Evelyn David - Sullivan Investigations 01 - Murder Off the Books Read Online Free PDF Page A

arrival in front of the Freed house to match the old man’s instructions.
    “Can you walk?” Mac asked, instead of asking the real question in his mind. Was the old man gonna keel over dead in the immediate future–like in the next few minutes?
    “Not far. But a big guy like you ought to be able to lift this scooter.”
    “Why don’t you just tell me whatever–”
    “Not here. Besides ….” The old man waved him closer.
    Mac leaned over, holding his breath as the odor of Ben Gay and peppermint assaulted his nose.
    Edgar Freed chuckled. “I’m gonna have to show you where to dig.”
    Mac straightened. He motioned for the old man to get up.
    As he hefted the red scooter chair into the back of the truck, Mac sighed. Why did he ever think the private detective business was going to involve red Ferraris and beautiful bikini-clad women throwing themselves at him?
     
    ***
     
    The novel wasn’t holding her attention. Rachel took off her reading glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. The steady thrum of Snickers breathing on the pillow next to her was reassuring. “Glad one of us can sleep,” she whispered.
    She adjusted the pillows behind her back and wished she could stop worrying about Dan. Tossing the book on the bedside table, she checked her alarm clock. Less than four hours before she had to get up for work. Once again, Dan was the cause of a sleepless night. Just like he’d done all those years to their mother and grandparents.
    The light from her bedside lamp flickered and her attention was diverted from her brother to the break-in. She wondered if she should have left the lights on downstairs. Sam’s best friend, Ray, had appeared on her doorstep minutes after she’d arrived home from work. The young man had methodically checked her locks and replaced a few that didn’t pass his scrutiny. Carrie had joined them for pizza afterwards and both teens had worked hard at distracting her from her worries. But now the house was empty except for Snickers. And it was dark.
    “Okay, just stop it. You’ve got to get some sleep and you don’t really believe that having the lights on is going to stop someone who is determined to get in.” She reached to turn out the bedside lamp, double-checking that the portable phone was in its cradle next to her alarm clock. Her fingers around the switch, she paused and instead, leaned over the side of the bed and peered underneath. A hockey stick and a baseball bat were just under the edge.
    Satisfied with her security precautions, Rachel shut off the light and rolled onto her side. If her intruders came back, she wasn’t going to be doing any more hiding.
     
    ***
     
    “So are you Fed or a private dick?”
    Edgar Freed was sitting in his scooter chair right behind the driver’s seat. Mac had made sure the brakes were engaged on the scooter but he still had visions of having to stop the panel truck too quickly and the old man ending up in his lap.
    Mac glanced in his rear view mirror. “Private Investigator. Just for future reference, why didn’t you believe I was a repairman?”
    “I saw you the night before driving that ice cream truck. Figured you were staking out that divorcée’s house. Besides, you didn’t make Elinor pay you on the spot. No repairman I know just sends a bill.”
    “You seem to see a lot for someone in your condition. How’s that work? Your wife park you out on the roof with a pair of binoculars and some bird feed?”
    The old man cackled. “Elinor doesn’t know what I do after 8:30. She goes to bed with the chickens.”
    “So what’s your story?”
    “You were right about the binoculars. My great nephew got me a pair of those night vision goggles like the ones the military uses. He’s a Navy Seal. Done real well for himself.” The old man shifted in his chair. “Anyway, mighty interesting stuff goes on in this neighborhood at night. I just drive myself out onto our second floor deck and take a gander at who’s doing