Read Online The Lady Who Sang High: A Reed Ferguson Mystery (A Private Investigator Mystery Series - Crime Suspense Thriller Book 7) by Renee Pawlish - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Renee Pawlish
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there.”
“Please. This is a piece of cake.”
Given that Cal had somehow found his way into government sites, my caution wasn’t really necessary.
Then I heard Bogie’s voice. “People lose teeth talking like that. If you want to hang around, you'll be polite.” Ah, my new cell phone ringtone – a sound bite from The Maltese Falcon . I couldn’t decide if I liked it as much as the other one I’d used for so long, “Such a lot of guns around town, and so few brains,” from The Big Sleep .
“That’s Jodie,” I said. “I’ll touch base with you later.”
“Hi, Reed.” Tired didn’t even begin to describe Jodie’s voice.
“Are you up for this?” I asked.
“Not really, but it’s got to be done.” She gave me his address. “Can you meet me there at ten? I’m going to get a cab back to my car first.” Right. I’d driven her home, so her car was still at Blue Light.
I checked the computer clock. That would give me a half hour. “That’ll work,” I said. “See you there.”
I ended the call and headed out the door.
CHAPTER TEN
Jude’s house was just north of the Tech Center, a large business complex southeast of downtown Denver. The neighborhood was full of huge, expensive houses with well-manicured lawns that seemed immune to the dry summer heat. He’s done very well for himself , I thought. Or maybe he was mortgaged to the hilt.
I parked on the street and walked up the driveway, past an older-model Toyota Camry. I rang the bell and a moment later Jodie opened the door.
She wore khakis and a white blouse, and her hair was tousled as if she hadn’t even combed it. “Come on in.” She tried for some semblance of calm, but her voice quavered and her eyes were puffy and red, and it wasn’t just from exhaustion or smoking weed.
I stepped into a large foyer and she shut the door, then walked slowly into a large living room and sat down on a black leather couch. Opposite it was a matching loveseat. The walls and carpet were tan, the coffee and end tables were oak, and a single painting of a desert scene hung on the wall above the couch. Like his desk at work, everything was neat and tidy and told us nothing about him.
“Have you been to Blue Light yet?” I remained standing.
She nodded. “Yes. They were shocked.”
I wondered what the scuttlebutt would be about me, the new employee. I doubted any of them would think I had something to do with Jude’s death, but they might think I had brought bad luck with me.
“Were Wes and Heath there?” I asked.
“Yes. They both came in early and we had a meeting. They’re already into damage control.” She scowled. “I guess I should’ve expected that, but neither one seemed to care much about Jude as a person. It was all business.”
Another blow to the vision of her brother that she’d built up in her mind.
“Is there a way I can talk to them?” I asked. “Something I could do naturally so I could see what they’re thinking about the murder?”
“Both of them come around the warehouse and check on things. I can have you spend some time back there.”
“That’ll work.” Now I’d just need to finesse my conversations with them so they wouldn’t get suspicious of me.
“I talked to the police again,” she said dully. “I’m not even sure when I can plan the funeral because they need to do an autopsy, and they don’t know how long it will take.”
“I’m sorry.” We sat in silence for a minute and then I glanced around and noticed Jude’s home office across the foyer. “I need to check in there.”
“Sure.” She wearily got to her feet and I followed her. “What do you think you’ll find?”
“I don’t know,” I said as I surveyed the room.
Bookcases lined one wall, but they were sparsely filled with a few framed photos and knick knacks. I didn’t see a single book. The other walls were bare except for a modern print behind a mahogany desk. I walked around the desk and sat down in a wingback
“Please. This is a piece of cake.”
Given that Cal had somehow found his way into government sites, my caution wasn’t really necessary.
Then I heard Bogie’s voice. “People lose teeth talking like that. If you want to hang around, you'll be polite.” Ah, my new cell phone ringtone – a sound bite from The Maltese Falcon . I couldn’t decide if I liked it as much as the other one I’d used for so long, “Such a lot of guns around town, and so few brains,” from The Big Sleep .
“That’s Jodie,” I said. “I’ll touch base with you later.”
“Hi, Reed.” Tired didn’t even begin to describe Jodie’s voice.
“Are you up for this?” I asked.
“Not really, but it’s got to be done.” She gave me his address. “Can you meet me there at ten? I’m going to get a cab back to my car first.” Right. I’d driven her home, so her car was still at Blue Light.
I checked the computer clock. That would give me a half hour. “That’ll work,” I said. “See you there.”
I ended the call and headed out the door.
CHAPTER TEN
Jude’s house was just north of the Tech Center, a large business complex southeast of downtown Denver. The neighborhood was full of huge, expensive houses with well-manicured lawns that seemed immune to the dry summer heat. He’s done very well for himself , I thought. Or maybe he was mortgaged to the hilt.
I parked on the street and walked up the driveway, past an older-model Toyota Camry. I rang the bell and a moment later Jodie opened the door.
She wore khakis and a white blouse, and her hair was tousled as if she hadn’t even combed it. “Come on in.” She tried for some semblance of calm, but her voice quavered and her eyes were puffy and red, and it wasn’t just from exhaustion or smoking weed.
I stepped into a large foyer and she shut the door, then walked slowly into a large living room and sat down on a black leather couch. Opposite it was a matching loveseat. The walls and carpet were tan, the coffee and end tables were oak, and a single painting of a desert scene hung on the wall above the couch. Like his desk at work, everything was neat and tidy and told us nothing about him.
“Have you been to Blue Light yet?” I remained standing.
She nodded. “Yes. They were shocked.”
I wondered what the scuttlebutt would be about me, the new employee. I doubted any of them would think I had something to do with Jude’s death, but they might think I had brought bad luck with me.
“Were Wes and Heath there?” I asked.
“Yes. They both came in early and we had a meeting. They’re already into damage control.” She scowled. “I guess I should’ve expected that, but neither one seemed to care much about Jude as a person. It was all business.”
Another blow to the vision of her brother that she’d built up in her mind.
“Is there a way I can talk to them?” I asked. “Something I could do naturally so I could see what they’re thinking about the murder?”
“Both of them come around the warehouse and check on things. I can have you spend some time back there.”
“That’ll work.” Now I’d just need to finesse my conversations with them so they wouldn’t get suspicious of me.
“I talked to the police again,” she said dully. “I’m not even sure when I can plan the funeral because they need to do an autopsy, and they don’t know how long it will take.”
“I’m sorry.” We sat in silence for a minute and then I glanced around and noticed Jude’s home office across the foyer. “I need to check in there.”
“Sure.” She wearily got to her feet and I followed her. “What do you think you’ll find?”
“I don’t know,” I said as I surveyed the room.
Bookcases lined one wall, but they were sparsely filled with a few framed photos and knick knacks. I didn’t see a single book. The other walls were bare except for a modern print behind a mahogany desk. I walked around the desk and sat down in a wingback
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