Christmas Corpse Caper Read Online Free PDF

coat. She slammed her desk drawer.
    “Please forgive me.” I tried to make eye contact with her.
    A loud noise made us both lock eyes.
    “Okay, that must be Joe again.” I chuckled.
    “Didn’t he leave?” Kim’s voice quivered.
    “I’m not sure. But he doesn’t know when to stop a joke. He’s trying to get me all riled up again. Bet he has a camera this time to permanently capture my reaction. I’m not going to let him put one over on me this time.” Pulling my shoulders back, I clenched my fists. “No, I’ll show him I’m no fool.”
    “What are you going to do?” Kim set down her coat. “What if it’s not him?”
    “Oh, it’s him.” I smiled. Yeah. The jerk.
    I marched out.
    “Wait for me.” Kim caught up with me. “I don’t want to be alone.”
    As I walked I announced—loud, for Joe to hear—”I am so glad I have a black belt. Whoever is here is going to be sorry.”
    Kim whispered, “Karate?”
    I lifted my shirt to show her my black leather belt.
    She whacked my arm.
    Even louder I said, “Yes, there’s going to be one sorry person when I get to them. I’m glad I have my pepper spray.” I pulled out my keychain, showing Kim the small pepper spray tube.
    She smiled.
    The sound of movement inside the Serenity Room made my body tense up.
    “Did you hear that?” Kim asked. She hung close to me. Close enough for me to smell her hair. Fruity. Like a smoothie.
    “It’s probably nothing. But I’m going in. Stay here.” I held her shoulders.
    “I’m going with you,” Kim insisted. “Please don’t leave me.
    “I love this, you’re begging me. This is a dream come true.”
    “Focus.” Kim held me close.
    “What are you up to?” Joe stormed down the hall.
    If Joe was in the hallway, then who was in the room? “I thought it was you.”
    “Obviously not.” Joe smirked.
    Slam.
    “What was that?” Joe asked.
    “I’m not sure,” I said.
    Kim pointed at the door to the Serenity Room. “Someone is in there.”
    “Who?” Joe whispered.
    “I don’t know. But how about you stay out here with Kim, and keep her safe. Let me see what’s going on. Be ready to call the police,” I whispered back.
    “Let’s call them now.” Joe pulled out his phone.
    “Not yet. Last time it turned out a vase fell. Give me a second to take a look, okay?” I quietly said.
    “Fine I’ll stay here with Joe,” Kim said. “Be safe, Mark.”
    Joe and Kim stood in the hallway, across from the Serenity Room door. I gave them a thumbs up, and then put a finger vertically on my mouth. They nodded.
    I opened the door. Two chairs were knocked over, and as I looked into the casket, I saw that Mr. Wallace had no jacket on.
    At the same time, a muffled weeping came from a closet. I crept over and threw open the closet door.
    A woman was inside: Arlene Oldenburg, Mr. Wallace’s daughter.
    Arlene screamed.
    Joe and Kim burst into the Serenity Room.
    “What’s she doing here?” Joe asked as he pointed at Arlene.
    Knowing the issues she had with her sister, I had a feeling there was an explanation. I felt the desire to protect her. “I’ve got this under control. I’ll meet you both later in the office.”
    Joe said, “Are you sure?”
    “Yes. It’s Mr. Wallace’s daughter, Arlene. It’ll be fine,” I replied.
    Joe and Kim nodded and then left.
    Arlene slunk from the closet, holding a suit jacket. Her face pale and hands shaking, she smelled of liquor.
    “Are you going to karate me or do the pepper spray?” Arlene’s voice quivered as she sobbed.
    “What? Oh, no,” I said. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”
    “Earlier, when I was alone in here, I unlocked the outside door over there.” She sniffed, pointing to back of the room. “I took a chance that you wouldn’t notice that it was unlocked. I needed to get in here when no one could see me.”
    “Why?” I asked.
    Arlene looked at her father’s casket but didn’t say anything. She hugged the jacket close to her