A Mother's Day Murder (Mt. Abrams Mysteries Book 1) by Dee Ernst Read Free Book Online

one filled with men’s socks.
    “Nobody packs everything they own just to take a trip, no matter how long they think they’ll be gone.” I said, closing the last drawer slowly.
    “Where did all her clothes go, if she didn’t pack them in her car and drive away?” Shelly asked.
    Maggie shuddered. “Let’s get out of here. This place is too perfect. It’s giving me the creeps.”
    As I stepped back into the landing, I looked up and saw the attic access panel. I stopped so short that Shelly bumped me from behind.
    “What?” she asked, then followed my stare. “Do you think?”
    I shrugged and reached up, grabbing the chain, and pulling open the attic steps.
    My house had the same access. I unfolded the ladder, and we all looked up into the darkness.
    “I went up the stairs first,” I said. “Somebody else can climb up there first.”
    Maggie took a deep breath and climbed up the ladder.
    I guess I was expecting her to scream in horror, or at least gasp. What she did is laugh and come back down the steps.
    “Cleanest attic I have ever seen,” she said, refolding the ladder and pushing it back up. “Neatly arranged file boxes and an empty clothing rack. Totally boring.”
    We went back downstairs and out the back door. Carol was sitting on the picnic table bench, a dog leash in each hand, and a disgusted expression on her face.
    “Done? What were you all thinking, just going into that man’s house like that? You should all be ashamed of yourselves. And I bet you didn’t learn a thing.”
    I took Boot’s leash and shook my head. “Wrong there. We did learn something. Lacey doesn’t live here anymore.”

Chapter 4
    W e were in my kitchen , drinking coffee, not talking. I had three projects waiting for me upstairs, and I wouldn’t get paid this week if I didn’t finish them, but all I could think about was the empty dresser drawers in the Mitchell house.
    Shelly had spooned sugar into her coffee and was still stirring it, and the spoon was making soft clinking noises as it hit the sides of the mug. I had been listening to it for what seemed to be ten minutes.
    “Shel, stop stirring,” I growled. “I think your sugar has dissolved by now.”
    She shot me a look. “What’s with you anyway? You’re a bit touchy.”
    “I think something awful happened to Lacey,” I blurted out. “I can’t stop thinking about her. Which is so weird, because I don’t know her well and certainly don’t like her very much. Carol, do you have a number for this Sam person?”
    She shook her head. “No, but I can get one. I’ll see if we can get an appointment later this morning.” She pushed away from the table, got up, and put her mug in the sink. “Shelly, all her clothes were really gone? How very distressing. And before Mother’s Day. Poor Lacey. And her poor little boys.”
    I could hear Cait on the stairs, and she came into the kitchen wearing a T-shirt and a thong. She froze, looked around, then glared at me.
    “Gee, Mom, thanks for the warning.”
    I waved a hand. “Why are you worried? Shelly used to see you naked. So did Carol. You usually aren’t up this early.”
    “Yeah, I know. It’s weird. Hey, everyone, just comin’ by for coffee.” She waved and popped a pod in the Keurig. “Are you having a meeting or something? You look pretty serious.”
    “We’re going to the police about Lacey Mitchell,” I told her.
    She nodded. “Wow. Well. Are you going to take it to Missing Persons?”
    Carol shook her head. “No, dear, I know a detective there. Sam Kinali. Your mother told me about France. How very exciting for you.”
    Caitlyn actually blushed. Cait grew up loving words, and for her, the library was almost sacred, which put Carol on some sort of pedestal from which she would never be able to climb down. “Thanks, Mrs. B. Yeah, I’m pretty stoked. You make sure Mom doesn’t go too crazy.”
    Carol smiled graciously and left. Shelly sat back and stared at Cait. “Are you sure this isn’t