Read Online Killing Cassidy by Jeanne M. Dams - Free Book Online Page A

pharmacy school, I gave those two men most of the credit for my grades. They gave me such a thorough grounding in scientific method, I got through pharmacy school with no sweat.”
    â€œYou’re a pharmacist, then?”
    â€œPart-time. I didn’t work at all while I was raising my kids, but now that they’re grown up and on their own, it helps pass the time. I may give it up again, though. I’ve gotten involved in community work.” She gestured to the card table full of papers.
    â€œIs that what you were in the middle of? It looks like a lot of work.”
    â€œMassive, but worth it—if we can only win!”
    Hannah sat forward on her chair, her eyes alight. She began to talk eagerly, her hands making rapid gestures and now and then running through her hair, making it stand straight up.
    â€œYou’ve seen the abomination they’ve foisted on us across the road? The new superstore? Well, some of us are fed up. We’ve had enough. They sneaked the superstore past us, but there’s this shopping mall they’re trying to put up out south of town, and we’re fighting it tooth and nail.”
    â€œGood for you! I’ve been getting more and more upset about how much Hillsburg has changed, just in the few years I’ve been gone.”
    Hannah nodded vigorously. “Fine old buildings torn down, for no reason at all! Good farmland turned into a parking lot! It’s a crime, that’s what it is. Every town looking exactly alike—well, we don’t need it here in Hillsburg. Kevin agreed, incidentally—even contributed to the cause. And we’ve got a good shot at stopping them, too. …”
    She expounded on her theme for some time, but with Alan and me as audience, she was preaching to the choir. When she finally slowed down and I could get a word in edgewise, I said, “Well, I agree with every word you say, and I wish you all the luck. But you said you had only a little time, and I had some things to ask you—”
    â€œOh, Lord, I got on my soapbox, didn’t I? Sorry. And I really do have to get busy. The meeting about the mall is tonight, here, and I’ve got lots of paperwork to deal with beforehand. So how can I help you?”
    â€œI’m just trying to get a picture of Kevin’s last few weeks. He was a good friend, and I feel awful that I lost touch with him and let him die without a chance to say good-bye.”
    Hannah sobered. “I know how you feel. It came as a shock to me, too. We all thought he was healthy as a horse. I hadn’t seen much of him myself—too busy organizing the antimall forces. And then all of a sudden, there he was in the hospital.”
    â€œBut—I must be confused. Somebody told me he thought you’d been over to Kevin’s workshop just a few days before he got sick. Ordering a new window, I thought he said?”
    â€œOh, good grief, you’re right and I’m wrong. I did talk to him about the possibility of doing one for a friend. We didn’t settle anything definite, though. I’d forgotten all about it. Who on earth told you? I didn’t think I’d mentioned it to anyone.”
    â€œI’m not sure. One of the other neighbors, I think.”
    â€œThere aren’t any other neighbors, really, except that crazy man in the trailer.” Her voice sharpened. “I’d be careful about him, if I were you. He’s a menace, and that pigsty he lives in! A disgrace to the countryside, that’s what he is! I wouldn’t believe too much he tells you.” She shook her head and glanced at her watch. I had to take the hint.
    â€œYes, we really must go. Do you mind if I come back sometime and just talk about Kevin? I’d call first, of course.”
    â€œAny time, but do call.” She had recovered her gracious manner. “I’m going to be out a lot, drumming up support for the cause and talking to lawyers, and all. Nice to