Death on Arrival: A Helen Bradley Mystery (Helen Bradley Mysteries Book 1) by Rushford Patricia H

Author:Rushford, Patricia H. [Rushford, Patricia H.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Patricia H. Rushford
Published: 2014-05-28T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Joe stepped inside with his gun drawn and came out seconds later. Holstering his weapon, he said, “No one else is here and nothing seems out of place. Helen, maybe you and I can take a closer look. Kate, I shouldn’t let you come inside. We might be looking at a crime scene.”

“No problem. I’ll wait in the car. I wouldn’t want to mess up any evidence.” Though the remark came off as a bit sarcastic, Kate seemed relieved.

Helen nodded. “It’s probably for the best. In fact, you can take my car and either go back to the house or wait for me at Rosie’s.”

Kate agreed. “I’ll head back to the house and finish straightening things up.”

“Did you ever figure out if anything was missing from your place?” Joe asked as Kate pulled out of the driveway.

“Nothing so far. Like I said before, I think the house was staged to make it look like a burglary attempt gone bad. And with the information or lack of it surrounding Janelle, I’m thinking she may have been the target all along.”

“Could be. Let’s see if the house can tell us anything about our mysterious Janelle Cooper.

“Or whatever her name is,” Helen added.

Joe stepped aside and motioned for Helen to go in front of him.

“Maybe there’s something here that will give us an idea as to her identity.” Helen paused to take in the decor. The house looked like something her mother might have lived in. The furnishings, early American, came complete with crocheted doilies on nearly every flat surface. The rug was a burnt orange shag and the stove and refrigerator a pale, sickly yellow. Likely, Betty had decorated the interior fifty years ago and no one had done anything to change it.

“That’s what I’m hoping.” Joe said. “Why don’t you get started? “He dangled Janelle’s keys. “I want to check the locks to see if one of her keys fits. At least then we can be fairly certain she was living here.”

“I think I can attest to that already.” Helen nodded toward the photos on the refrigerator. “This is Janelle and Betty at some kind of party at the care facility.”

Joe leaned forward for a closer look. “I still don’t get it. Why would Janelle pretend to be Betty’s daughter?”

“And why create this persona?” Helen rubbed at a sore spot on her shoulder. Maybe once this was over she’d treat herself to a massage. The trip home with all those hours in the air created arthritic aches in a number of her joints.

“Living in Betty’s house, pretending to be a daughter.” He shrugged, “Sounds like something a con-artist might do. People prey on the elderly all the time.”

“I still have a hard time seeing Janelle as a criminal. She seemed like such a kind-hearted person.” Helen began pulling out drawers in the kitchen. She and Joe would work their way through the house. With any luck, they’d find some answers.

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