Read Online Rear-View Murder: A Gemma Stone Cozy Mystery by Willow Monroe - Free Book Online
Authors: Willow Monroe
Ads: Link
stared at the pair and Chester looked at the ceiling as if praying for deliverance from this situation.
“Sort of,” Gemma finally said. “We’re in training.”
It was obvious Chester didn’t believe either one of them but he didn’t ask any more questions.
Sadie still looked as shocked as before.
Finally Chester said. “North side of Richmond is the worst - dealers, gangs. Mostly busy at night, if you know what I mean. Hookers work Chamberlayne Avenue. If you want my advice, I’d say give it up. Your friend is probably lost to the snow or worse. Since you probably won’t do that, make sure you got a gun.”
With that, he turned and walked away. Gemma and Holly thanked Sadie and then finished their lunch in silence. After paying for their meal, they returned to Holly’s SUV and headed for Richmond.
“So, are you still interested in doing this?” Holly asked.
Gemma nodded. “I don’t have a choice,” she whispered. “That young woman is dead and it looks like no one but us is really worried about how she got that way and into the trunk of my car. Her family deserves answers. She deserves justice.”
“The police don’t even think she was murdered,” Holly reminded her as she drove toward Richmond.
“The police are wrong,” Gemma said simply.
“Do you think the ring has something to do with it?”
“I think so. It’s not a family heirloom and I doubt she could have bought it for herself.”
“Maybe one of her customers?” Holly reasoned.
“I doubt it. I get the feeling she wasn’t exactly serving the high rollers in town,” Gemma said. “Maybe she stole the ring.”
“Maybe. Would she give up her life for a ring?”
“Maybe she didn’t have a choice,” Gemma said, almost to herself. “And how did she get in the trunk of my car in long-term parking at the airport?”
“Maybe whoever killed her put her in the trunk of the car before it got to the airport. The driver never knew.”
“That could happen I guess” Gemma said. “Or while it was sitting in the bank parking lot at night.”
“They weren’t able to determine cause of death, remember,” Holly reminded her.
“A blow to the head was the only injury on what was left of her and that wasn’t life threatening.”
“Then it must have been chemical. Maybe an overdose.”
They located Chamberlayne Avenue and headed north. At first the street was lined with a mixture of residential and small businesses.
“I don’t think Chester meant this area,” Holly said.
The further they traveled the more residential it became. The houses then gave away to apartment buildings which grew more and more run down as they drove. There were weed filled lots between some buildings where it looked like something had been burned. There were dark alleys and broken down cars. The streets were littered with trash and weeds grew up between the cracks in the sidewalk.
This was exactly how Gemma had pictured it.
“What now?” Holly asked. They were stopped at a red light. She scanned the intersection carefully.
“There are some ladies on the corner up ahead. Let’s talk to them,” Gemma said, chewing nervously on her lower lip.
“What are you going to say?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll start with the picture,” Gemma said, her tension increasing with every passing second.
By the time they reached the three women, Gemma was shaking all over. She opened the heavy door of the SUV and climbed out. Her heels made little clicking sounds on the sidewalk. It had grown hotter as the day progressed, but Gemma didn’t think that’s why her palms felt so sweaty.
The women looked up at her approach.
“Hello,” Gemma said.
They stood there looking at her.
“My name is Gemma and...”
“Honey, this is our corner,” the tallest one said, stepping forward. She had flaming red hair, sticking straight up, and that made her look even taller. That and the five inch platform heels she wore.
“I know,” Gemma said. “And a
“Sort of,” Gemma finally said. “We’re in training.”
It was obvious Chester didn’t believe either one of them but he didn’t ask any more questions.
Sadie still looked as shocked as before.
Finally Chester said. “North side of Richmond is the worst - dealers, gangs. Mostly busy at night, if you know what I mean. Hookers work Chamberlayne Avenue. If you want my advice, I’d say give it up. Your friend is probably lost to the snow or worse. Since you probably won’t do that, make sure you got a gun.”
With that, he turned and walked away. Gemma and Holly thanked Sadie and then finished their lunch in silence. After paying for their meal, they returned to Holly’s SUV and headed for Richmond.
“So, are you still interested in doing this?” Holly asked.
Gemma nodded. “I don’t have a choice,” she whispered. “That young woman is dead and it looks like no one but us is really worried about how she got that way and into the trunk of my car. Her family deserves answers. She deserves justice.”
“The police don’t even think she was murdered,” Holly reminded her as she drove toward Richmond.
“The police are wrong,” Gemma said simply.
“Do you think the ring has something to do with it?”
“I think so. It’s not a family heirloom and I doubt she could have bought it for herself.”
“Maybe one of her customers?” Holly reasoned.
“I doubt it. I get the feeling she wasn’t exactly serving the high rollers in town,” Gemma said. “Maybe she stole the ring.”
“Maybe. Would she give up her life for a ring?”
“Maybe she didn’t have a choice,” Gemma said, almost to herself. “And how did she get in the trunk of my car in long-term parking at the airport?”
“Maybe whoever killed her put her in the trunk of the car before it got to the airport. The driver never knew.”
“That could happen I guess” Gemma said. “Or while it was sitting in the bank parking lot at night.”
“They weren’t able to determine cause of death, remember,” Holly reminded her.
“A blow to the head was the only injury on what was left of her and that wasn’t life threatening.”
“Then it must have been chemical. Maybe an overdose.”
They located Chamberlayne Avenue and headed north. At first the street was lined with a mixture of residential and small businesses.
“I don’t think Chester meant this area,” Holly said.
The further they traveled the more residential it became. The houses then gave away to apartment buildings which grew more and more run down as they drove. There were weed filled lots between some buildings where it looked like something had been burned. There were dark alleys and broken down cars. The streets were littered with trash and weeds grew up between the cracks in the sidewalk.
This was exactly how Gemma had pictured it.
“What now?” Holly asked. They were stopped at a red light. She scanned the intersection carefully.
“There are some ladies on the corner up ahead. Let’s talk to them,” Gemma said, chewing nervously on her lower lip.
“What are you going to say?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll start with the picture,” Gemma said, her tension increasing with every passing second.
By the time they reached the three women, Gemma was shaking all over. She opened the heavy door of the SUV and climbed out. Her heels made little clicking sounds on the sidewalk. It had grown hotter as the day progressed, but Gemma didn’t think that’s why her palms felt so sweaty.
The women looked up at her approach.
“Hello,” Gemma said.
They stood there looking at her.
“My name is Gemma and...”
“Honey, this is our corner,” the tallest one said, stepping forward. She had flaming red hair, sticking straight up, and that made her look even taller. That and the five inch platform heels she wore.
“I know,” Gemma said. “And a
Similar Books
