Read Online Toured to Death by Hy Conrad - Free Book Online

possibility of robbery. Narrowing down the suspects. “Do you think the killer found what he was looking for? The motive couldn’t be—”
    â€œMotive? Amy, this isn’t one of your little puzzles. Who knows why people kill people in real life?”
    â€œMom, you don’t have to tell me.”
    Fanny was sobered by the reminder. “I’m sorry, dear. But then, you know better than anyone that some murders are senseless and don’t get solved. They’re not like your books.”
    â€œYou’re right. This is real,” Amy agreed. But unlike Eddie’s murder, this one did feel like a book. A man had been killed just hours after selling them a mystery game, a game that no one but an unnamed assistant knew the solution to, a game that might be based on a real-life murder. “Mom, I think we should cancel.”
    She realized almost as soon as she said it that this was impossible. Too much money had been spent, money that would have to be refunded in full since there was no concrete reason why the rally couldn’t continue. Everything was going smoothly, even if she didn’t know much more than the players knew. At each hotel along the way, packets were already awaiting her arrival.
    To Amy, the idea of blindly following clues left by a dead man was ghoulish at best and probably dangerous. But her pampered guests wouldn’t see it that way. Her own mother didn’t see it that way, even after she informed her of Georgina’s claim.
    â€œSo?” Fanny replied, unimpressed. “A lot of fiction is taken from real life. If Otto had based the game on Jack the Ripper, would you still want to cancel?”
    â€œJack the Ripper is dead.”
    â€œAnd so is Otto,” she countered, with logic so arcane that Amy had no idea how to respond.
    â€œCan I at least tell them about Otto’s death? Would that be acceptable?”
    â€œOf course. But don’t mention the murder.”
    â€œDon’t they have a right to know?”
    Fanny’s sigh was almost deafening. “Amy, dear, it would just worry them. And worrying won’t do any good. Right? If Otto’s assistant really does exist—”
    â€œ If? What do you mean, if?”
    â€œDon’t go off the deep end. But the thought crossed my mind. Otto might have made up the part about an assistant, just to placate us and hike up his fee.”
    â€œHe exists,” Amy insisted. “Why do you have to make things worse? He’s following the tour, like Otto said. Maybe he’s actually on the tour. That’s possible.”
    â€œFine,” Fanny said. “Then the two of you can do the worrying for everyone.”
    â€œOkay, okay,” Amy shot back. “I’m sorry I called. We’ll handle it on our own.”

CHAPTER 6
    I n the breakfast room the next morning, she broke the news, being careful not to imply a violent death, merely an unexpected one. Her guests seemed momentarily saddened, the same way they might react to the news of an earthquake in China or the death of an old film star they’d assumed was already dead.
    â€œThis was Otto Ingo’s very last game,” Burt Baker said with gravity and a touch of pride. “We should dedicate it to his memory.”
    Amy had never understood what dedicating something meant. It wouldn’t change the game’s outcome or how it was played or even what they were thinking as they played it. People liked to dedicate things. But what did it mean? She was in a cynical mood.
    By acclamation, the living detectives dedicated their efforts to the deceased game master, then turned back to their coffee and croissants. Amy was tempted to ask Otto’s assistant to identify himself—if he was there, which was by no means a sure thing. But under the circumstances, mere seconds after the announcement of Otto’s death, she felt it would be too much like asking if there was a doctor in the house or a