Murder and Salutations Read Online Free PDF Page A

the mountain air with the sun long gone, and I wished for a moment I’d brought a sweater with me. Lillian chattered, “Let’s hurry, my Mustang’s in front of the shop. We can get your cars tomorrow.”
    As we hurried back to Custom Card Creations, Sara Lynn said, “Thanks, but I’m going home to collect a few things first. I’ll need my car for that.”
    “ I can take you,” Lillian insisted.
    “ Blast it, woman, I’m not nine years old. I’m perfectly capable of going home alone.”
    Lillian smiled, and Sara Lynn couldn’t let it go. “What are you grinning about?”
    “ I was afraid you’d lost your fire for a minute there, but I see you’ve found it.”
    Sara Lynn chuckled softly. “Don’t kid yourself; I’m teetering on the edge.”
    “ That’s all the more reason you shouldn’t be alone tonight,” I said. “If you come with me to get my cats, I’ll follow you home. Then we can go to Lillian’s together.” I looked at my aunt and said, “Do you have any dessert in your refrigerator? I’ve got a craving for chocolate.”
    “ How about a pan of my famous double chocolate brownies?” Lillian asked.
    “ You’ve got some at home?” I said. “That would be perfect.”
    “ I don’t have them ready, but they will be by the time you two run your errands.”
    Sara Lynn said, “I don’t want you to go to any trouble for us.”
    “ Speak for yourself, Sis,” I said. “Go to the trouble,” I told Lillian.
    Lillian laughed. “You really should come out of your shell more, Jennifer.” “What can I say? I’m trying.” We split up in front of the card shop, and soon we were at my converted attic loft. I had the top space of a charming old Victorian, and it was my favorite place I’d had in years, despite the presence of a forgetful poltergeist.
    There was a note taped to my door, and I wondered if one of my downstairs neighbors was trying to make peace with me again. We’d had good reason to argue in the past, and I was in no mood for their antics.
    It was from Hester Taylor, my landlord. I opened it and read,

    ‘ Jennifer, I’m sorry I missed you. I’m selling the house and grounds, so I’m afraid you’ll have to find somewhere else to live. I do apologize, but I have to do this. You can have one more week, but you’ve got to be gone by then.—Hester.’

    “ How do you like that?” I said as I handed Sara Lynn the note.
    “ She can’t do that,” Sara Lynn said. “The woman’s got to give you more notice than that.”
    “ You’re probably right, but I’ve never been keen on staying somewhere I’m not wanted. It looks like I’ll be moving again.”
    “ I’ve got an idea,” Sara Lynn said. “You can move in with me. Now that Bailey’s gone, I’d love the company.”
    “ If it were just me, I might take you up on your offer,” I said, lying with an innocent face. “But you know how the cats are. They would drive you nuts in no time.” It was certainly true that Oggie and Nash weren’t my sister’s biggest fans, but it was by no means the only reason I’d refused her offer. I’d struggled too hard and too long to be out on my own and out of my family’s formidable shadow, and I wasn’t about to let one of them suck me back in. As soon as Lillian and Bradford found out I’d been evicted, I knew they’d get in line to offer me housing, so 1 had to be firm in my resolve from the beginning.
    “ Well, you can think about it,” Sara Lynn said. “Just let me know if you change your mind.”
    “ Thanks for the offer. I truly do appreciate it, but I’m not going to take you up on it.”
    As I walked in, the cats were sitting quietly on the sofa, one on either arm, as if they were statues awaiting my arrival. “Well, aren’t you two looking particularly fine tonight?”
    I swear they both looked at me like I’d lost my mind, an expression I’d grown used to from them. “I’m guessing you’re ready for your snacks.”
    As I gave them a few treats, I