Read Online Elaine Orr - Jolie Gentil 06 - Behind the Walls by Elaine Orr - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elaine Orr
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guilty that I got the money for helping to solve a murder. It kind of feels like blood money or something.”
She shook her head, firmly. “You gave that guy’s parents peace of mind.”
And that conversation was the most peaceful moment of my day.
Scoobie had told Max to meet us at my house, and he was on the porch swing as Renée and I pulled in front of the bungalow. “Jolie, Jolie, I told your friend to come back later,” he said, as he literally ran up to the van.
“What friend?” I asked.
“Um, I don’t know.” He had seen Scoobie getting out of Bill Oliver’s car and headed in that direction.
Renée gave me a questioning look.
“Traumatic brain injury. He loves chocolate.”
She picked the tin of cookies off the floor of the van and I ran up the steps to unlock the door to my house. The condo Robby and I owned in Lakeview was elegant and worth many times what I’d paid for this storm-damaged little house. I knew I’d be much happier here.
“You want anyone to unpack your bloomers?” Scoobie asked as he carried a tub into the house.
“Only if you put a picture in the paper.”
“You need to get some curtains,” Ramona said a few minutes later.
“She’s got blinds,” Bill said. “So no huge rush.”
“There’s still that Peeping Tom,” Ramona said.
“Why does Tom peep? Tom peep?” Max asked.
“It’s an expression,” Renée said. “It means someone who looks in a window when it’s not their house. Not a good thing.”
This was apparently all the explanation Max needed, as he stood and wandered back to the kitchen to get part of a sub sandwich.
“Someone told me about that. Maybe George,” Bill said. “Why the hell can’t they catch him?”
“Kind of hard to know where to look until they get a call, and by the time the cops get there, he’s gone,” Scoobie said. He took a bottle of water from the full-sized fridge I had just had delivered.
Bill frowned. “Are you comfortable being here alone at night?”
“You offering to stay?” Ramona grinned.
Bill flushed. “You’re a pain, Ramona.”
“What you need is a couch,” Scoobie said, “so I have a place to watch the Discovery Channel.” He sat on one of the dinette chairs.
“You know, kid, you got that great cedar closet and the kitchen’s not bad. You put in new windows and enclose that back porch, you could sell it in a year and get double what you paid for this place.” Lester was leaning against the door jamb that opened to the kitchen, surveying the house as if he was planning to list it.
“Except I’m looking for a place to live in, not an investment.”
“Yeah, but…” Lester began.
“Lester.” My sister and I said this together.
“Give up while you’re only a little bit behind,” Scoobie advised.
HOURS LATER, I WAS ABOUT to fall asleep when I realized I still didn’t know the name of the friend Max said had stopped by just before we arrived with the furniture. They’ll come back.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I HAD SLEPT IN twenty minute increments the first night Jazz and I were in our new house. I had expected the smell of fresh paint to be a bother, but it wasn’t that. Every time I got Jazz settled down and I fell asleep, Jazz was awake and rushing through the house in no time at all. I called the vet and had an appointment for eight-thirty Monday morning. I’d be tired all day, but I’d know she was getting care for whatever illness this was.
Dr. Holly was a kind man of about sixty. I had not met him until I brought Jazz in for an annual check-up a few months ago but, of course, Aunt Madge had known him for years. He had deftly wrapped all but Jazz’s head in a towel and I was now holding her while he peered into her ears. She objected strongly, but was in no position to scratch me.
“She certainly looks healthy, and I don’t detect an elevated temperature. She’s been eating, and drinking plenty of water?” He put his thumb on one side of Jazz’s jaw and forefinger
She shook her head, firmly. “You gave that guy’s parents peace of mind.”
And that conversation was the most peaceful moment of my day.
Scoobie had told Max to meet us at my house, and he was on the porch swing as Renée and I pulled in front of the bungalow. “Jolie, Jolie, I told your friend to come back later,” he said, as he literally ran up to the van.
“What friend?” I asked.
“Um, I don’t know.” He had seen Scoobie getting out of Bill Oliver’s car and headed in that direction.
Renée gave me a questioning look.
“Traumatic brain injury. He loves chocolate.”
She picked the tin of cookies off the floor of the van and I ran up the steps to unlock the door to my house. The condo Robby and I owned in Lakeview was elegant and worth many times what I’d paid for this storm-damaged little house. I knew I’d be much happier here.
“You want anyone to unpack your bloomers?” Scoobie asked as he carried a tub into the house.
“Only if you put a picture in the paper.”
“You need to get some curtains,” Ramona said a few minutes later.
“She’s got blinds,” Bill said. “So no huge rush.”
“There’s still that Peeping Tom,” Ramona said.
“Why does Tom peep? Tom peep?” Max asked.
“It’s an expression,” Renée said. “It means someone who looks in a window when it’s not their house. Not a good thing.”
This was apparently all the explanation Max needed, as he stood and wandered back to the kitchen to get part of a sub sandwich.
“Someone told me about that. Maybe George,” Bill said. “Why the hell can’t they catch him?”
“Kind of hard to know where to look until they get a call, and by the time the cops get there, he’s gone,” Scoobie said. He took a bottle of water from the full-sized fridge I had just had delivered.
Bill frowned. “Are you comfortable being here alone at night?”
“You offering to stay?” Ramona grinned.
Bill flushed. “You’re a pain, Ramona.”
“What you need is a couch,” Scoobie said, “so I have a place to watch the Discovery Channel.” He sat on one of the dinette chairs.
“You know, kid, you got that great cedar closet and the kitchen’s not bad. You put in new windows and enclose that back porch, you could sell it in a year and get double what you paid for this place.” Lester was leaning against the door jamb that opened to the kitchen, surveying the house as if he was planning to list it.
“Except I’m looking for a place to live in, not an investment.”
“Yeah, but…” Lester began.
“Lester.” My sister and I said this together.
“Give up while you’re only a little bit behind,” Scoobie advised.
HOURS LATER, I WAS ABOUT to fall asleep when I realized I still didn’t know the name of the friend Max said had stopped by just before we arrived with the furniture. They’ll come back.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I HAD SLEPT IN twenty minute increments the first night Jazz and I were in our new house. I had expected the smell of fresh paint to be a bother, but it wasn’t that. Every time I got Jazz settled down and I fell asleep, Jazz was awake and rushing through the house in no time at all. I called the vet and had an appointment for eight-thirty Monday morning. I’d be tired all day, but I’d know she was getting care for whatever illness this was.
Dr. Holly was a kind man of about sixty. I had not met him until I brought Jazz in for an annual check-up a few months ago but, of course, Aunt Madge had known him for years. He had deftly wrapped all but Jazz’s head in a towel and I was now holding her while he peered into her ears. She objected strongly, but was in no position to scratch me.
“She certainly looks healthy, and I don’t detect an elevated temperature. She’s been eating, and drinking plenty of water?” He put his thumb on one side of Jazz’s jaw and forefinger
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