Murder Under the Italian Moon Read Online Free PDF

on his card. A woman answered the phone.
    "Can I speak to Lieutenant Devin, please?"
    "Devin?" She paused. "Just a moment."
    I waited, trying to come up with something to say. Why was I calling this man?
    My hands sweated, yet chills ran through my body . I can hang up. I didn't say who I am.
    "I'm sorry, ma'am. Lieutenant Devin is on vacation. Would you like to speak to someone else?"
    "What?" I stared at the white card in my hand, the printed words dancing in slow motion. "Are you sure? Never mind. It's not a big deal." I didn't wait for an answer. I put down the phone. My mind whirled. When had he gone on vacation? He'd just interviewed me this morning. Had he wrapped up the case so fast? And if so, what of Ruby? If he'd already made up his mind about her, why would he go through that questions-and-answers charade with me? What could he gain from it? He didn't ask me to sign anything. He wasn't threatening. On the contrary, he was charming and handsome . Stop it . I was becoming much too paranoid. I tore the business card into shreds then turned off the light.

 
CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Morning light tortured my headache and my eyelids weighed a ton—each. Even a cup of my favorite brew failed to improve my disposition. I picked up the newspaper from the front door and decided it was time to talk to Ruby face to face. Flash came from the laundry room, sat by the kitchen door and licked her paws. She watched me dial Ruby's number.
    Two rings and a chime, then a voice informed me that the number I had dialed was no longer in service.
    I must have dialed the wrong number. Carefully, I redialed. Same recording. I slammed the phone down. Flash interrupted her routine, gave me a disdainful glance and disappeared under the living-room couch. I could blame Ruby for only part of my lousy state of mind. Lieutenant Devin had joined the ranks of the people I'd like to have a word or two with.
    Time to get dressed. The empty space in my walk-in closet reminded me I had to unpack my suitcase, which in turn reminded me Kyle hadn't called since he dropped me off.
    God, I looked awful. I wasn't in any mood for makeup, either. I tied a scarf over my hair to hide the few gray roots playing peekaboo on my head, grabbed my movie-star-incognito dark glasses and left.
    At the security gate, I crossed paths with the mail carrier. "Hi, Juliet." I waved my mail slip from my car window.
    Juliet shielded her eyes from the sun and walked over. "Nice to have you back, Mrs. York. Sorry about your mail. I didn't have much choice. The mailbox was full."
    "Don't apologize. I understand."
    "That's good. Your friend should learn from you."
    "My friend?"
    "The one who's been taking care of your mail and, I guess, your house."
    "Oh, you mean Ruby. What has she been up to?"
    "She was here yesterday and got very upset when I told her your mail had to be picked up at the post office."
    "Yesterday?"
    "Yes. Is there something wrong?"
    "No. No. I've got to go. Ciao. "
    Ruby was here yesterday? Why didn't she come over to the house? She must have felt terrible when she found out the post office stopped delivering my mail. I bet she was ringing my doorbell while I was ringing hers. I'd drive to her house first and tell her about her phone being out of order. Maybe she didn't pay the bill. Tom always took care of their finances. Poor Ruby. What would become of her now?
    Her husband had to have a substantial trust fund set up for her, and life insurance. Like Nick did. Where would I have been without Nick's insurance after his death?
    I wasn't going to think about him. Fifteen minutes later the blue eaves of the Russells' house came into view, and I parked at the curb. Eaves weren't the only blue thing I noticed. Right on the sad-looking front lawn, next to the wilting miniature roses, there was a blue and white realty sign. FOR SALE. What? I got out of my car and marched to the front door.
    I rang the bell a dozen times. Each time I left my finger on the button longer and