Read Online Hope Callaghan - Garden Girls 06 - Magnolia Mansion Mysteries by Hope Callaghan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Hope Callaghan
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delicious.”
“How’s the investigation going?” Gloria wondered.
“The remains are old. Older than Andrea so she’s off the hook,” he said. “How the remains got in the dumpster is the big mystery. Somebody put that body in there.”
Gloria picked up his train of thought. “Hoping that it would just be taken to the landfill and disposed of, never to be seen again.”
He nodded. “It would seem that way.” He glanced at Gloria. “Do you think there’s a connection between the house and the body? Or do you think someone saw the perfect opportunity to get rid of it and they brought it over?”
Gloria remembered Andrea mentioning a while back someone had been inside the house while she was upstairs working in one of the bedrooms. Then there was the locked room in the basement. She absentmindedly reached for the key that Brian had given her, still tucked away in her front pants pocket.
“I have a few people on my list to talk to. People that have lived in Belhaven long enough to remember the Johnsons. They might be able to shed a little light on them. All I remember is that they kept to themselves.”
Paul nodded. “I’ll let you know what they find out on the remains.” The sun had set. All that remained was a bright orange glow.
The two of them wandered back in the house. Gloria rinsed the dishes while Paul loaded them in the dishwasher. He glanced up at the clock. “I should get going. I have to work early tomorrow.”
Gloria was a bit disappointed he had to leave so soon. She followed him to his car and watched as he unlocked the doors. Instead of opening the door, he swung around, grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood up on her tiptoes as he lowered his head to kiss her. After a long, lingering kiss, he reluctantly released his hold.
She stuck the palms of her hands on his chest. The garage light picked up the colors in the ring and it sparkled brightly. “Thanks again for the beautiful ring. I just love it,” she gushed.
“It was a toss-up. Either the ring or flowers,” he teased.
He climbed into his car and rolled down the window before starting the engine. “I’m off next weekend and the kids should be out by then. It’s my turn to make dinner.”
“Is that an invitation?” she flirted.
“Don’t expect too much,” he warned. “You know the only thing I’m capable of is grilling.”
“Sounds perfect.” She leaned her head in the window and kissed him on the lips before easing back out. “It’s a date.”
Gloria watched as Paul backed out of the driveway and pulled out onto the road. A small smile played across her lips. She nearly floated down the sidewalk and into the house. Once again, all was right in Gloria’s world!
Chapter 7
Gloria’s eyes flew open and immediately zeroed in on the nightstand next to her bed and the jewelry box where she had carefully placed her new ring the night before. She leaned over and grabbed the box. She lifted the ring from the inside and slipped it on her finger. She admired it for several long moments before sliding into her slippers and shuffling out to the kitchen.
It had been a restless night, full of tossing and turning. Her mind had darted back and forth between her evening with Paul the night before and wondering how on earth the skeleton got inside the dumpster. During the long hours she was awake, she managed to make a long mental to-do list. The first thing on her list was a visit to Doc Decker.
Mally was waiting for Gloria on the other side of the bedroom door and the two of them wandered out into the kitchen. Gloria scrambled two eggs and made some toast with an extra slice for Mally. She lathered the top with thick layer of peanut butter and cut it into bite size pieces before putting it on a paper plate and setting it on the floor.
Puddles was next. Gloria scooped a small pile of
“How’s the investigation going?” Gloria wondered.
“The remains are old. Older than Andrea so she’s off the hook,” he said. “How the remains got in the dumpster is the big mystery. Somebody put that body in there.”
Gloria picked up his train of thought. “Hoping that it would just be taken to the landfill and disposed of, never to be seen again.”
He nodded. “It would seem that way.” He glanced at Gloria. “Do you think there’s a connection between the house and the body? Or do you think someone saw the perfect opportunity to get rid of it and they brought it over?”
Gloria remembered Andrea mentioning a while back someone had been inside the house while she was upstairs working in one of the bedrooms. Then there was the locked room in the basement. She absentmindedly reached for the key that Brian had given her, still tucked away in her front pants pocket.
“I have a few people on my list to talk to. People that have lived in Belhaven long enough to remember the Johnsons. They might be able to shed a little light on them. All I remember is that they kept to themselves.”
Paul nodded. “I’ll let you know what they find out on the remains.” The sun had set. All that remained was a bright orange glow.
The two of them wandered back in the house. Gloria rinsed the dishes while Paul loaded them in the dishwasher. He glanced up at the clock. “I should get going. I have to work early tomorrow.”
Gloria was a bit disappointed he had to leave so soon. She followed him to his car and watched as he unlocked the doors. Instead of opening the door, he swung around, grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her close. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood up on her tiptoes as he lowered his head to kiss her. After a long, lingering kiss, he reluctantly released his hold.
She stuck the palms of her hands on his chest. The garage light picked up the colors in the ring and it sparkled brightly. “Thanks again for the beautiful ring. I just love it,” she gushed.
“It was a toss-up. Either the ring or flowers,” he teased.
He climbed into his car and rolled down the window before starting the engine. “I’m off next weekend and the kids should be out by then. It’s my turn to make dinner.”
“Is that an invitation?” she flirted.
“Don’t expect too much,” he warned. “You know the only thing I’m capable of is grilling.”
“Sounds perfect.” She leaned her head in the window and kissed him on the lips before easing back out. “It’s a date.”
Gloria watched as Paul backed out of the driveway and pulled out onto the road. A small smile played across her lips. She nearly floated down the sidewalk and into the house. Once again, all was right in Gloria’s world!
Chapter 7
Gloria’s eyes flew open and immediately zeroed in on the nightstand next to her bed and the jewelry box where she had carefully placed her new ring the night before. She leaned over and grabbed the box. She lifted the ring from the inside and slipped it on her finger. She admired it for several long moments before sliding into her slippers and shuffling out to the kitchen.
It had been a restless night, full of tossing and turning. Her mind had darted back and forth between her evening with Paul the night before and wondering how on earth the skeleton got inside the dumpster. During the long hours she was awake, she managed to make a long mental to-do list. The first thing on her list was a visit to Doc Decker.
Mally was waiting for Gloria on the other side of the bedroom door and the two of them wandered out into the kitchen. Gloria scrambled two eggs and made some toast with an extra slice for Mally. She lathered the top with thick layer of peanut butter and cut it into bite size pieces before putting it on a paper plate and setting it on the floor.
Puddles was next. Gloria scooped a small pile of
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