Read Online Dead Giveaway by Leann Sweeney - Free Book Online Page A

here?'' I asked. ''Don't you have patients to see?''
      ''It's Saturday, Abby.''
      ''Is it?''
      ''Yes. I saw your car in the driveway and you weren't downstairs. Since it's after two o'clock, I was wondering if you were sick.''
      ''You've been spending too much time with Aunt Caroline. I'd expect her to come in and check on a break in my routine, not you.'' Aunt Caroline is Daddy's sister and she's always on the look out for ways to meddle in my business. I swear she drives down my street twice a day to see what's going on.
      ''Please don't compare me to her,'' Kate said.
      ''Sorry,'' I said quickly. ''I just don't want you to run home for your homeopathic playbook, okay?'' Kate loves to take care of me with the most god-awful herbal concoctions on the planet.
      ''You haven't napped since you were three. What's going on? And what happened to your hair?''
      You'd think twins, even fraternal like us, would have plenty of similar traits, but Kate got the good hair, hands down, her dark brown hair so shiny and bouncy she could have done shampoo commercials.
      ''I was up late on a case and wasn't exactly concerned about my personal grooming. It's sad, though, isn't it? You could probably shave my head and make a hay bale.''
      Kate laughed. ''I'm with you there. Is the Knight case making you lose sleep?''
      I nodded. ''That woman who found baby Will on her porch was murdered.''
      Kate sat next to me on the edge of the bed. ''Oh, my God. That's awful. Did you ever get to talk to her?''
      ''Yes. Finding her was easy. The Knights had all the newspaper articles about the abandonment. But the way she died wasn't at all easy. I feel so terrible about the whole thing, Kate.''
      ''Is her death connected to Will's case?''
      ''It's kind of a long story. While I take my second shower of the day to wake me up, would you mind running home for some green tea? Then we can talk.''
      She looked at me like I'd asked her to go on a safari. ''You're serious?''
      ''Just plain green. None of that chai stuff.''
      ''Sure, but—''
      ''I promise, the tea is all part of the long story.''
      While she went home—eagerly, I might add—I showered, used about half a bottle of conditioner on my hair and dressed. The hair did show some improvement, but now I smelled like a peppermint.
      Hot green tea for us both was waiting when I came downstairs, and we sat at the kitchen table while I filled Kate in on the events of the last few days.
      When I finished, she said, ''You went to Verna Mae Olsen's house in the middle of the night? By yourself?''
      ''You have to leap on an opportunity when it presents itself.'' I drank the last of my plum/berry green tea, deciding it was pretty good even without much sugar.
      ''What's your next move?'' Kate asked.
      ''The social worker. Maybe she knows how Verna Mae found out about Will. Then there's that blanket. The brand name is POSH PRAMS
                                    . I'm hoping I can trace it.''
      ''From nineteen years ago? How?''
      ''Don't know yet. Got any ideas?''
      ''Hey, you're the investigator. My concern is Will. How's he handling this emotionally?''
      ''Very maturely. He's an awesome kid.''
      Kate smiled. ''I think so, too. Sensitive, but tough. If you think Verna Mae was his mother, who was the father? Obviously not Jasper Olsen.''
      I rested my elbows on the table and supported my chin with my fists. ''That's another challenge. Maybe we can get back inside the house, look for clues to lead us in the right direction.''
      ''We?''
      ''I could use your help. That woman had a lot of crap.''
      ''Don't we all,'' Kate said.

    6

    Though I'd hoped Kate and I could get inside Verna Mae's house Sunday—Kate didn't see patients on Sunday—Burl Rollins said it would be another day or so before the property would be turned over to Will. After this disappointment, my sister convinced me to take