The Private Eye Read Online Free PDF Page B

very quickly. It was the heat of the oven that was causing a flush to rise up her
    neck, she assured herself. She glanced pointedly at his crutches. “I didn't hear you coming down the hall.”
    Josh grinned evilly. “I know. Moving stealthily is child's play for us professional private eyes. We take special
    courses in it.” He tapped the crutches soundlessly on the Oriental rug in the hall. “The carpeting makes it easy, you
    see. Even with crutches. You might want to remember that.”
    “I will,” Maggie snapped.
    “Fay no attention to Maggie,” Odessa said lightly.
    “She was just being clever. Maggie has quite a sense of humour.” She smiled serenely as she carried the salad past
    him out of the kitchen. “Do have a seat at the big round table in the dining room. Josh. We'll have dinner ready in a
    moment.”
    “Thanks.” Josh waited until Odessa had disappeared into the dining room before turning back to Maggie.
    “Anything I can do to help?” he asked blandly.
    “I doubt it,” Maggie replied. “Not in your present condition.” She swept grandly past him, casserole in hand.
    “Remind me not to be standing at the top of any staircases when you're around,” Josh murmured to her back.
    MAGGIE HAD BEEN DEAD-ON, Josh reflected midway through dinner. He had taken on this ludicrous excuse for
    a case primarily because it had seemed like a cushy job and because he needed some time to recover from his
    “accident.” Very clever lady, that Maggie Gladstone. He would have to keep an eye on her. It would be one of the
    perks of the job.
    The case itself was going to be a cinch, of course just as McCray had predicted. The situation here at Peregrine
    Manor was a clear-cut case of some unfortunate luck coupled with some vivid imaginations.
    Things were constantly going wrong in big old houses.
    His client had obviously panicked over a few minor incidents that were actually nothing more than perfectly normal
    problems.
    The trick would be to stretch out this so-called case for an entire month. If he did stay the four weeks, as planned,
    he could get some good solid writing done on the book. He would do it, he decided promptly. When he was feeling fit
    again and had decided whether or not he was cut out to be a mystery writer, he would prepare an imposing report to
    present to his client. She and her “family” would be suitably impressed and probably relieved to be told no one was
    behind the incidents.
    Piece of cake. In the meantime, he could sit back and get himself waited on, hand and foot. Maggie's cooking was
    excellent, if this first meal was any indication.
    Josh polished off his second helping of the very tasty vegetable-and-cheese casserole. He was considering a third
    serving when Odessa, with the unfailing graciousness of the born hostess, offered it to him.
    “Do have another helping. Josh. A gentleman recovering from a serious accident needs to build up his strength.”
    Odessa smiled warmly.
    “You talked me into it.” Josh scooped out some more of the casserole. “I'm ready to listen to your theories now.
    Why don't you start, Odessa?”
    “Certainly.” Odessa put down her fork and pursed her lips in a disapproving fashion. “I am convinced that one of
    my nephews is behind the effort to close down Peregrine Manor. I have three, you know. Nephews, that is.”
    “Why would any of your nephews want to close down the manor?”
    “Retaliation for my having recently written all three of them out of my will, of course,” Odessa stated. “A nasty,
    ungrateful, selfish lot, those nephews. I have finally decided not to leave any of them a single share of my gold-mining
    stock. I hold a considerable interest in a company called Lucky, Inc. 1 fear my nephews have learned about my
    intentions to disown them. They think they can terrorize me into changing my mind,”
    Josh managed not to smile at that. It was highly unlikely that any lady who held a “considerable amount” of
    valuable stock