Read Online A Cold Christmas by Charlene Weir - Free Book Online

her breakfast and her work done. It had been so long since she’d read him, and her arthritis had been kicking up so bad lately she just hadn’t wanted to get up. Now she had to wait to find out anything. “I’m getting slothful. It’s a sin, Ollie. Don’t let me do that anymore.”
    Her fingers knitted away as she watched the house across the street. It had a curse on it. “Not that we believe that kind of nonsense, Ollie.” Tragedy fell on anyone foolish enough to live in it. Ellendorfer, who built it, hanged himself in the barn. Garage now. Then the Lewises bought it. He disappeared the day after he and his bride moved in and was never seen again. She lived in that big house and grew old all by herself. Until one day they hauled her away completely gaga. After that the Jolmans with all those children. They weren’t there very long. The children kept getting hurt or sick and Mr. Jolman broke his leg and Mrs. Jolman ate some bad green beans and then the youngest child got diphtheria and liked to die. After that they moved. They said it just wasn’t worth it. Then the Malleys. Just the two of them, there was. Lived in the place perfectly happily for years and folks thought the curse was finally broken until one day he up and shot her dead, then shot himself.
    Pauline had tried to tell handsome young Mat James that it wasn’t a suitable house for a family. He said he needed a large place and he could afford this one. Pauline had explained it was so cheap because nobody would live there. Caley and the three young ones moved in, but Pauline never saw Mat much. She knew the first time she met him he was one of those kind. Handsome doesn’t make up for dependable. If she was any judge, and she was one who could tell just by looking, he was worth no more than yesterday’s sunshine. She didn’t think he even gave that poor girl money to feed and clothe the four of them.
    Caley said she could take care of them, she didn’t need him, but it must be hard. And such a sweet thing. She was always checking up to make sure Pauline was all right and getting things for her from the supermarket and sending the oldest boy over to help her.
    All along, Pauline knew in her bones, something bad would happen and now here it had. She wished she knew what it was.
    â€œWell, we can’t sit here all day while work’s to be done.” She stuck the knitting in the bag and struggled to her feet. “First, we’ll have to get rid of this dust and then we’ll have to vacuum the carpet.”
    Ollie slid off the sofa and slunk from the room. He didn’t like the vacuum cleaner and sheltered under the bed until it was safely back in the closet.
    *   *   *
    Susan left Osey in charge of the crime scene and headed back to the office, stopping at Pickett’s service station for gas on the way.
    â€œAnything going on?” she asked Hazel, who was eating vegetable soup at the computer.
    â€œNothing, thank the Lord. Can you watch this for a minute?”
    â€œSure.”
    Hazel returned with another bowl of hot soup, which she gave to Susan. “Something besides junk food. The vegetables are from my garden. It’ll help keep the flu away.”
    Susan thanked her and took a sip. Mmm. Good. “Why on earth did you send Demarco to watch three kids?”
    â€œHe’d just come in. Looking a little wobbly, but he was here. Why? Did anything happen?”
    â€œHe whipped them into shape in no time. I think Caley James wants to hire him as a nanny. Anything from Parkhurst?”
    â€œNot a peep.”
    â€œDamn.”
    â€œDemarco called to say he covered the entire south side of the street and got nothing. He’ll turn in his reports at the end of his shift. There’s an old woman directly across the street that he thinks you should see. She wouldn’t talk to him.”
    Susan took the soup to her office and ate while she went