Murder Most Persuasive Read Online Free PDF Page B

that I had stopped myself in time from saying “jungle land.”
    “Well, I’m not sure that we didn’t get the better end of that deal,” said Paul with a rueful look. “I know that Kit can be difficult at times.” He paused and laughed. “Well actually, I don’t think I need to tell you that. But this pregnancy has thrown her, somehow. She complains about everything . You’ve noticed, haven’t you?”
    I shifted uncomfortably in the tub. This wasn’t the relaxing time I’d had in mind when I’d accepted Paul’s offer. “Hmmm,” I said noncommittally.
    “Well, I was wondering … do you think you could talk to her?”
    Although I had a vague suspicion of what he was referring to, I refused to believe it. “Talk to her about what?”
    “About her constant complaining.”
    I opened my eyes wide in disbelief. “Are you serious? You want me to talk to her? About that?”
    Paul sighed. “All right. Maybe it’s a bad idea.”
    “Yeah, you think?”
    “It’s just that maybe if she heard it from you…”
    “Oh, and she so loves my opinion as it is! I think you’ve spent too much time in this tub. It’s melting your brain.”
    Paul opened his mouth to say something when Kit called out. “Elizabeth! Phone!”
    “We will not continue this conversation later,” I said with a laugh as I hopped out of the tub. Grabbing a thick terry-cloth towel off a patio chair, I rubbed myself dry before stepping back inside the house. Kit was waiting by the door. I could tell from her face that she was annoyed.
    “Who is it?” I whispered.
    “Ann,” she answered, thrusting the phone at me.
    Well, that explains the annoyance, I thought, taking the phone. Ann had asked for me and not her. Junior high all over again.
    “Hello?” I said as Kit walked away pretending not to listen.
    “Oh, Elizabeth, thank God I got you! Your cell phone keeps going to voice mail. I think it’s dead.” I was surprised when I heard her voice. Ann was agitated, an unusual state for her.
    “What’s going on?”
    “They found a body!”
    “What?! Who found a body?” Across the room, Kit spun around and stared at me.
    “The new owners of the house in St. Michaels,” said Ann. “Apparently they dug up the pool and found a body!”
    “Holy shit, you’ve got to be kidding me!”
    “Wait. It gets worse. The body. It’s Michael. It’s Michael Barrow.”

 
    CHAPTER 4
    Our pleasures in this world are always to be paid for.
    — NORTHANGER ABBEY
    “M ICHAEL BARROW!” I gasped. “But that’s … that’s impossible!” At the sound of Michael’s name, Kit’s eyes grew wide and her hand flew up to her mouth. Our eyes met in mutual horror. She made no pretense about not listening to the rest of the conversation.
    “I know, I know,” said Ann. “But nevertheless, it’s true.”
    “But that means … Oh, my God, that means…”
    “I know. I know. I can’t even get my head around it,” said Ann.
    “Wait a minute. They found a body under the pool. How can they be so sure it’s Michael?”
    “They found his wallet. The police are going to do some … tests, I don’t know. But they seem pretty confident. Oh, God, this is like some sick nightmare.”
    Michael Barrow. It had been a long time since I’d thought about him. Movie star looks, intelligence, charm, and the morals of a sewer rat. My stomach turned in disgust now that I was forced to revisit the memory. A new thought occurred. “Reggie! Does Reggie know?” I asked.
    “No. I haven’t told her yet and I don’t know how I’m going to tell her. I don’t know how I’m going to tell any of them.”
    “Do you want me to come over?”
    “Could you? I don’t know what I’m going to do. I need someone here. If you can, maybe you could spend the night? Bonnie is absolutely no help.” Lowering her voice, Ann added, “She still plans on going on that stupid spa retreat of hers. Can you believe it? She even packed the flag.”
    “Oddly enough, I can. I’ll be