Good Clean Murder: A Plain Jane Mystery (The Plain Jane Mysteries Book 1) by Traci Tyne Hilton

Author:Traci Tyne Hilton [Hilton, Traci Tyne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Proverbs 31 House LLC
Published: 2014-01-06T05:00:00+00:00

15

Jake drove his parents’ Jag to the Medical Examiner’s office.

The supple leather interior was immaculate, and, Jane had to admit, incredibly comfortable.

“You’ve got to forgive Phoebe. She’s off her meds.” Jake stared straight ahead, a look of serious concentration creasing his forehead.

“What meds?”

“For her ‘she’s crazy’ disorder.” Jake gunned his engine to make it through a yellow. “It runs in the family.”

“Can you be a little more specific?”

“Can I? I suppose I can be honest with Jane Adler, humble but righteous house-cleaner. Phoebe is bi-polar. She’s a brat when she’s medicated. When she’s off her meds she’s a crazy brat.”

“How crazy, Jake?”

“She just said she hated our dead mother. Is that crazy enough?” Jake cranked the wheel and made a fast, wide left turn.

“Yeah. I’d say so.” Jane watched the suburbs fly past. Was Phoebe crazy enough to kill? “So, Jake…do you think your parents were murdered?”

“Of course. Rich middle-aged Americans of average health don’t just up and die. Not first thing in the morning. Maybe on the tennis court, or after a long day at work, but not first thing in the morning.”

“I’m sorry, Jake. I really am.” Jane cracked her window to let in some fresh air, but the road noise was too much. She closed it again, willing to suffer the close atmosphere of the luxury car for the sake of the conversation. “Are you scared?”

“Never.” Jake slammed his brakes at a stop sign.

“Even though there is a murderer loose?”

“There’s always a murderer loose, isn’t there? If all the murderers were contained there wouldn’t be any murdered people. I can’t be scared every day, can I? So I’m not scared ever. It saves energy.” Jake took a curve too fast, throwing Jane into her door.

“Who do you think did it?” Jane’s stomach was roiling from the driving. The conversation didn’t help either.

“Fitch.”

“Fitch? In buildings and maintenance?”

“Yes. That Fitch. He never ordered my new equipment. He’s clearly out to get us.” Jake stopped the car in the middle of the quiet road. “Who do you think did it?”

Jane squeezed the handle of her door. “Shouldn’t you be driving?”

“Sure. Why not.” He started the car back up, but drove more slowly.

“Jake, why aren’t you grieving? I’m concerned for you.”

“Didn’t I say it earlier? Crazy runs in the family.” Jake merged onto a busy road. They were getting closer to the Medical Examiner's office.

Jane exhaled slowly. “It’s okay to be scared and sad right now. Do you realize that? No one expects you to be strong or funny, or brave.”

Jake slammed the brakes again, this time at a red light. “Leave it, Jane. Okay? No one cares what the housekeeper thinks.”

Jane left it. She rode the rest of the way to the ME’s office in silence.

When they arrived at the office Jane followed Jake inside the building. The receptionist with the big glasses sat at her desk, alone again.

Jake buzzed the button three times.

The receptionist glared at him for a moment. She turned back to the machine.

Jake buzzed the button again.

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