"A Murder In Milburn", Book 3: Death In The Library by Nancy McGovern Read Free Book Online

the large upper windows.
    “What man?” Tina squinted. “Uncle Horace, you’re not even wearing your spectacles.”
    “But those are my reading spectacles. I saw a man up there, I swear,” Uncle Horace said.
    “I’m getting back in the car and calling the garage,” Tina said. “I’m soaked, so are you all. The last thing we need is one of us to fall sick.”
    Uncle Horace got in too.
    Only Nora remained outside, staring at the house. Horace was right. She thought she saw some movement upstairs too. Should she knock and ask for help?  
    Tina unrolled the window, and stuck her head out. “The garage said they’ll be here in an hour, maybe an hour and a half,” she said sadly. “My battery’s almost dead, and the signal is pretty weak too.”
    “Try calling someone in town,” Nora said. “They should give you details on the arrest.”
    “Completely my fault,” Uncle Horace chimed in. “I should have asked for details, I know. But when I heard that the sheriff’s arrested someone, I’m afraid I stopped thinking.”
    “I’ll call May Almand,” Tina said. “There isn’t much that goes around town that she doesn’t know about.”
    Nora nodded.
    Tina paused, “Nora, why are you still standing out there? Come back in the car and wait. The rain’s just getting worse each second.”
    “I’m going to go knock on the door,” Nora said, making up her mind.
    “Are you sure that’s wise?” Uncle Horace coughed. “I don’t mean to be paranoid, but a woman’s just been murdered. This isn’t the right time for a young lady to go about knocking on doors at sundown.”
    “Uncle Horace is right,” Tina said. “I should come with you.”
    “Don’t be silly, both of you,” Nora said. “I’m already soaked anyway, there’s no need for you two to be soaked again. Stay right here, and if I’m not back in fifteen minutes, come look for me. All right?”
    “All right.” Tina rolled up her window.
    By the time she made her way to the front door, Nora was shivering. Her pretty ballerina shoes were now caked in mud, and the hem of her olive green dress was spackled with it, as were the back of her legs. Harvey kept telling her to keep an emergency kit with an umbrella, blanket and a change of clothes in the car. Nora sighed, and promised herself she’d do it as soon as she got home.
    She rang the doorbell once, then twice. The driveway, she noticed, was covered with tire-tracks that were slowly dissolving in the rain. People were definitely here, or had been recently. She rang the bell again, and peered through the side window, wondering if Uncle Horace had just been hallucinating. A hand tapped her on the shoulder.  
    Nora jumped, and gave a little scream. She whirled around, and two hands caught her by the shoulders. Ready to strike out, she suddenly paused. Harvey.
    He grinned at her, water dripping into his eyes. “Well, this is a nice surprise,” he said.
    “Harvey? What are you doing out here.”
    “Minding my own business in the garage when I heard you knock.” He jerked his thumb at the garage. “What are you doing here?”
    “My car broke down. We were trying to get into town, now we’re stranded,” Nora explained.
    “Ah.” Harvey took a step forward. “Looks to me, like somebody is in need of a knight in shining armor.”
    “How about a knight in a tow truck?” Nora smiled. “Tina’s called one. They should be here in an hour.”
    “Or,” Harvey said, “I could take you all to town in my car.”
    “We’re soaking wet. We’d ruin your precious leather seat.”
    “Hmm.” Harvey considered this. “Yes, well, I suppose you can pay me for the inconvenience.” He took another step forward. “So, cash or kiss?”
    What Nora loved about Harvey was the way his face would glow sometimes when he looked at her. With other people, he was alternately smooth and charming, or sarcastic and cold. Even when he was relaxed and friendly, he always had his guard up, somehow. First and