane’s at a reasonable speed. No point in breaking the law and no point in risking a wreck.
    Almost to Jane’s, I realized that I was trying to minimize the situation, whatever it was. Jane’s hearing is acute and she’s excellent at interpretation. She’d know the difference between the sound of a human on her steps and a small animal like a raccoon.
    Any doubt that something was happening ended when I turned into Jane’s driveway.
    I heard her screaming.

Chapter Six

    “This is my home, so it’s my porch. You get off. Just get off!” Jane stood at the top of the steep stairs to her front door, screaming and shaking her finger.
    A tall, slender lady, wearing a pale gray skirt suit and alligator-skin heels, stood on the tiny porch. Apparently, Jane was trying to shake her finger in this woman’s face. The problem was that Jane’s adversary had turned her back, so the finger was shaking behind a gray high-dollar wedge haircut.
    “What’s going on?” I called as I jumped from the Mustang.
    I couldn’t understand a word because both of them began shouting.
    “Calm down, calm down,” I cautioned as I bounded up the stairs and stopped on the next-to-the-highest step behind the gray-haired woman. There wasn’t room for both of us to stand on the covered stoop at the top of the stairs.
    “Callie!” Jane yelled. “Make her leave. Tell her to get out of here.”
    “Shhhhh,” I said to Jane. “Who are you?” I asked the woman who faced me.
    “My name is Dorcas Lucas, and I’m trying to talk to Miss Baker here, but she won’t stop screaming. I’m not having some blind psycho living on my property.”
    “What do you mean your property?” Jane demanded.
    “My family owns Lucas Investment Enterprises, and we’re purchasing this house and garage apartment along with other properties belonging to Mrs. Pearl White. I came to inspect everything and speak with Ms. Baker, but if this is the tenant”—she turned back to Jane, motioned toward her, and frowned—“I’m having her evicted immediately.” The woman’s tone sounded haughty and hateful.
    “Jane has lived here for years.” I put on my most professional funeral home voice. “As you know, she’s visually impaired. You frightened her when you wouldn’t answer while she asked who was out here. I’m sure you two can come to terms.” Buh-leeve me, I thought I was being diplomatic.
    “I demand to see the inside of her apartment. It’s probably filthy since she can’t see to clean it up,” the Lucas woman snorted.
    “That’s a good idea,” I answered. “You’ll be surprised. Jane can’t see, but she’s an immaculate housekeeper.”
    “What’s that I smell?” Ms. Lucas demanded.
    I’d been so upset with the screaming and arguing that I’d ignored the rich, buttery aroma coming from Jane’s open door.
    “Cookies!” I said.
    “I’m developing my own adaptation of benne wafers for the baking contest,” Jane said.
    “Benny wafers? What’s that?” Ms. Lucas asked.
    “They’re very thin cookies with toasted sesame seeds in a batter of butter and brown sugar,” Jane answered.
    Ms. Lucas turned toward me and shouted, “She cooks ?” The woman actually stomped her foot. “That blind girl better not be doing anything more than using the microwave in my building. That’s why I need to see in there. I don’t want a blind person burning down the place before I even take possession. If there’s a cooking range in there, it has to come out. Immediately! ”
    “Prejudiced effing bigot!” Jane shot her arm out and pushed the woman.
    I reached out and