Read Online The Diva Digs up the Dirt by Krista Davis - Free Book Online Page B

for even one moment that Wolf wouldn’t become the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance. Once the handbag was in the hands of the police, everything would change. But I had no choice. Sometimes one had to do the right thing, even if it led to disastrous consequences.
    I struggled to sort my mixed feelings. The last thing in the world that I wanted to do was hurt Wolf. Yet, if he’d killed his wife, the police had to know. This wasn’t something that could be overlooked—the handbag was too incriminating. My feelings for Wolf were something
I
had to deal with. They couldn’t impact my actions, though I did wish I could have a redo of the entire rotten day. Who would have ever thought the notion of planting a rose in Wolf’s backyard would lead to this?
    “Sophie! Please. There’s no telling when Wolf will return.” Mona stumbled toward the house, still clutching Anne’s handbag.

CHAPTER NINE
    Dear Natasha,
    I have a brand-new house and not even one blade of grass. I don’t know where to start! Everything has to be done!
    —Too Much to Do in Plantersville, Texas
    Dear Too Much to Do,
    Start with a plan. Draw a sketch of your property and plan your gardens. Begin with trees and foundation plantings. Layer other plants in, large to small. Use a color wheel to be sure you’re planting complementary colors. Then sketch a three-dimensional view from all sides. It’s crucial to do this for each of the four seasons. Now you’re ready to dig!
    —Natasha
    I ran after Mona. “We’re not going inside Wolf’s house.”
    “We have to.”
    Nina caught up to us. “How would you like it if someone snooped around
your
house?”
    Mona stopped walking. “How would you feel if you didn’t know where your daughter was?”
    I could understand Mona’s motivation. If I were in her shoes, I would move heaven and earth to find any tiny bit of information that might lead to my daughter. But I wasn’t about to let her into Wolf’s house, even though I knew where the spare key was hidden.
If
Wolf had killed Anne, it would be highly unlikely that the murder weapon would be under the mattress all these years later. Besides, in the unlikely case that there was some sort of evidence in the house, if we entered, we might disturb it. “I’m sorry, Mona. Two things are clear to me. Whether I want to or not, I have to report the purse to the cops. And whether you like it or not, we are
not
going into Wolf’s house to snoop.”
    She lifted her right hand to her forehead. “The heat. I feel dizzy.”
    Nina grabbed Mona’s elbow and ushered her to Wolf’s back deck, where she helped her sink onto a teak patio chair.
    It
was
hot. No doubt about that. Yet I had a feeling Mona’s dizzy spell had more to do with her desire to get inside Wolf’s house. She certainly hadn’t loosened her grip on Anne’s handbag.
    “Do you need an ambulance?” I asked.
    “Good gracious, no. A glass of iced tea and an air-conditioned room would do nicely.”
    My guess had been right on target. “If you’ll give me your keys, I’d be happy to start up the air conditioning in your car for you.” Did that sound as mean as it felt?
    Nina gaped at me like I’d lost my mind.
    “She’s faking! Can’t you see that?”
    The words were barely out of my mouth when Mona slid off the chair and collapsed in a heap on the deck. I dashed to her side. She still hadn’t lost her talon hold on Anne’s purse. I placed my finger over my lips in a signal to Nina to not speak. Nina gripped her head with her hands, like a mime who thought I had gone nuts. Sure enough, in a matter of seconds Mona opened one eye and looked up at us.
    While Nina helped her into the chair again, I dialedWolf’s number on my phone. I might have to report the handbag to the police, but I could at least let him know about it so he wouldn’t be blindsided. After all, the Wolf I knew wouldn’t have murdered his wife. Couldn’t have. Then why was doubt pounding at me like a