Read Online Health, Wealth, and Murder by Traci Tyne Hilton - Free Book Online Page A

silver-haired lady and three children. The lady had the classic halo of old-lady curls. The children were grade-school aged and younger, maybe a three-year-old and two “big kids.” Jane made a mental note to study height charts or something so she could guess ages better. Either way, the baby in the family was a girl, and the two others were boys. The middle child was small and had Luke Skywalker hair but wore a faded pink shirt, baggy jeans, and basketball shoes. He also had a face full of freckles that would make anyone stand out in a crowd. The oldest child was very pretty. There was no other word for it. Thick eyelashes, full lips, chiseled cheekbones even though he couldn’t have been in his teens yet in the picture.
    She dusted the picture and then moved on to the bathroom, making a note of all of the prescriptions on the counter. Depending on the side effects, they could be important.
    The house only had the three bedrooms, so unless there was a hide-a-bed in the den, it looked like it was just the family at the house. Pity. She would have liked easier access to some of the other big players in the case.
    When she was sure she had cleaned the top of the house as well as she would for any client, she went back downstairs with the hope of trying out her gossipy coed act on one of the people living in the house.
    She lingered silently in the hall until she heard the quiet clicks of someone typing in the den. She grabbed a dust rag, started whistling, and let herself in.
    “Oh! Sorry!” She smiled at a guy about her age who had floppy hair and a face full of freckles.
    He looked up at her, paused, and then grinned. “Don’t apologize.” He shut his laptop and kicked his feet up on the chair. She noted his cuffed pants.
    Jane ran the dust rag the length of the built-in bookshelf. “So, so sad about Josiah Malachi.” She batted her eyes at the guy and hoped she wasn’t laying it on too thick.
    “Yeah.” Freckles didn’t elaborate.
    “Were you there?” She watched him from the corner of her eye as she dusted the next shelf up.
    “Nope.” He started typing again.
    “My cousin was there. She said it was awful. He got really sick, I guess.”
    Freckles sat up. He crossed his arms. “What do you think I’m going to tell you?”
    “I mean, I’ve just never seen anyone die before. I felt awful for her.” Jane’s hand shook. She tried to smile sweetly, but she only managed a forced grin.
    “That’s not what your website says.”
    Jane paused.
    “Jane Adler, Girl Detective.” Freckles dropped his feet back to the floor and leaned forward. “We’re not stupid.”
    Jane finished dusting the shelf. “And housekeeper. It’s not like I could make a living as a detective.” She tried a light laugh out, but it sounded fake.
    “Francine hired you for Mom because she wants you to say that Mom killed Josiah, but we all know it was Francine, so you might as well pack up your stuff and go home.” His words came out like his jaw was locked.
    “Why do you think Francine killed your dad?” She pushed a step stool over and climbed up to reach the highest shelves.
    “He wasn’t my dad.”
    “Okay. But why do you think Francine killed him ?”
    “I guess you’re going to have to figure that out for yourself, Girl Detective.” He grabbed his laptop and stalked out of the room.
    “Hey, Wilt!” Jane called after him.
    He turned and lifted his eyebrow. “Wrong.”
    “Not Wilt?”
    “Nope.” He turned away and went upstairs.
    Jane dusted the rest of the shelves, fuming at herself. “Undercover housekeeper” didn’t work if your website clearly said you were a housecleaning detective. She’d have to work on that.
    And maybe some disguises for the future.

Chapter Ten
     
     
    School and cleaning for other clients took a big bite out of her time, which was a pain, but a day and a half later Jane was able to carve away time for a lengthy call to Francine.
    “Listen, we need to have a long conversation.”