Read Online Mattress Mart Murder by Kayla Michelle - Free Book Online

head to Pie Paradise for a quick desert and to settle her thoughts.  
    Shannon McGraw, Chloe’s friend and the owner of Pie Paradise, had plenty of thoughts on the events of the morning.  
    “I can’t believe there was a murder in town,” Shannon said, from behind the counter. 
    “You obviously never got to see Marty Diamond’s uncanny ability to send people into a murderous rage,” Chloe replied. 
    “No, the only Marty Diamond I know is the smooth-talking huckster from TV with the embarrassingly low budget commercials.”
    “I wish the only Marty I knew was that walking punchline.  Unfortunately, this situation is no laughing matter.”
    “It’s still crazy to me that a murder has taken place in the Cape.  We’re a peaceful beach town.  We’ve worked hard building that quaint little reputation.  Something like this could scare the tourists away faster than a shark attack,” Shannon said. 
    “What’s worse is that the killer is still on the loose,” Chloe replied. 
    “And of all people, you’ve made it your mission to find them.”
    “I know it’s not every day that you hear about cosmetics saleswomen cracking murder cases.”
    Shannon interrupted.  “Every day?  Try every lifetime.  You’re in completely uncharted territory here, like a makeup-selling Magellan.”
    “I have to try.  Every time I think about Kristina possibly being put behind bars, my stomach turns.”
    “I get queasy as well, but how exactly are you planning on solving this case?”
    “I’ve read a lot of mystery books in my life, so I know the general layout of an investigation,” Chloe explained. 
    “Really?  I read a lot of medical dramas, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to try performing brain surgery anytime soon,” Shannon joked. 
    Chloe pretended she didn’t hear that last remark and got right into the case.
    “We both know if the killer was smart, they would have worn gloves, or wiped the prints off the knife before they tossed it into the dumpster.”
    Shannon smiled.  “You really have read a lot of mystery novels, haven’t you?”
    Chloe pressed on with her train of thought.  “That means there’s only one other surefire way to guarantee a conviction.  By getting a confession out of the killer.”
    “Let’s say you’re right.  How are you going to get someone to confess to murder?”
    “The detective said it himself, people say the craziest things when they’re backed into a corner.”
    “Tell me about it.  One of my ex-boyfriend’s admitted that he wet the bed until he was twelve after being backed into a corner,” Shannon said. 
    Chloe grimaced.  “That’s too much information.”
    Shannon smiled through her teeth.  “Way too much, even now.  The point is, backing people into a corner can have all kinds of interesting results.  But be careful, things can get hairy when you confront people.”
    “I’m a sales woman.  I can talk my way into and out of almost anything.”
    “What if this time you can’t?”
    “Then those self-defense classes I took a few years ago will come in awfully handy.”
    “You’re prepared for everything, aren’t you?” Shannon asked. 
    “I hope so.”
    “Want some pie for the road?”
    “You sure know my weakness.”
    “I’ll take that as a yes,” Shannon said. 
    “One thing is for sure.  When this case is over, there will be a very unpleasant date with my treadmill in my future,” Chloe replied. 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    ***
     
     
     
     
     
     
    As she got ready to dive into the case, Chloe knew she had her hands full.  Finding the killer would take some serious sleuthing.  There was a lot working against her.  For one, she was at best a gumshoe.  In addition, thus far the killer had outsmarted professional detectives. 
    Despite that, Chloe had to crack this case.  No matter how long the odds were, she needed to find a way.  She couldn’t let her friend go to jail for a crime she didn’t commit. 
    It was