Read Online Drape Expectations by Karen Rose Smith - Free Book Online Page A

public-school district. The week before Easter was considered spring break.
    â€œDonna’s not taking care of Patches. Simon is. He’s really good with him.”
    Caprice had met Donna when Grant’s neighbor had given a home to two stray kittens, who had ended up in Caprice’s care. Grant had recommended her and her little girl; and after a visit with Caprice, Caprice had okayed the adoption. But since then, she’d wondered exactly how close Grant and his pretty, divorced neighbor were. Simon Treadwell, his neighbor on the other side, was retired and liked dogs, too.
    â€œAce just came out,” Grant suddenly told her, opening the car door.
    They both climbed out.
    Ace made a beeline straight for Caprice’s yellow Camaro.
    Running his hand through his already-disheveled hair, he explained, “They want me to go to the police station. The detectives are going to question me further there. I thought I should have a lawyer with me.”
    â€œI’ll go with you,” Grant assured him. “And Caprice should go home.”
    â€œI’m not going home. I’ll go to Ace’s estate and wait there. The press won’t let him alone if they know he’s involved in a murder.”
    As she thought about Alanna’s murder, she suddenly remembered Mirabelle. She asked Ace, “Did you see Mirabelle inside?”
    He thought about it, but she imagined all he could envision was Alanna’s dead body.
    â€œI don’t remember, Caprice. Really, I don’t.”
    Caprice didn’t hesitate to go to the officer at the boundary tape. Detective Carstead was inside. She had to talk to him.
    â€œOfficer, I need to speak with Detective Carstead.”
    â€œHe’s quite busy, ma’am. It will have to wait.”
    â€œIt can’t wait. There’s an animal in the house, and I need to talk to him about her. I know I can’t go in. Could he please come to the tape and talk to me?”
    The officer gave her a skeptical look.
    She said, “Give him my name, Caprice De Luca. I’ve been involved in other investigations, and he knows me.”
    â€œSo you’re the one,” the officer muttered, and Caprice had no idea what that meant. He got on his mobile device and not five minutes later, Carstead was walking toward them.
    â€œThis better not be a ploy to get inside,” he said right away.
    â€œI don’t use ploys, Detective. There should be an animal in the house, a white Persian cat with golden eyes named Mirabelle. If you can’t find her anywhere out in the open, there’s a utility closet down the hall, off the kitchen. Alanna stuck her in there during the open house, so it wouldn’t surprise me if she had a meeting—and she apparently had some kind of a meeting—that she might have stowed the cat in there again. There was a cat carrier there. I just want to make sure she’s not hurt. I can take her with me.”
    Carstead studied her for a long minute, then glanced at Grant and Ace, who’d moved toward Grant’s SUV for a private conversation.
    â€œI’ll check,” he said tersely.
    A short while later, Carstead walked down the drive, looking a bit sheepish. He was carrying the pink cat carrier. Mirabelle was protesting loudly from inside.
    Detective Carstead, who was much more human than Detective Jones, informed Caprice, “The cat was inside the closet.” Then after a moment of considering what he should say, he explained, “We’ve contacted the police in Mississippi to notify Mrs. Goodwin’s sister of her death. Once she gets in contact with me, I’ll ask her if she’ll take the cat. In the meantime—”
    Mirabelle was exceedingly upset. Her meow was high-pitched and wailing.
    Caprice cooed to her. “Everything will be okay, baby.” Maybe it would be even better than okay because she wouldn’t have to stay in a closet, if Caprice had anything to say