Read Online Trouble and Treats (A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery Book 6) by Cindy Bell - Free Book Online Page B

footing. With one hand on the railing she was able to catch herself before she slipped. The shock that rippled through her in reaction to almost falling was so potent that she nearly cried out, which would have surely drawn Jack’s attention. The thought that immediately entered her head was whether they were wrong, had Emma just slipped? She ran to the back door and froze near the hedge when she heard the hood of the car slam shut.
    “I don’t see any problems. Maybe you should try starting it again.”
    “Okay, I’ll do that.” Charlotte looked towards the house then got into the driver’s seat. She turned the keys in the ignition and the engine roared to life. “Wow! You must have done something!” She smiled as she stuck her head out the window.
    “No, I don’t think so. I just looked at it.” He leaned against the window frame. “I guess it’s working now though.”
    Charlotte nodded and smiled. “Thanks so much.  I appreciate it.”
    “Sure, I guess.” He smiled in return and waved to her as he walked back towards the house. Ally waited until she heard the front door close, then she ran to the car. She ducked down as she crawled into the passenger side.
    “Go, Mee-Maw, get us out of here.” She had just pulled the door shut as her grandmother pulled away from the curb and began to drive.
    “Are you okay?” Charlotte glanced over at her then looked back through the windshield. “I was so worried about you.”
    “I’m okay thanks to you. If you hadn’t drawn him out he would have caught me. Who knows what would have happened then.”
    “Don’t even think about it. Did you find anything?”
    “Not really. Other than the fact that the bedroom was torn apart. I thought that someone must have ransacked it. But when Jack walked in, he didn’t react to it. It wasn’t a surprise to him.”
    “You think he ransacked his own bedroom?”
    “I think he must have. He didn’t call the police, or question what happened.”
    “Maybe he experienced a surge of grief that drove him to do it. People grieve in different ways. He might have become overwhelmed with the reminders of Emma hanging in the closet.”
    “Maybe.” Ally sighed and rested her head against the window.
    “Or maybe he already knew it was ransacked so it wasn’t a surprise to him. Maybe he just hasn’t tidied it up, yet.”
    “That’s possible.” Ally nodded. “The rest of the house was immaculate from what I could see. But I didn’t have too much time to look around.”
    “Yes, he pulled into the driveway very fast. I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you more time to get out.”
    “Mee-Maw, don’t be sorry. You protected me.” Ally leaned her head back against the seat and sighed again. “That was way too close. Could you imagine if he’d caught me?” She stared out through the windshield. “Let’s head over to Gary’s and see what we can find out.”
    “I’m already going in that direction. But are you sure that you’re up for it, Ally?”
    “I am. I’ll be fine by the time we get there.”
    Ally did her best to settle her nerves on the drive to Gary’s house. However, the more she thought about Jack’s room being a mess, and him not even reacting, the more it bothered her. Why would he tear apart the closet and throw his wife’s clothes on the floor? It didn’t seem like a normal reaction of grief to her. Maybe he was looking for something. But even if he was it seemed odd to her that he would make such a mess and not clean it up after.

Chapter Nine
     
    Ally sighed as Charlotte turned the car down the road that led to Gary’s apartment.
    “Do you think he’ll be home?” Ally asked.
    “Maybe. I don’t know. Do you remember what he drove?”
    “A white truck.”
    “Okay, we can keep our eyes peeled for it. Here we are.” Charlotte turned into the parking lot of the apartment complex and parked a few spaces away from the space assigned to Gary’s apartment. It was empty, but Ally knew better than to