Murder and Salutations (Book 3 in the Cardmaking Mysteries) 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