Look Both Ways Read Online Free PDF Page A

all.”
    â€œEverybody wondered that at first. A gorgeous home, fine cars, a yacht, the best country clubs, fabulous jewelry.”
    â€œSo why did he kill her? Why not just a divorce if they were having trouble?”
    She pulled a sheet of paper from those scattered on the bed. “Here. Read this one.”
    The headline read MONEY PROBLEMS BESET “GOLDEN COUPLE .” The article went on to detail unpaid taxes, maxed-out credit cards, canceled club memberships because of unpaid dues, a repossessed automobile.... The list went on.
    â€œWow. What a mess.” I put the paper down. “‘Follow the money,’ they always say. Guess that’s true in this case. But still, how would Tommy benefit from Helena’s death?”
    She shrugged. “That’s a puzzle. Helena’s stepson had control of whatever’s left of the family fortune, and there was a prenup, so it doesn’t seem as though Tommy would actually benefit financially from her death.” She lowered her voice and looked around the sparsely furnished room, as though someone might be listening. “But, of course, there’s the pink diamond.”
    At that moment, O’Ryan strolled into the bedroom and jumped onto the bed, scattering papers in every direction. Stretching a big yellow paw next to one of the pillows, he rescued a page from sliding to the floor. Then, tilting his head and fixing those golden eyes on my green ones, he uttered, “Mmrrup,” which the way he does it, always sounds as though there’s a question mark at the end.
    Aunt Ibby and I had each lifted our mug out of harm’s way just as O’Ryan had made his perfect soft landing, so the new bedspread was spared coffee stains.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” my aunt asked, reaching for the paper still under the cat’s paw. “You think we should read this one, boy?”
    I could see the headline from where I sat on the edge of the bed. “How does he do that?” I asked before reading it aloud. WHERE IS HELENA’S PINK DIAMOND ? queried the bold print. “Whoever heard of a cat who could read?”
    My aunt shrugged. “Nothing about this cat surprises me anymore.”
    She was right. The cat, who’d once belonged to Ariel Constellation, my ill-fated predecessor on the Nightshades show, had shown unusual behavior from the first day he arrived at our house.
    Aunt Ibby passed the paper to me. “As I was saying, there’s the missing pink diamond.”
    I scanned the article. Apparently, Helena Trent’s first husband had given her an enormous pale pink–colored diamond pendant. I’m pretty sure ten carats qualifies as enormous in the diamond world. Anyway, the report said that until John Hampton’s death, the necklace was locked in a safe, and Helena wore it only on special formal occasions. But after his passing, she began to wear it quite casually. The reporter noted that some of the members of the garden club were astonished to see Helena wearing the precious gem on a simple leather thong around her neck while digging up tulip bulbs. Others said that she often wore it that way, usually with jeans and a black turtleneck.
    My aunt had picked up the scattered papers, and I took another look at the photo of Helena. “She’s wearing some kind of necklace in this picture. Do you suppose it’s the diamond?” I asked.
    â€œQuite likely,” she said.
    â€œWhat’s it worth, anyway?”
    â€œThe paper said several million dollars.”
    â€œInsured?” I asked.
    â€œSure. The insurance company is still looking for it.”
    â€œIf they had money problems, I wonder why she didn’t just sell it.”
    â€œThey say Tommy wanted her to. But her friends said she just loved wearing it. Her thought was, ‘Why have beautiful things locked away in a safe? It makes more sense to just enjoy them every day.’”
    â€œCan’t say I