Death is Long Overdue (Phee Jefferson Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

you think you are so damn smart. Mark my words, I will get my way and when I do, I will make sure you never find another job in this town." She poked me in the chest with her pointy, hot pink nails.
    "Hey there, pretty lady.  You are coming to the concert over at the high school tonight, aren’t you?"  Cincinnati walked over to me.  Carla huffed and backed away from me.
    "Not tonight, Charlie."  I was grateful for the interruption.
    "I'll talk to you later," Carla threatened.  She spun on her heels and tottered on down the sidewalk.
    "You looked like you needed rescuing there, Phee.  You okay?" Charlie asked.
    "Thanks, Charlie.  I'm okay.  Just tired and ready to go home.  I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" I turned back towards my van and climbed in.
    "Alright.  You have any more problems with that one," he said pointing down the sidewalk towards Carla's retreating back, "you just let me know.  She's a piece of work."
    "I will. Thanks again.  Have a good evening."  I fired up Velma and pointed her towards home, a hot cup of tea, and much needed peace and quiet.

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    “Will you pretend you’re my boyfriend?” - Patti Smith, Just Kids
     
    Walking in my front door, I was greeted by a loud meow echoing from the kitchen.  Ferdinand was waiting for his dinner and made sure I knew he was not a happy fat cat.  Once I had filled his fish-shaped bowl with chow, I put the kettle on the stove to boil.  I opened my vintage turquoise refrigerator to scrounge for something to eat.  Grabbing out a bag of romaine lettuce, an avocado and some leftover chicken, I decided to throw together a quick salad.  The teapot began to whistle.  As I turned off the burner, my phone trilled.
    "Hello?" I answered and stretched the phone cord over to the counter so I could make some peppermint tea and prepare my salad.
    "Hi, honey.  It's Mom," said my mother like I wouldn't recognize her voice after twenty-eight years.  "Did you hear the news? Huey Long was murdered in his home!"
    Sighing, I stirred honey into my tea. Nestling the phone onto my shoulder, I carried my plate and mug to my turquoise Formica table and settled onto a matching vinyl chair.  "Yes, Mom, I did.  It was all anyone could talk about at work today.  No one had anything nice to say about Mr. Long.  He was just a jerk."
    "Well, I heard that he was strangled. According to Sheila," Mom lowered her voice, "he was in his birthday suit." Mom didn't need to read the newspaper.  She got the news through her bridge game.  Sheriff Dawes' wife, Sheila, played cards with my mom every week.
    "Hmmm....well, that's news to me."  There was no way I was going to tell my parents that I had broken into a house in a disguise and stumbled over a corpse.  "What time do I need to be there next Sunday and do you want me to bring anything?"
    "Five sharp and it would be nice if you would bring a date."  My mother had recently resorted to dropping hints that she and Dad weren't getting any younger and would love to see my sister and I settle down and have children.  My brother Rick was expecting twins with his wife, Carrie. I had mistakenly believed the babies’ pending arrival would keep her from pestering me.  The steam engine called Mom had slowed but not stopped.
    "I don't have a date to bring, Mom, so I guess I’ll just bring dessert," I responded dryly.  I sneaked a bite of salad and held the phone away from my mouth while I chewed quickly.  "Who else is coming to the party?"
    "Your brother and Carrie, Clint and his date, and Uncle Joe and Aunt Sarah are coming.  Uncle Paul might come down, but he's not sure. A bunch of other people called and said they were coming, too. I need to call the caterer tomorrow with the final count," Mom said.
    "Clint's bringing a date?"  My heart sank a little. I hadn't heard anything on the rumor mill, but I also hadn't asked.
    "Well, I assume he is.  I told him to bring someone.  I know he broke up with Simone a few weeks