Dogs and More Dogs, Another Murder by Christa Nardi

Author:Christa Nardi [Nardi, Christa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780999142974
Published: 2019-03-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

We walked in. I left the door open to let in some air and light. We followed the larger path and the chief pointed out narrower paths on either side. Only a narrow sliver of windows was visible, letting in only minimum light. I wanted to turn on lights but didn’t see any switches. I noticed some stacks high and some lower, with no dust on the low ones. Stacks had been moved, probably to gain access.

The wider path ended at the stairs, which were remarkably clear. Probably necessary to get Justine’s body out of the house. A quick few steps into the kitchen and a narrow path that paralleled the counter, sink, stove and refrigerator. The back door was hidden – if the house had gone up in flames there’d have been only one way out.

Upstairs, the smell was worse. The hallway was only cleared on the short end. Justine’s room. Mrs. Wharton gasped and leaned against the wall of boxes. “The smell. Can’t we open some windows or something? Is the heat on?”

“If we could get to them, we could, only then if it rains… We ordered the heat to be turned off. This…” He waved his arms. “…is a major fire hazard. Lucky the place didn’t burn down.”

She nodded and stepped toward the master bedroom. She pushed the door as far open as it could get and gasped again. The chief caught her as she fainted. He motioned for me to close the door, which I did. I caught a glimpse in the process and understood her reaction. Nothing had been cleaned up after Justine’s death.

The chief stayed with her and I ventured to the other end, a tight squeeze for my size ten body. I could only open the other three doors enough to identify them. A bathroom which had the most open space, a pink room, and a blue room. I walked back as Mrs. Wharton regained her strength.

“The doors to the other rooms only open part way. The bathroom is the most accessible. I’m not sure that tells you much.”

She shook her head. “This is unbelievable. I have to take a picture even if it feels ghoulish. Jacob won’t believe me without a picture. He’ll be very angry.”

She pulled out her phone and took a picture of the hall. We went back downstairs. She took one of the kitchen and one of the main living area. Then she headed for the door.

“Mrs. Wharton, before we leave the house, at least as of October, Justine still had cash on hand to pay Dan when he mowed. Do you have any idea where she might have kept it? With no idea how much money we are talking about, I’d be more comfortable if we could find it and account for it.”

Her mouth dropped. “I don’t know.” She looked around at the many boxes and threw her hands up in the air.

“You’re right. It could be in any one of these boxes or stacks. Chief, have you eliminated the most accessible places?”

“Like where?”

“The kitchen.

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