Death By High Heels (The Kim Murphy PI Series Book 1) by Violet Ingram Read Free Book Online

that?” I asked.
    Instead of answering, she looked at me and smiled. The only answer I could think of was that Jackie must have spilled her guts.
    “Mom, you know I can’t. It’s an open case and it’s not even mine.”
    “So you’re going to sit in my house, eat my food, and refuse to help your baby sister? I can’t believe it. I thought I raised you better than that.”
    Guilt was a weapon my mom rarely used, but when she did, it was a beautiful sight, as long as it wasn’t pointed at me. It also became clear why my dad wasn’t present for dinner. No way was he going to get involved in the middle of this mess. At least not until he had to, and, oh God, did I hope it didn’t get bad enough that I needed his help.
    “Mom, you know he can’t help her,” Brandon said.
    My mom turned her stare on him. “Eat your dinner,” she ordered.
    For several minutes the only sound was the grandfather clock chiming to let us know it was five o’clock. Finally, Michael began to tell me what he knew, which was mostly information I had already learned. He wrapped up, suggesting I look into Brian’s ex-girlfriend.
    “Do you know her name?”
    “No, but she’s a waitress at The Spitting Parrot.”
    “Oh man, you’ve gotta mean Angie. The rest of the waitresses are either married or gay,” Brandon said.
    “Does Angie have a last name?” I asked.
    “I’m sure she does, I just don’t remember what it is,” Brandon replied.
    “Ha, ha, ha.”
    “If I were you, I’d avoid Tompkins. Man, was he pissed when he got back from the morgue.”
    “Michael, language.”
    “Sorry, Mom.”
    We finished dinner and my brothers took off for work. I helped clean up and put the dishes in the dishwasher.
    “Thanks,” I said.
    “You’re welcome for dinner anytime, dear.”
    “Yeah, well, for that and for getting Michael to discuss the case.”
    “You didn’t kill that young man, and since you’ve agreed to look into it, the least your brothers could do is help you.”
    “How did you know I was working this case?”
    “Kimberly, dear, you’re not the only one with informants,” she said, winking at me.
    “Mom, you’re the best.” I laughed and hugged her goodbye.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
    I grabbed the list of names and addresses off of the passenger seat. I made notes next to the names of the people I had already spoken with. Figuring my luck was due to run out, I picked up my phone and called the next person on my list. He answered and was willing to talk to me if I got there soon. He delivered pizzas and was due at work in an hour.
    I parked on the street in front of his apartment building and rang the doorbell. A man in his early twenties opened the door wearing a Domino’s Pizza shirt. He was six feet tall, with blond hair and gorgeous blue eyes. He looked like he should be on the cover of a men’s health magazine. “Hi, I’m looking for Kevin Alberts?”
    “I’m Kevin.”
    “Great. I’m Kim. I just spoke to you on the phone. I wanted to talk to you about Brian.”
    “Sure, you must also be the woman David mentioned.”
    “He mentioned me to you?”
    “Yup, he said some hot lady was asking stupid questions about Brian.”
    “He wasn’t exactly very helpful.”
    “Sorry about that. David’s a good guy. It’s just that Brian’s death hit him hard.”
    “How long did you know Brian?” I asked, keeping my opinion of David to myself.
    “Since high school. We hung out together, well, until recently anyway.”
    He invited me inside, but I declined. After spending time in Adam’s apartment, I wasn’t eager to go inside Kevin’s.
    “Can you think of any reason someone would want to murder him?” I asked.
    “Murder? I guess I assumed it was suicide,” he replied.
    “Why’d you think it was a suicide?”
    “He had been a bit depressed the last couple of months. It had gotten a bit worse lately. He didn’t even want to hang out anymore.”
    “Do you know