Better Off Dead in Deadwood by Ann Charles Read Free Book Online Page A

living, but he’d certainly lit one under Aunt Zoe at some period in the past and smoke still poured out of her ears whenever he came around. The last time he’d graced her kitchen, she’d gone down to the basement to find her shotgun shells. But dragging the truth out of her about what had happened between the two of them was about as easy as giving a kangaroo a French pedicure.
    “Then who’s the lucky guy?”
    “The owner of a glass gallery from over in Jackson Hole is in town for a few days and wants to talk about commissioning some designs for delivery by next summer.”
    Aunt Zoe owned a gallery in town that specialized in glass art pieces—mostly her own designs. As a kid, I’d spent summers helping out in her workshop behind the house and running the register at the gallery.
    “So, is this business or pleasure?” I asked.
    “Well, if he places the order, it would be enough money to cover my gallery costs for six months.”
    “That would be wonderful.” Especially since she had the added burden of me and my kids running up her utility bills here at home. Since we’d moved in, the only money she would take from me was for groceries. “So we’re talking business only then.”
    “Not only. He looks like a slightly older version of George Clooney.”
    “Yum.”
    “He could also charm the crown off the Queen of England.”
    “Good looks and charm, that’s a heady cocktail.” He sounded a lot like Reid, only the fire captain looked more like Sam Elliott.
    “Very heady. And my crown slips off much easier than hers.”
    I grinned at the wink she gave me as she slid the strap of her little black purse over her shoulder.
    “So, should I wait up to count your hickeys?”
    “Violet Lynn,” she said, shooting me a coy smile, “you’re too much.”
    “You don’t fool me, Aunt Zoe. I’ve seen some of the men you’ve dated. You’re not out there playing patty-cake with them.”
    “Well, that depends on your version of patty-cake.”
    She gave me a kiss on the cheek, and I could smell the exotic fruity scent of her favorite perfume that I hadn’t ever been able to pronounce correctly.
    “How are you now that the funeral is over?” she asked.
    Aunt Zoe had been at the service today, too, but she’d sat closer to the front with some mutual friends of Jane’s. Her friendship with Jane had been what had landed me the job. Months ago, she’d called in a favor and gotten me hired. Who’d have guessed we’d be attending Jane’s funeral such a short time later.
    “I’m okay.” I opted not to tell her about my trip to the police station right before her date or anything about the albino that had me jumping at shadows. I’d catch her up when she wasn’t about to go enjoy an evening off from me and my problems.
    “It’s time for life to go on now,” I added.
    She squeezed my shoulder. “Jane would want that from us.”
    I nodded, wondering if I should give Mona a call to see how she was doing or leave her be for the night. Her sobs when she’d first heard the news of Jane’s death last week still echoed in my head and tore at my heart.
    “The kids are upstairs playing Yahtzee,” Aunt Zoe said. “Have a fun night.”
    “You, too.” I followed her to the front door and closed it behind her.
    I shucked my shoes and climbed the stairs, following the sound of kids giggling to my bedroom. There, both Addy and Layne sat on the wood floor playing the dice game.
    “Why are you two in my room?”
    Layne didn’t even look up. “It’s more fun to dump the dice on your floor than our carpet.”
    Addy smiled at me, her jaw working the bubble gum in her mouth. “Hi, Mama. Did you have fun at your friend’s party?”
    I hadn’t told my kids yet about Jane’s death, so I’d lied about her service, telling them instead that I had a fancy dress party to attend for work.
    There were times in life I scared my kids with the truth, especially when it came to chasing a ball into a busy street or getting