Read Online A Corpse for Yew by Jim Lavene, Joyce - Free Book Online Page B

so. There were elevated BNP levels indicative of congestive heart failure. According to her records, she was on meds for heart problems. You know how it is, though. If this wasn’t the chief’s aunt and you hadn’t found her in the mud, she wouldn’t be here.”
    Peggy explained about Lois’s cars still being in her garage and their belief that her death might not be so simple. “There might be something to it.”
    “Maybe. We’ll see if you find anything suspicious. If not, she probably got a ride with a friend. It happens.”
    They walked back into the lab as the building lights came on outside. “Can that wait until morning?” Peggy asked.
    “I don’t see why not.” Mai shrugged. “She’s not going anywhere. The chief won’t be satisfied with a quick job; he’ll think we didn’t take long enough. I’m going to set George and Bosco on those gang guys, and then I’m going home, too.”
    “Good for you! I’m sure we’ll both be fresher in the morning.”
    Peggy thought about Lois as she waved to Mai and backed the truck out of the lab parking lot. It was sad in many ways that the world turned differently for people who were rich or well-connected. It was probably nothing more than a strange set of circumstances that surrounded Lois’s death. And it was humorous in a grim sort of way that Mai found twigs and plant matter disgusting but blood and guts didn’t make her blink. The world was a strange place.
    Traffic was still heavy on the way back to Queens Road. If she ever got home again, she was taking all the phones off the hook, hiding the cell phones, and shutting down the computers. She just wanted a little quiet time with her favorite veterinarian.
    She groaned when she saw her parents’ car in the drive. What were they doing here at this time of night?
    The answer was too apparent. It was like she was a teenager again and they were spying on her, trying to catch her doing something she wasn’t supposed to be doing. It was ridiculous, she thought, parking her truck and plugging it in. She was too old and too tired for these games. She was going to march right in there and tell them she not only was dating Steve but sharing his bed as often as she could. He was right. They should’ve told them when they first met.
    Loud laughter greeted her as she charged through the kitchen door. Shakespeare looked up at her, then hid his head under one paw, as though he knew what was coming.
    Steve was sitting at the kitchen table, shaking the Yahtzee cup while her mother and father were challenging him to beat their high score. The words that burned on her tongue fizzled out as they all looked up at her.
    “I’m glad you’re back, Sweet Pea,” her father said. “You’re just in time to see us beat Steve at this game.”
    “It’s late.” She walked into the kitchen and closed the door behind her, weariness catching up and enveloping her. “I’m going up to bed. You can let yourselves out, if you don’t mind.”
    “That’s no way to treat your guest.” Lilla glanced at Steve and smiled. “Of course we can see ourselves out, but you can hardly expect Steve to do the same.”
    “Maybe we should just leave now,” Ranson said, “and let these youngsters have some time together.”
    Peggy was about to tell him that it didn’t matter anymore that night when the cell phone she was supposed to turn off, rang. The number on the screen belonged to Geneva Curtis. She sighed as she answered it. There was no rest for the self-employed or the wicked, it seemed.
    “We’ve talked to all of Lois’s friends,” Geneva said. “No one gave her a ride out to Lake Whitley this morning. There is something suspicious going on.”
    Peggy hardly knew where to start with that information. She explained that she’d be part of the investigation into Lois’s death. “If I hear anything suspicious about her death, I’ll let you know.”
    “Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.” Geneva whispered to someone else, then