Christy Barritt - Squeaky Clean 07 - Mucky Streak by Christy Barritt Read Free Book Online

take in, huh?”
    I nodded. “You can say that again. And I don’t mean that in a bad way.”
    “Oh, I totally understand. They’re great. If you want something done, they’re the people you want to talk with. They’re driven, type As, have detailed five step plans on how to organize anything, and succeed at everything they try.”
    “Sounds like I came to the right place. B y the way, why don’t you include yourself in that mix?”
    She shrugged, a touch of sadness coming over her. “I was more like my dad. Laidback. A dreamer. Idealistic. I like to take life at a slower pace and smell the roses. I always say I was born in the wrong era. I think my dad was the only one who understood that.”
    I’d wondered where her dad was. The past tense Holly spoke with made it clear. “I’m sorry. I lost my mom. It’s hard.”
    “Yes, it is hard.” She frowned before pulling in a quick breath. “The good news is that, since I have to take the next few days off or lose the time, and since I have always been fascinated with mysteries, I’m at your service.”
    “Really? You wouldn’t mind doing that?”
    “Not at all. In a way, you’d be letting me live a long buried fantasy of being Nancy Drew.”
    I smiled. “I’d hate to hold you back from doing that.”
    “I actually have an idea for you, if I’m not being too forward.”
    My curiosity was pricked. “No, please.”
    She grinned. “Okay, here goes. Fasten your seat belt, though.”

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 5
    Holly shifted and tapped a cotton candy pink fingernail against her snow-white coffee mug. “It’s like this: My friend is a part of this group of armchair detectives who like to try solving cold case files online. It’s kind of crazy sounding, but they’ve actually solved twenty some crimes. Not my friend specifically, mind you, but the hundreds of members in the group … she said to clarify.”
    “Sounds fascinating.”
    “I was hoping you might think that.” She glanced at her watch. “In fact, I thought I’d introduce you to her.”
    “That sounds great. You’re all going above and beyond. I can’t help but feel like …”
    “Like maybe God ordained all of this?” She smiled. “Me too. I’m a big believer that there are no coincidences in life.”
    The doorbell rang.
    Holly grinned and pointed toward the front of the house. “And right on time, here she is. She’s so punctual that you can set your clock by her.”
    They were making my job too easy. At l east all the excitement was taking my mind off the fact that Riley hadn’t called.
    Except, t hat thought had reminded me that Riley hadn’t called.
    Poo.
    Holly answered the door and ushered in a black woman with super curly hair springing from her head like rays from the sun. “I’m Jamie. You must be Gabby.”
    I extended my hand. “So nice to meet you.”
    She had a laptop tucked under her arm and a curiously mischievous expression on her face. “I love cold cases. But as soon as I heard you were investigating, I wanted to help. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Help is always good. Can’t you tell me a little bit about what you do?”
    “We’re an organization—unofficial—and we like to stick our nose where it doesn’t belong.”
    “I like you already.”
    She snapped her fingers. “I know, girl. I always say, blessed are the nosy ones for they find things out. Important things.”
    I couldn’t help but laugh.
    “I haven’t solved a crime yet, but I will.” She pulled open her laptop on the breakfast table. She typed in a few things and a moment later a website popped up. “So, this is what we do. My friends and I post information on cold cases—mostly missing persons or unsolved murders. We have thousands of visitors to our site every day.”
    “ Thousands?”
    She nodded. “Our total reach so far is four million.”
    “Enough said.”
    “You know it. Everyone wants to be an armchair detective, you know? People scour the Internet, and it’s amazing