Read Online High Heels Are Murder by Elaine Viets - Free Book Online Page B

can’t stand each other.”
    Jane dismissed their dislike with a shrug. “That was kid’s stuff, Josie. You’re both grown women now. It’s time to put your childish feuds aside. You have so much in common.”
    Right. Both our mothers worship Cheryl.
    “That’s all you have to do, Josie,” Jane said. “Just talk to Cheryl. Help her, and Mrs. Mueller will make me Maplewood chair of the St. Louis Flower Guild. Please, Josie, will you do that for me?”
    Jane was begging. She wanted that chair so badly, and Josie, the loser daughter who got pregnant and dropped out of college, could make her mother’s dream come true.
    At last, Josie thought. I can make it up to Mom for the trouble I’ve caused. She helped me when I needed it most. She stood by me. Mom is always there when I need a sitter or someone to pick up Amelia at school. So what if she lied and told Mrs. Mueller that I was a widow? She has to hold up her head in the neighborhood.
    Josie could finally make her mother proud. It would be so easy. Josie wouldn’t argue with whatever goddess handed her this favor. She’d take it and run.
    “Sure, Mom. I’ll do it tomorrow on my lunch hour.” Josie would stop by for a talk with Cheryl. They’d have real tea with floating sugar roses, compare notes on Mel’s foot massages, and that would be it. Case closed.
    “Thank you.” Her mother’s voice trembled slightly. Were those tears in Jane’s eyes? “I appreciate this, dear, and Mrs. Mueller does, too. I know she can be a difficult woman, but she has a good heart—and so do you. I’ll tell her you’re going to help Cheryl.”
    Jane hugged her daughter, then ran out the door and across the yard to give Mrs. Mueller the good news. Josie stared after her mother, stunned by the swift reversal of her fortunes. Half an hour ago, she was the daughter who couldn’t do anything right. Now she was her mother’s golden girl. She owed it all to Mel the foot man.
    Did the cops really think Mel was parking his boots under Cheryl’s bed? Josie tried to picture sex with the slippery shoe salesman. The guy was so oily, he’d squirt out of the sheets. Now there was a picture.
    Josie could feel the giggles rising up. This time there would be no stopping them. She had to act fast. Josie slammed the heavy wooden front door shut and boltedit just as a tiny titter escaped her. Then a loud laugh. Then a great big guffaw.
    Josie leaned against the door and howled until the tears ran down her cheeks. It was mean. She knew it, but she couldn’t stop. All these years she’d waited for Perfect Cheryl to slip. Now, it had finally happened. Except this wasn’t a slip. It was a pratfall. The cops thought Perfect Cheryl was a shady lady and a stone killer. Mrs. Mueller and her mother thought Josie was a savior.
    The shoe was definitely on the other foot.

Chapter 8
    Josie yawned her way into the kitchen to nuke her morning coffee. Amelia was at the kitchen table, washed, dressed, and eating breakfast. Amazing. There would be no “you’re going to be late for school” hassle this morning.
    Why should there be? Josie thought, as she poured last night’s leftover coffee into a mug. I’m perfect. I have a perfect daughter. And a perfect working day. I’ll be mystery-shopping bookstores, which means I can dress like a normal woman and wear comfortable loafers.
    Josie threw a red wig and a black sweater into her tote. Some clever clerks spotted mystery shoppers and spread the word to the other stores in the chain. It helped to have a change of hair and clothes.
    According to the thermometer at the back door, it was sixty degrees, a welcome surprise for November. More perfection.
    Josie took a sip of her reheated coffee. Yuck. It was bitter. But she’d stop by Has Beans for the perfect brew after she dropped Amelia at school. She’d also see Josh. A little sugar with her coffee.
    Josie and Amelia left for the Barrington School with time to spare. Josie waved to Stan the Man Next