Random Acts of Murder: A Holly Anna Paladin Mystery, Book 1 (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF

from all over the city before choosing Chase Dexter as their man. My mom had nothing but good things to say about him after reading his application and sitting through an interview with him. “This boy,” she would insist, totally oblivious to the fact that he’d made my high school years miserable. “He’s someone to watch for. He’s taken life by the horns.”
    Chase’s mom had passed away when he was six. As soon as my mom found out about that, she began inviting Chase over for dinner. As in, all the time. I always tried to disappear, however. Chase and I went to high school together and—
    “That is so awesome.” Chase’s voice rang through the room. “I’ve always loved this about your house.”
    I pulled one eye open. This could not be happening. But it was. My mom and Chase stepped into the room from behind a swiveling bookcase that offered a secret passageway from this room into the living room.
    My dad had been a regular handyman, and when he redid the house, he added all kinds of quirky features, including a couple of secret passageways. One of the bookcases in this room could turn and become the bookcase in the family room.
    My mother gawked when she spotted me in the chair. “Holly! I didn’t realize you were in here. Especially since we have a guest over.” Her voice subtly rose in pitch, her polite way of reprimanding me.
    My mom still thought I was eight. Some things would never change. Nor would anything ever change how disappointed she was that I was . . . well, me.
    “She had a long day. We had a run -in with a shooter, and she hit her head,” Chase said.
    “I just needed a minute,” I told her.
    “A shooter?” My mom gasped.
    “It’s a lo ng story,” I insisted. “But the good news is that I’m okay. No harm done, unless you count my dress.”
    Chase looked at me and then back at my mom. Why did it seem like he had some insight into our relationship that most people didn’t?
    Finally, he nodded toward my mom. “Well, I need to get to work. It was a pleasure seeing you, Mrs. Paladin. You too, Holly.”
    I fluttered my fingers in the air. “Bye, Chase.” Good riddance.
    Man, I was not in a good mood, was I ? I had to be more gracious. It was what God would want me to do. To be forgiving and loving and accepting.
    Besides, I was limited on time. So why live out my final days with a grudge?
    I reminded myself that this was probably the last time I would see Chase Dexter in a long time. Sure, I might run into him on the job once in a while, but I would just keep it professional. Now that I knew he was back in town, I could prepare myself to deal with him more effectively.
    “Thanks for everything, Chase,” I muttered, glad to put this encounter behind me.
    “Don’t forget about your car,” he called over his shoulder. “You don’t want to leave it on the street overnight.”
    “I’ll call the repair shop now.”
    Then I’d borrow my dad’s old Ford F-150, grab a bite to eat, get back to work, and hopefully see what kind of information I could find out about the dead man at Katrina’s house.
    So much for staying home for the rest of the day.

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 5
    I met Jamie at some gluten-free pizza joint after I finished up work for the day. The place was located in an area of town appropriately called Mount Healthy. Jamie knew where all of the local organic restaurants were, but they were scattered all over the city. It didn’t matter to her; she’d traverse deserts and climb mountains to get good food that fit her diet.
    I wasn’t going to eat there—no, my mom had cooked something, and I’d promised her I’d be home. I tried to honor her nightly ritual of eating together whenever possible. That was when there wasn’t a fund-raising dinner or some other philanthropic activity going on. The scent of bubbly cheese and roasting vegetables from the wood-fire oven against the back wall made me question my commitment to eat at home, though.
    “The police