New Year's Eve Kill Read Online Free PDF

in their own Clover Court—their hidden yard from the noises and evils of New York had seen violence and murder.
       “Detective Carpino, did the orderly live?” Bernice’s son, Barney, asked with his finger buried in his nose. His mother’s dirty look made him pull it out.
       “He died in surgery over an hour ago. Missy made a full confession when we confronted her.”
       Jim came in the room with a big smile and shopping bags. “I’m so glad you’re okay Ethel!” She hoped Jim wasn’t bringing more flowers. Her friends had overdone it and her room was starting to look like a funeral. Jim pulled out colorful streamers and decorations with Happy New Year on them. Neighbor Mara and her boyfriend—nobody could remember his name—brought out bottles of mini champagne.
       To Ethel’s surprise, everyone took a role in hastily decorating her room, even grumpy Mr. Healy took pride in pinning gold balloons on all the hospital equipment.
       “What is all this?”
       “You spent your New Year’s Eve fighting a madman. You deserve some cheer!” Jim hugged her and left the room as the little bottles of champagne were popped open. “I’ll be right back.”
       To Ethel’s delight she saw Ace trying to wiggle out of Jim’s arms when the little dog saw her. Ace greeted Ethel with more kisses than she could handle. Being sick and in the hospital had made her feel vulnerable, and it frightened her. Being single with no children had made her think she would spend the rest of her life alone. But her wonderful dog and fabulous friends had made her remember that she was loved, she was needed, and no matter what happened in her life, someone did give a damn about her.
       They all toasted their mini bottles and looked out Ethel’s big hospital window. Snow had started falling outside. Snowflakes were blowing against the window and melting. Soon, the temperature would drop and the snow would stay. She was now safe and surrounded by people who cared about her, and the feeling lit her up like the New Year’s fireworks she had missed.
       What better way to start off the New Year than with champagne and love from your friends?
     
    Excerpt from Death Of A Christmas Tree Man . An Ethel Cunningham mystery. Available now.
     
    On the far left stood the most beautiful trees you have ever seen. Dick, the Christmas tree man as most people called him, would sometimes be sitting on his folded chair talking to the trees like they were people. Christmas music played from a beat-up speaker that resembled an old air raid warning contraption. When it wasn’t busy or got too cold Dick could be seen in his truck parked by the trees sometimes sipping out of a brown paper bag or sleeping. Unlike the other two tree sellers, where you inspected the trees and picked the one you wanted, Dick chose who should own his trees. The man was cursed when it came to actually making a living, but didn’t seem to care, though it did seem like he did very well. The famous editor of Vogue magazine was rumored to only buy her home and office Christmas trees from him.
       Ethel could see Jim’s breath as he spoke and watched her own as she answered him back.
       “Let’s take a look at the Russian deli trees first.”
       “Really, Ethel, they look like they would die before we got around the block.
       They stood on the corner with fresh snow up to their knees, and looked at all the trees near and far on the street as cars slowly drove by trying not to crash into one another because the streets were still not plowed. A bum in a blue designer fur coat & Prada sunglasses begged for change and two guys in short-shorts walked by with their gym bags. Eighth Avenue looked like a picture out of Charles Dickens mind after a tablet of Ecstasy and a couple of cocktails.
       As they were deciding, and with eyes tearing because of the cold weather, the tree vultures smelled fresh meat. First Annka rushed out smiling like a