Read Online Mouth of the Rat (A Samantha Jamison Mystery) by Peggy A. Edelheit - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Peggy A. Edelheit
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Hazel.
“I’m taking my iPod so I won’t get bored,” said Martha.
“Complaining won’t change my mind either,” I added.
Betty turned back to the other two. “You know, I just read an article on the net about false fingerprints…”
“You mean the kind that peel off?” asked Hazel.
“How about that one on tripping retinal scanners using false lenses?” Martha added. “They’d come in real handy.”
What made me suddenly think this was a mistake?
Chapter 34
Sneaking Up & Sneaking Off
I crept up behind the bushes where I left them and came up short. As I expected, Martha was swaying, listening to her iPod, but there was a major problem. She was alone.
I ripped one earphone out. “Where are they?”
She jerked back and fell to the grass. “Good God!”
I pulled her back up. “Well?”
She broke away from my grip. “Why’d you do that?”
“Where are they?” I asked, sick with worry.
She whipped around when my words sunk in. “Uh-oh.”
“What happened? I asked you three to stay put.”
“They saw something and told me to wait here for you.”
“I had to park further away than I thought.”
“I’m not surprised. The street is lit up like a runway. We were going crazy waiting. Where’d you park?”
I pointed down the street. “Down toward the church.”
“It sure took you long enough.”
I scanned the dark, shadowy areas in the moonlight.
“Where could they possibly be?”
“You can’t tell with those two,” said Martha. “Hey, don’t you think it’s odd this property is so dark inside and out? Think it’s so you can’t see who is coming and going?”
“Maybe, but it’s perfect for playing to our advantage.”
“How so?”
“Because we’re going to have to sneak up there and look around for Sherlock Holmes and Watson, that’s why!”
“Whatever you do, don’t sneak up on those two like me or you’ll be waking up the dead with all their yelling.”
“That’s all I need,” I said, shoving off toward the house.
We quickly darted around hedges, checking the front.
“Nothing!” Martha said. “Think they’re out back?”
We were staring up at a seven-foot stucco wall.
“I need a rope, ladder, something,” I said frustrated.
“Why not use the gate?” Martha said, walking right in.
I caught up to her at the edge of the patio.
She whispered, “Look at that swimming pool! And get a load of that large boat tied to the deep-water dock!”
As we stood there, admiring it, I realized we still hadn’t found Hazel and Betty. I pivoted, searching for shadows.
Martha resumed walking. “Where the heck are they?”
As we edged along the pool, Martha jolted forward.
“What’s the matter?” I whispered, catching her.
“Call 911! …I think I’m having chest palpitations.”
“Our phones are on vibrate, remember?”
“For a second I thought my ticker was going.”
“Answer it,” I whispered. “It might be them.”
She pulled it out of her shirt, hit talk, and listened.
“Exactly where?” she asked, then hung up.
I jerked her to me; paranoid something awful happened to those sweet old ladies. “Please tell me they’re safe!”
“Of course. They’re inside the house, waiting for us.”
Now, why didn’t I think of that?
Chapter 35
Step By Step & Then Some
I followed Martha in the moonlight along the pool. As we neared the house, we heard crunching underfoot.
I stopped walking. “Sounds like broken glass.”
“Betty said to expect that.”
“Why?”
“That’s how those two got in, via a missing window.”
This was worse than I thought.
Martha flicked on her mini light.
Curtains were fluttering about. “Where’s the window?”
She aimed the light down at the shards of glass, and then into the pool. The window frame and more glass were at the bottom. She then flicked the light back onto the house.
“Someone chiseled it out and dumped it in the pool.”
“That’s
“I’m taking my iPod so I won’t get bored,” said Martha.
“Complaining won’t change my mind either,” I added.
Betty turned back to the other two. “You know, I just read an article on the net about false fingerprints…”
“You mean the kind that peel off?” asked Hazel.
“How about that one on tripping retinal scanners using false lenses?” Martha added. “They’d come in real handy.”
What made me suddenly think this was a mistake?
Chapter 34
Sneaking Up & Sneaking Off
I crept up behind the bushes where I left them and came up short. As I expected, Martha was swaying, listening to her iPod, but there was a major problem. She was alone.
I ripped one earphone out. “Where are they?”
She jerked back and fell to the grass. “Good God!”
I pulled her back up. “Well?”
She broke away from my grip. “Why’d you do that?”
“Where are they?” I asked, sick with worry.
She whipped around when my words sunk in. “Uh-oh.”
“What happened? I asked you three to stay put.”
“They saw something and told me to wait here for you.”
“I had to park further away than I thought.”
“I’m not surprised. The street is lit up like a runway. We were going crazy waiting. Where’d you park?”
I pointed down the street. “Down toward the church.”
“It sure took you long enough.”
I scanned the dark, shadowy areas in the moonlight.
“Where could they possibly be?”
“You can’t tell with those two,” said Martha. “Hey, don’t you think it’s odd this property is so dark inside and out? Think it’s so you can’t see who is coming and going?”
“Maybe, but it’s perfect for playing to our advantage.”
“How so?”
“Because we’re going to have to sneak up there and look around for Sherlock Holmes and Watson, that’s why!”
“Whatever you do, don’t sneak up on those two like me or you’ll be waking up the dead with all their yelling.”
“That’s all I need,” I said, shoving off toward the house.
We quickly darted around hedges, checking the front.
“Nothing!” Martha said. “Think they’re out back?”
We were staring up at a seven-foot stucco wall.
“I need a rope, ladder, something,” I said frustrated.
“Why not use the gate?” Martha said, walking right in.
I caught up to her at the edge of the patio.
She whispered, “Look at that swimming pool! And get a load of that large boat tied to the deep-water dock!”
As we stood there, admiring it, I realized we still hadn’t found Hazel and Betty. I pivoted, searching for shadows.
Martha resumed walking. “Where the heck are they?”
As we edged along the pool, Martha jolted forward.
“What’s the matter?” I whispered, catching her.
“Call 911! …I think I’m having chest palpitations.”
“Our phones are on vibrate, remember?”
“For a second I thought my ticker was going.”
“Answer it,” I whispered. “It might be them.”
She pulled it out of her shirt, hit talk, and listened.
“Exactly where?” she asked, then hung up.
I jerked her to me; paranoid something awful happened to those sweet old ladies. “Please tell me they’re safe!”
“Of course. They’re inside the house, waiting for us.”
Now, why didn’t I think of that?
Chapter 35
Step By Step & Then Some
I followed Martha in the moonlight along the pool. As we neared the house, we heard crunching underfoot.
I stopped walking. “Sounds like broken glass.”
“Betty said to expect that.”
“Why?”
“That’s how those two got in, via a missing window.”
This was worse than I thought.
Martha flicked on her mini light.
Curtains were fluttering about. “Where’s the window?”
She aimed the light down at the shards of glass, and then into the pool. The window frame and more glass were at the bottom. She then flicked the light back onto the house.
“Someone chiseled it out and dumped it in the pool.”
“That’s
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