Read Online This Little Piggy Went to Murder by Ellen Hart - Free Book Online Page A

up to the house,” she said, climbing to her feet.
     
    “On one condition.” Gently, Bram rose and took her in his arms. A slow smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.
     
    Sophie watched the sunlight play with the soft, windblown curls around his forehead. “And what would that be?”
     
    “I know what you’re thinking. It’s still bothering you, isn’t it? I can see it in your eyes. Why don’t you try calling Rudy again?”
     
    Sophie shook her head. “I can’t do that.”
     
    “Why? Because you’re afraid of rejection? Look, when was the last time you talked to him?”
     
    “Three years ago. You know what it’s like. Norm won’t even let him come to the phone. It’s useless, Bram. I don’t know if you can ever understand what that church is like — the hold it has over your mind.”
     
    “It didn’t hold your mind very well, did it? Rudy is your son. I assume he has your intelligence.”
     
    “It has nothing to do with intelligence.”
     
    “No? All right, perhaps not. But how old is Rudy now?”
     
    “Eighteen. Last month.”
     
    “An eighteen-year-old is a very different animal from a fifteen-year-old. I think you owe it to yourself — and him — to try again.”
     
    “But I write all the time. There’s never an answer. Some of the letters even come back unopened. I’ve got to face reality or I’ll go crazy. I know you have a good relationship with your daughter, Bram, and I’m happy for you, but don’t you see? I’ve lost Rudy. I lost him the day he was born, and there isn’t a darn thing I can do about it.”
     
    He squeezed her shoulder. “Do it for me, then.”
     
    Sophie looked up into his tanned face, loving his serious demeanor, the deep cleft in his strong chin, his widely spaced, comfortable eyes. His concern warmed her like a winter fire. It was heartening to be loved so intelligently.
     
    “All right,” she said, finding it a relief to acquiesce for once.
     
    “Good. You’re making the right decision.”
     
    “You mean I’m doing it your way.”
     
    “Exactly.” He kissed her, touching her face lightly with the tips of his fingers. “I kind of like you, you know.”
     
    “Good thing for you. I know all your secrets, and I work periodically for a large metropolitan newspaper.”
     
    He laughed, spinning them around until they almost fell down.
     
    “Come on, you lunatic! I want to take a little drive. Remember that note I showed you?”
     
    “Yeah, the poodle at the Mudlark Bar. Sounds to me like someone’s been grazing in the mushroom patch too long.”
     
    She grimaced. “Maybe. But I’m going to check it out anyway. If it’s a joke, I’ll simply have wasted an hour or two of my precious time.”
     
    Arm in arm they climbed up the sandy hill to the woods.
     
    As they approached the rear parking lot, Sophie noticed a car turning into the drive.
     
    Bram whistled. “Pretty fancy wheels. Cadillac Coupe De Ville. Cherry red.” He squinted to get a better look.
     
    As they came nearer, Sophie could see a balding, rather rotund man lean over in the front seat and search for something on the floor. A second later his head popped out of the open window. “Hi there, folks!” he bellowed. He opened the door and slid out, his eyes traveling up Sophie’s body until they came to rest on her face. For a moment, he seemed puzzled. Then he broke into a grin. “You don’t recognize me, do you?”
     
    “No,” she said, cocking her head. “Should I?”
     
    “Sydney! Sydney Sherwin.” With a shove from his meaty hand, he slammed the car door. His light tan suit looked stained and rumpled, as if he’d been sleeping in it for days.
     
    “Of course.” She still couldn’t quite place either the name or the face.
     
    “Luther and Jack’s old buddy.”
     
    That was it. She remembered him now. Except this overweight, middle-aged mound looked nothing like the babyfaced young man she had known many years before. Without thinking, Sophie