Murder Is Elementary Read Online Free PDF

stop.”
    After Susan made the turn, she no longer saw the mysterious car. It was probably just her overactive imagination.
      Ten minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of the Apple Tree Apartment Complex. It was an older complex but the exterior appeared freshly painted and the grounds were well maintained from what she could see.
    Carolina used her key to open the door of her dad’s apartment. The musty smell of dry heat greeted them. The apartment was tiny and looked as though it had been furnished in the eighties. The walls were covered in cream-colored wall paper with a tan-textured print that could have been leaves or maybe even feathers. The wall behind the sofa was paneled with cherry-colored wood. The gold-toned shag carpeting was well worn. Despite the midmorning sun, the living room was dark and gloomy. There was a bedroom to the right and a small galley kitchen on the left.
    “Let’s start in the bedroom,” suggested Carolina.
    Susan followed her. The white French doors to the closet were already open. Susan couldn’t help thinking it was almost an invitation to snoop. Dark jeans and a flannel shirt were draped lazily over the closet door.
    “I’ll start here. You look around the bed and nightstand.” The closet smelled like old library books. Susan slid the hangers across the wooden bar one by one. Black pants, dress shirts, jeans and more jeans, a jacket…nothing unusual here. A pair of boots and some black dress shoes were tossed in the bottom of the closet. On the top shelf, Susan saw a few folded sweatshirts and a pair of running shoes.
    Meanwhile, Carolina reached under the bed. There was no bedspread––only a blue thermal blanket. Susan watched as Carolina pulled out an empty Vodka bottle. Poor baby , thought Susan. She watched as Carolina shook her head and wiped away a tear.
    “Check the nightstand,” whispered Susan. “Grab anything that might be helpful.” Carolina stuffed some crumpled receipts into her coat pocket. Susan eyed the wicker hamper. Going through Javier’s dirty underwear was just a bit too intimate, she thought. “Carolina, check out the hamper. I’ll be in the living room.”
    Susan lifted the floral couch cushions. She was so focused on finding information to solve Vicky’s murder that she jumped when Carolina’s voice broke the silence saying, “I think we should check the laptop.” Carolina hit the power button. The screen came to life, glowing blue against the dark backdrop of the walls. It was just warming up when all of a sudden they heard the jiggling of keys outside the door.
    “What’s he doing back so soon? What do we do now?” whispered Carolina. At that moment, Susan noticed a bowling bag next to the coffee table.
    Susan’s heart was pounding so loudly she was sure Carolina could hear it. She quickly surveyed the apartment. “What’s behind those curtains?” asked Susan.
    “Sliding glass doors and a balcony.” A clank of metal which had to be keys dropping on the floor made them both gasp but bought them a few extra minutes.
    “I think that’s our best option,” said Susan. They raced for the balcony. Carolina unlocked the sliding glass doors. Thank goodness there wasn’t a stick in the tract like at home. They scooted out to the balcony sliding the door behind them just as they heard the apartment door opening.
    Javier looked a bit disoriented as he paused in the middle of the living room. Carolina and Susan watched through an opening in the curtain as they crouched behind the lawn chairs. Susan realized she’d been holding her breathe as if the sound of breathing would tip Javier off to their presence. Javier made his way into the kitchen and flicked on the light. He yanked open the fridge and took out a Corona.
      “Oh, my God,” said Carolina. “The computer––we left it on. He never leaves it on when he’s not using it.”
    Susan was now speechless as well as breathless.
    “What if he sees it?” asked