Appraisal for Murder by Elaine Orr Read Free Book Online Page A

called to her, and Mrs. Riordan didn’t answer. Since I hadn’t heard her moving around, I’d opened the door and looked in, and there she was. There was nothing more to it than that. Nothing suspicious, like a loud thump before I went upstairs.
    The female police officer, who was quite a bit younger than Sgt. Morehouse, walked toward Michael and me and addressed her question to me. “Ms…” she glanced at her small notebook, “um, Gentle.”
    She pronounced it way most people did when they first tried out my name. I corrected her. “The “L” is silent. It’s pronounced zhan-tee, it’s French.” I have this memorized.
    “Oh, okay. Mind if I sit down?” She moved closer to me, on the opposite side of Michael.
    “Sure.” I glanced at her name badge. “Corporal Johnson. Did you meet Michael Riordan?”
    He nodded at her but did not extend a hand. Instead, he stood up and walked a few feet away from us.
    “Tough day for him,” I said, not at all sure why I was making excuses for him.
    “I’m sure it is,” she said. “I have a couple of questions for you, if you feel calmer now.” Michael cast a glance at me, and then moved farther away. When I didn’t object, she continued. “Exactly what did you see when you went into the bedroom.”
    I told her what I’d seen, which did not require a detailed explanation. She took notes, and only interrupted me once. “Her eyes were definitely open, then?” I assured her they were. I wouldn’t forget that expression for a good while.
    As she stood to go back into the house, Harry Steele’s car pulled up and Aunt Madge got out of it faster than I’d seen her move since the time I fell down her front porch steps. But, she didn’t come to me; she went straight to Michael. I saw her take one of his hands in both of hers, and then she gave him a hug. I also noticed her hair was now blonde.
    Harry walked toward me. “Are you all right? I wanted to come sooner, but I thought I should bring your aunt, and one of her guests said she had walked to the grocery store. I missed her there, and then went back to her house, and…”
    I smiled at him, and he stopped. “I’m okay. It was just a bit of a shock. I’m really sorry if I scared you, calling like that.” I couldn’t resist. “You didn’t mention anything like this in any of your other appraisal reports.”
    He looked dumbfounded at first, then shook his head slightly. “I guess your aunt knew what she was talking about when she said you’d be okay. She was much more worried about him.” He glanced toward them, and Michael and Aunt Madge were walking toward us.
    Aunt Madge looked to me. “Won’t you tell Michael how many extra rooms I have? I want him to know he can stay with us if he wants to.”
    I almost gulped at the thought. “She does, really. But if you would rather stay here, if you’ll stop by for muffins, she’ll feel better.”
    Michael almost smiled. He looked at Aunt Madge. “I’ll probably stay here, but I promise if I’m lonely I’ll come find you. I know you would be glad to have me.”
    I didn’t realize he could be that gracious, but then remembered he said she’d been his Sunday school teacher.
    I was introducing Harry when Sgt. Morehouse came back out. “Would you folks like to come into the house? I didn’t mean you should all wait out here.” He nodded to Aunt Madge.
    I found his words odd, as he had definitely wanted us outside. We followed him in and he offered condolences to Michael. “If you’d like to go upstairs and see her now, that would be okay. I have to ask you not to touch anything.” He led Michael upstairs, and I heard him repeating his explanation to me of how the police had to handle an unattended death.
    Aunt Madge slapped her hand against her thigh in frustration. “Such a shame she had not registered for hospice yet.” In response to my questioning look she added, “If you’re in hospice, they don’t treat unattended deaths this way.”
    This