Caught Dead Handed Read Online Free PDF Page B

This is a crash course.”
    She reached over and touched my hand. “You know, Maralee, you don’t have to rush into this job. You could wait a bit and find something a bit more . . . mainstream.”
    â€œI know.” I closed the book. “I need to work, Aunt Ibby. I need to keep busy. It’s been almost a year since Johnny . . .”
    â€œI wish I’d had a chance to know him better.” She spoke softly. “I wish now I’d visited you in Florida more often. And I always enjoyed so much the times the two of you stayed here when Johnny raced up in New Hampshire .But we just don’t think about how fragile life is, do we? First, your parents, too young. Then your Johnny. And now poor Ariel. It’s all so sad.”
    â€œSometimes, when I first wake up, I forget that he’s not there beside me.” I blinked back tears.
    â€œIt’s still hard for you to talk about, isn’t it? Such a tragic accident. But it was an accident, Maralee! It wasn’t your fault. Not one bit your fault!”
    â€œI know. Everyone says that. But I was driving. I was the one behind the wheel. I can’t help thinking if my reflexes had been faster . . . if I had been more alert . . .”
    â€œMy dear child.” Aunt Ibby looked into my eyes. “It was a black car . . . on a pitch-black night. Traveling without lights. Speeding. The driver was drunk. There was nothing anyone could do.”
    I tried to blot out the vision of that terrible moment. “I know. And I’m lucky to be alive.”
    â€œIndeed you are.” Aunt Ibby squeezed my hand, then abruptly, and wisely, changed the subject. “Now, about this horoscope nonsense. Naturally it’s all bunk. You agree?”
    â€œSure I do. See?” I flipped the book open. “It says here I’m a very agreeable person.”
    â€œVery funny.” She peered over my shoulder. “And it does not.”
    â€œI know. But I do need to do some studying. I wonder if they’d let me borrow some of those books and things Ariel had displayed on the Nightshades set.”
    â€œI don’t see why not.”
    â€œI think I’ll go back over this afternoon. I need to get everything done by Monday night.”
    â€œI have to put in a few hours at the library today,” Aunt Ibby said. “I can drop you off if you like.”
    â€œNo. Thanks just the same. I’ll just grab a cab. I’ll probably be back before you are.”
    Before long, lunch finished, dishes washed, hair combed, and clothes changed, I was on the front steps as a green-and-white cab pulled up. The driver raced around the vehicle and held the door for me. “Thanks,” I said and gave him the TV station’s address as I climbed into the backseat. It smelled of cigarette smoke and air freshener. I rolled the window down, and we headed east on Winter Street. Within seconds sirens sounded, and we pulled over as two police cars, lights flashing, sped past.
    â€œUh-oh,” the cabbie muttered. “I should have gone the other way. Cops are keeping busy. They don’t usually get two stiffs in one day.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? What happened?”
    â€œWell, there was that floater this morning over by the TV station.... Say, that’s where you’re headed, ain’t it?”
    â€œYes. What do you mean, two?”
    â€œOh, some dame down the other end of Derby Street went and got herself iced. Landlady found the body. Hope you ain’t in a big hurry. Two dead bodies in one day, both on the same street, makes kind of a mess for drivin’.”

CHAPTER 5
    Traffic had slowed to a near halt as we approached the lights at the intersection of Derby Street.
    â€œWhen did this happen?” I asked. “I was watching TV only a little while ago. They didn’t mention any second death.”
    â€œJust came over the police scanner. Our dispatcher listens to it all day. Loves all that