Second Chance at Hope by Joanna Campbell Slan

Author:Joanna Campbell Slan [Slan, Joanna Campbell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spot On Publishing, a division of Luminary LLC
Published: 2018-12-11T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30

The operator asked me to stay on the phone, but I hung up on her and called Lou. He answered on the first ring. “Need another ride? Running away from another bad date?”

“S-s-she’s dead.”

“Who is? Can’t be Skye. Can’t be MJ. Or Honora. I just walked outta your store. In fact, I’m parked here out front and—” He hesitated a half a tick. “Is it your sister? You didn’t do anything stupid, did you?”

“No way! It’s Danielle Cronin from Vintage Threads.”

“Slow down, partner. Exactly where are you?”

“Port Saint Lucie.”

“Port Saint Lucie? What are you doing up there?”

I could hear him shaking his head. I could imagine him thinking all this through.

“Are you safe?” he asked.

“Y-y-yes. I’m sitting in my car in her driveway in broad daylight with the doors locked.”

“Have you dialed 911?”

“Yes, and they’re sending someone.”

“Where did you find her body?”

“I didn’t. Not exactly. I knocked on the door. She didn’t come. We had an agreement for me to drop off money. I went around the house and smelled it. Her. Whatever.”

“But you didn’t go inside, did you?”

“No.”

“So you don’t know for sure that she’s dead?”

“There are a lot of flies. Zillions of them.” I covered my mouth and tried not to heave. When the urge passed, I said, “Lou, it smells like when you found that dead woman. Remember? I’m sure something awful has happened to Danielle. She didn’t answer her phone or her door and her car is still here. The fan in her lanai is turning. Why would she leave the house and not turn it off?”

“Gotcha. Sit tight. Keep your doors locked. I’m gonna call a pal over in PSL. I’ll call you right back.”

It occurred to me that I could go and knock on a neighbor’s door, but why? Danielle had to be dead. Why get another person involved? And what if a neighbor was the killer?

“No, no, no.” I buried my face in my hands. “This cannot be happening to me.”

But it was.

I turned on the ignition, turned up the A/C, and cranked up the radio full blast. At least until the authorities arrived, I could pretend my life was normal. I could enjoy the cool air and the tunes.

Lou called me right back. “My buddy at PSL will meet you at the house. Ron Cisco. I told him you’re good people, except—”

“Except?”

“You’re better at finding corpses than a trained cadaver dog, Cara. I swear, you need a new hobby.”

“Don’t I know it,” I said, but I was talking to my steering wheel.

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