Read Online Arson Takes a Dare: The Third Marisa Adair Mystery Adventure (Marisa Adair Mysteries Book 3) by Jada Ryker - Free Book Online
Authors: Jada Ryker
Ads: Link
Pomeranian in the world. She’s as scary as a feather duster.” She slid nearer to Burke Lee. His face tightened.
Clay blocked her path. “Mrs. Kenton, the hotel has a strict policy against dogs on the premises. She can’t stay here.”
“The hotel is run by a bunch of ostriches with their heads in the sand. Everyone knows the world is becoming more pet friendly. If they want to stay in business, they’ll have to open the hotel to the four-footed sector.” Berea laughed when Princess licked her wrinkled cheek.
Burke Lee rose from the couch and walked unsteadily to the door, swinging in a wide arc around Berea and the dog.
Berea frowned. “Burke Lee, you’ll have to learn to work with Princess. And you will too, Althea. She’s central to Mayla’s story. Before my daughter’s death, we had a wonderful little Pomeranian named, of course, Princess.” The age-spotted hands tightened on the little body. “Princess died in the fire with my daughter.”
Burke Lee’s body was stiff. “Let’s meet in the morning, Mrs. Kenton. We can decide on our next steps. I also have documents for you to sign. I don’t think we need… Princess… in the meeting.”
* * * * *
In the corridor, Althea shuddered. “I thought Berea was going to throw a hissy fit when we said we wouldn’t help solve the murder. I was a little afraid of her. She’s become a fanatic over her daughter’s murder. I was glad the dog’s appearance sidetracked her from her tantrum.”
“Since we’ve known her, she’s been obsessed with finding the killer. Now, she’s obsessed and a millionaire.” Clay started to take her hand. He sighed, his hand falling to his side.
“Clay, please don’t be angry with me.”
“Thea, I’m not angry with you.” His gray eyes were as melancholy as a rain-misted sky. “The issue is between you and Marisa.”
Althea watched as he strode away. His shoulders were set and his back was ramrod straight as he disappeared around the corner. She wondered if he was slipping away forever.
* * * * *
In the dim pool of light cast by her reading lamp, Althea bent over the typewriter. Marisa. A spasm of pain brought tears to her eyes and despair to her heart. I miss her so much. She’s the child I never had. Can we ever get back our warm, easy, loving relationship? Or is it gone forever?
She thought about Clay’s comments. She lightly tapped her fingers on the keys without typing as she racked her brain. What is the nature of honor? She blinked the tears from her eyes. Is it intrinsic, something within the heart and mind? Or is it extrinsic, molded by the culture and subject to its mores? Her fingers nimbly flew across the keys of the ancient manual typewriter.
An Alien Act of Honor
By Seretha Ranier
Part One
“We’re not here to question you again about your husband’s murder, Mrs. Brooks. The sheriff’s office dispatcher received several irate phone calls this morning about a flying object headed for your pond.” His broad shoulders hunched under the thick, aviator-style navy uniform jacket, Sheriff Norton tugged the wide brim of his hat further over his eyes to protect them from the swirling snow.
Shivering in the wind tunnel created by the open door to the dim entryway of the old Kentucky farmhouse, Mae Rue Conner Brooks frowned in disbelief. “You want to check my pond for a UFO?”
A maelstrom of snow swirled across the wide front porch. Sheriff Norton pivoted his back to the wind as his tall deputy slammed a fist the size of a country ham to the top of his hat to anchor it.
The sheriff’s dark gaze swept over her from her messy brown hair to her bare feet. “Mrs. Brooks, isn’t that the same black dress you wore a week ago to your husband’s funeral?”
The sheriff’s gentle tone, contrasting with his former barks and growls of interrogation, brought tears to Mae Rue’s tired eyes.
His round red face twisted into a knowing smirk, the deputy gestured at her wrinkled dress with his free
Clay blocked her path. “Mrs. Kenton, the hotel has a strict policy against dogs on the premises. She can’t stay here.”
“The hotel is run by a bunch of ostriches with their heads in the sand. Everyone knows the world is becoming more pet friendly. If they want to stay in business, they’ll have to open the hotel to the four-footed sector.” Berea laughed when Princess licked her wrinkled cheek.
Burke Lee rose from the couch and walked unsteadily to the door, swinging in a wide arc around Berea and the dog.
Berea frowned. “Burke Lee, you’ll have to learn to work with Princess. And you will too, Althea. She’s central to Mayla’s story. Before my daughter’s death, we had a wonderful little Pomeranian named, of course, Princess.” The age-spotted hands tightened on the little body. “Princess died in the fire with my daughter.”
Burke Lee’s body was stiff. “Let’s meet in the morning, Mrs. Kenton. We can decide on our next steps. I also have documents for you to sign. I don’t think we need… Princess… in the meeting.”
* * * * *
In the corridor, Althea shuddered. “I thought Berea was going to throw a hissy fit when we said we wouldn’t help solve the murder. I was a little afraid of her. She’s become a fanatic over her daughter’s murder. I was glad the dog’s appearance sidetracked her from her tantrum.”
“Since we’ve known her, she’s been obsessed with finding the killer. Now, she’s obsessed and a millionaire.” Clay started to take her hand. He sighed, his hand falling to his side.
“Clay, please don’t be angry with me.”
“Thea, I’m not angry with you.” His gray eyes were as melancholy as a rain-misted sky. “The issue is between you and Marisa.”
Althea watched as he strode away. His shoulders were set and his back was ramrod straight as he disappeared around the corner. She wondered if he was slipping away forever.
* * * * *
In the dim pool of light cast by her reading lamp, Althea bent over the typewriter. Marisa. A spasm of pain brought tears to her eyes and despair to her heart. I miss her so much. She’s the child I never had. Can we ever get back our warm, easy, loving relationship? Or is it gone forever?
She thought about Clay’s comments. She lightly tapped her fingers on the keys without typing as she racked her brain. What is the nature of honor? She blinked the tears from her eyes. Is it intrinsic, something within the heart and mind? Or is it extrinsic, molded by the culture and subject to its mores? Her fingers nimbly flew across the keys of the ancient manual typewriter.
An Alien Act of Honor
By Seretha Ranier
Part One
“We’re not here to question you again about your husband’s murder, Mrs. Brooks. The sheriff’s office dispatcher received several irate phone calls this morning about a flying object headed for your pond.” His broad shoulders hunched under the thick, aviator-style navy uniform jacket, Sheriff Norton tugged the wide brim of his hat further over his eyes to protect them from the swirling snow.
Shivering in the wind tunnel created by the open door to the dim entryway of the old Kentucky farmhouse, Mae Rue Conner Brooks frowned in disbelief. “You want to check my pond for a UFO?”
A maelstrom of snow swirled across the wide front porch. Sheriff Norton pivoted his back to the wind as his tall deputy slammed a fist the size of a country ham to the top of his hat to anchor it.
The sheriff’s dark gaze swept over her from her messy brown hair to her bare feet. “Mrs. Brooks, isn’t that the same black dress you wore a week ago to your husband’s funeral?”
The sheriff’s gentle tone, contrasting with his former barks and growls of interrogation, brought tears to Mae Rue’s tired eyes.
His round red face twisted into a knowing smirk, the deputy gestured at her wrinkled dress with his free
Similar Books
