Death Takes a Holiday by Elisabeth Crabtree Read Free Book Online Page A

to the connecting door leading to the vestibule and the other cars.
    Opening the door, Grace entered the vestibule. The sound of the train click-clacking along the rails and the rocking motion under her feet seemed intensified in the small room. Feeling a small chill from the two side doors flanking either side of her, Grace hurried to the opposite door leading to the other car.
    It was stunning. It had to be the observation car, lauded by the brochure, she decided. The room was simply decorated. It didn’t need much to be beautiful. A comfortable looking leather sofa and a dozen or so, dark chocolate colored leather chairs ran along both sides of the car. The chairs all faced away from the central aisle and toward the main draw of the observation car: the windows. Windows ran from along the side of the car and up to the ceiling, giving a panoramic view of the mountain above. The only other furnishings were small round end tables placed between the chairs and two built in bookcase on either side of the door.
    Grace sank down into the nearest chair. She leaned back, happy to discover the chair reclined, and looked above her as the train made its way up the mountain.
    S he was so focused on enjoying the scenery that she jumped a little when she heard a voice to her left. She swiveled her chair around slightly to see a man and a woman standing close together at the far end of the car. Both appeared to be in their late twenties. The first thing Grace noticed was the woman was impeccably dressed. She looked like she just stepped from the pages of a fashion catalog. She wore an expensive looking white corded sweater with brown corduroy pants and high-heel leather boots. Her dark-brown hair was tied back at the nape of her neck. A gold wristwatch, diamond necklace and matching earrings completed the look.
    The man was dressed just a bit more casually, in a pair of brown pants and a brown leather jacket. His close-cropped brown hair and brown eyes in addition to his attire gave him a sort of bland appearance. He stood behind the woman with one arm wrapped around her waist. They looked the picture of a happy couple.
    “I am u pset, Robert,” she said quietly.
    Or perhaps not, Grace thought, amending her initial impression.
    “ Would you please just try to enjoy yourself, Tracy?” Robert asked in a way that sounded like an oft-repeated refrain.
    Grace turned back to the window and tried to tune the other couple out. It wasn’t easy since they moved forward to stand next to the window and within Grace’s field of vision.
    “How can I? I’m scared of him, Robert,” the woman said softly.
    “Why? He’s harmless.”
    “How can you say that? He almost killed me in that fire.” Grace noticed the woman nervously rubbing her hand across her left arm.
    Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, Robert said, “I’m sorry, Tracy. You’re absolutely right.”
    Tracy dragged the left sleeve of her sweater down and held it tight around her wrist. “I wish you had been there that night.”
    “Me too.” Robert leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “I would never have let anything happen to you.”
    Tracy le aned into his embrace.
    Grace’s e yes drifted back to the window, but unwillingly went back to the couple when Robert started speaking again.
    “ If he contacts you again, hang up on him and then let me know immediately.”
    “ It’s not going to be that easy,” Tracy said wryly. “He’s—”
    Out of the side of her eye, Grace noticed Robert stiffen and back away. “It’s very easy, Tracy. If he calls, you hang up. Done. Promise me, you’ll do that.”
    Her eyes flashing, Tracy nodded curtly.
    “Look, I just don’t want you talking to him.”
    “Why?”
    “ Because I don’t want him upsetting you. Besides, it’s not good for him. When we get back home, I’ll go to the hospital and talk to him.”
    “ When was the last time you spoke to him?”
    Robert sh rugged. “A couple of months ago. Why?”
    Placing