Dead Weight Read Online Free PDF Page B

mom getting killed. Azalea and D’Wanda were in the twin club at school with Keith and Kenny, so they knew them. D’Wanda even had a crush on Keith in sixth grade. Anyway, she thinks it was Keith.
    I did my texting thing and was getting ready to go back and help with the babysitting when I got a text back. ‘UR sik. No way. Details! D.’
    So I shot off details as I knew them, but before I even hit send, I was getting another text. ‘R the boys OK? Horrible! What can we do? A.’
    Another difference: Azalea tends to get mushy about things, whereas D’Wanda’s like me – anything out of the ordinary in this horribly boring place is fun! Even if it is sad, ya know?
    I sent a reply then headed back into the kitchen where Mom and Mrs McClure were busy baking away for Mr Killian and the twins.
    ‘Mom,’ I said, all sweetness and light – it fools her every time, ‘did Mrs McClure tell you about the deal we came to?’
    ‘Deal?’ Mom asked. ‘What deal?’
    ‘I’m going to babysit for her when y’all need to go do something!’ I told her, all smiles like the thought of spending ‘quality’ time with Mrs McClure’s bratty kids was somehow going to be fun.
    Mom looked at Mrs McClure, who nodded her head. ‘Yes, we did, but I didn’t realize, Megan,’ she said, turning to me, ‘that you hadn’t discussed this with your mother.’
    OK, Biotch with a capital bitch! ‘Mom usually doesn’t have a problem with me babysitting, especially when it’s someone we know,’ I said, not losing the smile.
    My mom shrugged her shoulders. ‘It’s OK with me,’ she said, ‘if it’s OK with Mrs McClure.’
    ‘I’m tickled to have her,’ Mrs McClure said. ‘I think Megan is very mature for her age and I know the girls just love her.’
    I smiled brightly, wiggled my fingers at them and went over to where Bess and Alicia were watching Mrs McClure’s girls.
    ‘“Megan’s so mature!”’ Bess mimicked in a sing-song voice. “‘The girls just love her!’” Turning to the little girls playing with Barbies on the floor, Bess said, ‘Don’t you two just love old Megan here?’
    The two little girls – sorry, I forget their names – looked at each other then back at Bess, and shrugged. ‘Ha!’ I said. ‘Good enough!’
    Without even communicating our decision, Trisha and I told my girls to watch her girls and we were off to the Killian household together.
    Once in the car, I told Trisha, ‘You keep the guys busy while I check out the house, see what I can find.’
    ‘I don’t know, E.J.,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘They just lost Kerry. Isn’t this kinda mean?’
    ‘Finding her killer is mean? I don’t think so.’ I said it, but I didn’t believe it. Rummaging through their house the night after their wife/mother was killed was an awful thing to do. But let’s face it, that wasn’t going to stop me. ‘All you have to do is talk to them, the kids. I’ll do all the heavy lifting,’ I said.
    Kerry’s house was one of the nicer ones on her street. Being a real estate agent gave her first crack at the better deals, and rumor was she and Ken had gotten this two-and-a-half story, five bedroom with formals for a song. It was also on two lots backing up to the green belt. Primo property. I pulled into the driveway where the twins were shooting hoops with the basket attached to the front of the detached garage. One held the ball (I could never tell them apart) while the other took a couple of steps toward us.
    ‘Hey, Miz Pugh,’ he said.
    ‘Hi,’ I said, avoiding calling him by name. Instead I held up the dishes I was carrying. ‘We brought y’all some supper.’
    ‘Cool,’ the one with the ball said. He threw it into the open garage and headed for the back door. ‘Come on this way. I’m starving.’
    We followed both boys into the kitchen. I’d always loved Kerry’s kitchen – huge, country-style, with black and white tile floors, whitewashed cabinets with glass doors showing how