Linda Welch - A conspiracy of Demons Read Online Free PDF Page B

see anything .”
    “Here neither.” I straightened up. “Let’s check upstairs.”
    We went up the staircase to a small landing which gave access to two bedrooms and a bathroom with a white claw-foot tub . Lilac fain tly perfumed the gleaming , white— tiled bathroom. Like the downstairs rooms, it w as neat to the point of anality and so were the bedrooms. One must be a guest room, with lightweight oak furniture, the paneling pa inted white and shades of pale yellow.
    Like me , Lynn used a corner of her bedroom as an office.
    I went to the antique pine desk. Unlike mine, clutter did not cover it . A laptop, printer, ream of printing paper, stapler and tape dispenser were neatly positioned. M iscellaneous pens, pencils and a ruler stuck from a ceramic jug.
    Royal went through one set of desk drawers as I searched the other.
    Nothing.
    “We’ll take the laptop,” I announced. “I bet everything’s on here since she doesn’t seem to have an appointment or address book.”
    “She could have had it with her and her killer took it .”
    I nod ded. “ If she did, I hope she also kept a record on the laptop. Wonder if she has backups? ” I popped open the keyboard shelf.
    Bingo. I pocketed t wo USB drives .
    Mindful of approaching sirens or pet-sitters, we began a more thorough search. I looked under the mattress, behind the mirror, then opened Lynn’s free-standing clothes closet and went through her coat and pants pockets. Royal checked th e undersides of tables, dresser and bathroom fixtures , and peeled back throw rugs. He felt along the top of doorframes, and paced, listening and feeling for suspiciously loose floorboards.
    I didn’t know what we were looking for , but it pays to be thorough.
    My cell-phone ra ng as we came down the stairs . I checked caller ID and let the call go to Voice Mail.
    I raised my voice above the deafening racket made by the dog . “That was Mike. ”
    Royal exaggerated a wince .
    We went through the downstairs rooms again , then met in the hall. I eyed the basement door.
    “I’ll go,” Royal said. “I saw a leash in the kitchen.”
    He got the leash, jerked open the basement door and went in there. Another yelp, and the barking went on, but not as loud ly . Royal must have take n the animal down to the basement and tied it up.
    He whizzed through the door a few minutes later and slammed it behind him. The leash dangled from his fingers. “I did not find anything of interest. The basement is all but empty.”
    “Except for a honking great dog.”
    A thump on the door, and the R ottweiler vocalized its rage. Royal took the leash in the kitchen. “ Go on out and I will release the dog .”
    “Fine by me.” Toting the laptop, I went through the front door and shut it behind me . The police would know Lynn had a computer; I hoped they’d think she took it with her .
    The front door opened and closed so fast and hard, I’m surprised it didn’t shatter. And the mutt was right there, snarling and tearing at it on the other side .
    We leaned on the door , until Royal straightened, opened his arms and said, “Ready?”
    My shoulders s lumped . I didn’t look forward to the return trip.
     
    My insides felt much better as I sat in the office munching potato chips .
    Royal had gone to retrieve his truck from where he left it on the side of Interstate 15 when I phoned him .
    I would have been a lot happier if I didn’t have Mike on the phone. “ Three hours, Tiff!” he bellowed.
    I swallowed a chip and held the phone angled to get the earpiece farther from my ear. “Sorry, Mike.”
    “Is there a reason you ignored my call s ?”
    “ I didn’t hear the phone ring. I was upstairs digging for the number, then I had a minor catastrophe to deal with. I had to run to the supermarket for supplies to . . . uh . . . clean up the mess. Time got away from me.”
    “I was about to send someone to your place. Tell me about this catastrophe?”
    “I had lunch in the oven and -