Read Online Top O' the Mournin' by Maddy Hunter - Free Book Online Page B

Were you a former medical examiner?”
    “Nah. I just watch a lot of them forensic shows on the Discovery Channel on Tuesday nights.”
    Considering the scope of my grandmother’s knowledge, it was now apparent that I might have learned more from a constant diet of TV than from four years of higher education at the University of Wisconsin. I guess that said a lot about the quality of cable programming these days.
    I heard a rush of footsteps in the hall and a cry of alarm as the front desk clerk burst into the room. “Oh, Jaysuz. This is terrible. She didn’t sign out today, but I was thinking she’d simply forgot. Rita’s getting on in years, you know, and her memory’s failing. Is she going to be all right?”
    Liam McEtigan obviously never watched the Discovery Channel on Tuesday nights. I patted his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Liam, but she’s no longer with us.”
    “Are you sure? Her color’s not too good, but she uses off-brand cosmetics, so her color’s never that good.”
    I shook my head. Liam’s face crumpled. “This is terrible. Terrible. What am I going to do?”
    “You might want to call the coroner,” I suggested.
    “No, I mean, we only have one other chambermaid. Yours is the only group booked into the castle for the next few days, but one person can’t be cleaning all the rooms. We were hardly managing with two.”
    “Only two maids?” I marveled. “Maybe you need to improve your benefits package.”
    “We have good benefits. We even include dental. It’s—” He stopped short, looking as if another word would be one too many. Perspiration beaded his upper lip. He wrung his hands in nervous agitation. “I’d best call me da. He owns the local mortuary.”
    As he made to flee, Tilly thumped her cane on the floor. “Not so fast, young man! You can’t expect us to sleep here tonight. We’ll be needing other accommodations.”
    Liam wheeled around, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. “Of course. I’ll be seeing to it right away.” He sniffed suddenly, as if he were just now remembering to breathe. “I apologize for the smell, ladies. Jaysuz, this is terrible.”
    “It’s not so bad,” said Nana. “You should get a whiff a our bus.”
    “You’d better make your first phone call to the police,” Tilly instructed. “We don’t know if this woman died from natural causes or from more nefarious means. A thorough investigation must be conducted.”
    Liam shook his head. “Everyone will know what killed Rita. Bad heart. She was living on borrowed time, but she wasn’t one to sit at home to wait for the Grim Reaper. She wanted to keep working until the end. And look at her. That’s exactly what she did.” He blessed himself with a quick sign of the cross. “If you’d be good enough to accompany me, ladies. I’ll see about relocating you.”
    As Tilly and Nana hurried toward the door, I remained hovered over the corpse for a long moment. I wasn’t entirely convinced Rita had died from a heart attack. Judging from the look in her eyes, I’d have guessed she’d died of fright.
     
    My arms itched. My throat itched. The roots of my hair itched. Scratch scratch scratch, as I unlocked the door to my room. Scratch scratch scratch, as I flipped on the light switch.
    “This is awful nice a you to put us up for the night,” Nana said as she followed me into the room.
    “A poorly run operation,” said Tilly, thumping her walking stick for effect. “Imagine! A castle of this size and they haven’t one room available for emergency occupancy.”
    I scratched my arms. My throat. My scalp. Nana was philosophical. “With only two maids to clean this place, I’m surprised they’ve got rooms available at all. Did something bite you, Emily?”
    “I think it’s hives.” I rolled up my sleeve to discover a fresh crop of welts on my forearm.
    “That’s not good,” said Nana. “Bernice’s husband died from hives. Maybe you need medical attention.”
    I rushed into the