English Trifle Read Online Free PDF Page B

her daughter, her quads burning from the squatting position she was in, and waited until the picture showed up on the screen of Breanna’s phone. “It’s hard to see them in the picture,” Sadie said, looking between the carpet and the phone.
    “I’ll take a few more,” Breanna said, turning the phone and holding it closer to the carpet. “They’re sending an inspector out,” she continued in an annoyed tone while snapping another photo. She looked at it, then held it toward Sadie. “This one’s better, don’t you think?”
    Sadie nodded—the drag lines were a lot more distinct. “Did they say how long until the inspector arrives?”
    Breanna shook her head and finally stood. She made it look so easy. Sadie nearly groaned out loud as she righted herself. Phew. She wasn’t used to being so close to the ground and had become so busy with Christmas stuff that she’d missed a few of her weekly yoga classes. She made a note not to miss any more in the future—she could definitely feel the difference.
    “We need to find Liam,” Breanna said as they made their way toward the door. But she came to a stop when they reached the sitting area set up across from the fireplace. Sadie followed her eyes, and they both stared at the wrought-iron fireplace stand. Even from this distance Sadie could see that the handles of the hearth tools didn’t match the handle of the poker they’d seen protruding from John Henry’s heart—these were a filigree design, black. She took a couple steps forward to confirm that the poker for the set was still there. “Whoever killed John Henry came into this room armed.”
    Breanna nodded. “We need to find Liam—now.”
    They held each other’s eyes and Sadie understood Breanna’s urgency—they hadn’t seen anyone but Mrs. Land and the runaway cook since their initial discovery of the body. What if there was something even bigger going on? What if the reason they hadn’t heard from Liam was because he was unable to communicate?
    Thoughts of terrorists, chain saw murderers, and bank robbers filled Sadie’s mind and her heart rate increased accordingly. “You’re right,” she said, heading for the door. When they reached the doorway, they shared a nervous glance. Sadie felt safer here—well, now that the body was gone. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the doorknob and began turning it, just as someone did the same thing on the other side of the door.
    With a sharp intake of breath, she let go, startling Breanna as the door whooshed open, nearly knocking Sadie over in the process.

Chapter 5
    ~ ~ ~
    Liam!” Breanna said in surprise as Sadie stumbled backward. Liam stood rooted in place, as if not expecting to see them there.
    “Bre,” he said, looking at Breanna. “Sadie,” he continued, taking her in as well. His already longish, sandy blond hair was a little more wild than usual as he looked back and forth between the two of them. “Are you okay?”
    Sadie and Breanna shared a look as if waiting for the other person to start, then they both took a breath and began talking at once.
    “John Henry—”
    “A fireplace poker—”
    “Told Mrs. Land—”
    “The body is gone—”
    “I texted you four times!”
    “What?” Liam said, interrupting them and looking sufficiently confused.
    Breanna hurried to tell him a very abbreviated version of how the events had played out. Liam listened, his expression becoming more and more troubled the further into the story she went. When she finished, Liam blinked at them.
    “Why didn’t you return my calls?” Breanna asked.
    “I, uh, had my phone turned off,” he said, looking past her into the room with trepidation. “The body’s gone?”
    They both nodded like a pair of bobbleheads. “See for yourself,” Breanna said, leading the way toward the back window, pointing out the drag marks. Sadie held the curtain back while Liam inspected the missing chunk of plaster. He reached toward it as if to feel the plaster, but Sadie