Digging Up Trouble by Heather Webber Read Free Book Online Page A

clearing had been done, at least.
    "You know, you need to finish this job ASAP."
    Meredith Adams's voice worked my last nerve. "Why's that?"
    "You cannot leave this yard in the state it's in. It's an eyesore. A blight on the neighborhood."
    "Is it?"
    "Yes, it is."
    "Will you sue me?" I asked, my voice low.
    She took a step back, out of range of my hand, which was itching to smack her.
    She tossed her long hair over her shoulder. She looked about my age, maybe a little older. "Besides, the work has been paid for. You've been paid. It's only right you finish the job."
    I didn't feel like explaining that I couldn't finish the job until I had the homeowner's permission. And judging by Greta's current state, I didn't think that was going to happen anytime soon.
    A deep masculine voice said, "That's not going to happen. At least not today."
    My stomach muscles clenched. I turned to find Kevin standing there, a speculative glint in his green eyes.
    "What's with you and dead bodies?" he asked.
    Meredith gasped. "You mean there's been more than one?"
    I fisted my hands and tucked them under my armpits so I wouldn't deck Little Miss Sunshine and Light.
    "None of them were my fault," I said, feeling defensive, especially when Meredith gasped again.
    "That remains to be determined."
    Uh-oh. "What are you doing here?" I asked. Kevin was a homicide detective. He, well, detected homicides. Which this wasn't. This was a heart attack.
    "Davis called about a suspicious death."
    "It's not suspicious. He had a heart attack."
    "Is it considered a heart attack if the victim is shocked to death?" Meredith piped in. "Because Russ Grabinsky was shocked by his backyard. Keeled right over when he saw it."
    I backed up a step so I wouldn't kick her. "It wasn't right over," I argued. "He went inside and everything before he came back out—"
    "And keeled over," Meredith said.
    "Who are you?" Kevin asked.
    "Meredith Adams. I'm the vice president of the Fallow Falls Homeowners Association."
    Kevin pulled out his notebook. I didn't know why. He never actually wrote anything down. He'd had that same notebook for four years. "And you knew the victim?"
    Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ginger Ho, er, Barlow coming up the slope along the side of the house. She stopped to look at the spot where Russ Grabinsky had died.
    Great. My day just kept getting better and better.
    Meredith's expression soured. "Everyone knew Russ."
    "Everyone hated Russ," I supplied.
    Both of them looked at me. "Oh, come on," I said. "One guy told me he was glad Russ was dead."
    Kevin's eyebrow jumped. "I'll need that name."
    "I don't know it. Though I did see him speak to Kate Hathaway, the Fallow Falls Homeowners Association presi dent, before he left. Tall guy, Nordic looking, blond, amazing cheekbones, light blue eyes."
    Kevin's other eyebrow dipped. "Amazing cheekbones?"
    "Well, it's hard not to notice them."
    "Do you think you should be noticing them? What would your Ken doll think?"
    Kevin had issues with Bobby, obviously. Issues he had no right to whatsoever. I gritted my teeth, spoke softly through them. "Probably the same thing Ginger would think if she knew you kissed me a month ago."
    Now his eyebrows waggled. "Still thinking about that, are you?"
    Argh!
    "Do you two know each other?" Meredith asked, confusion creasing the faint wrinkles on her forehead and pulling down the corners of her mouth.
    "She's my wife," Kevin said.
    "Almost ex," I pointed out.
    The divorce would be final in nine days.
    Nine days.
    My stomach hurt.
    "Isn't this a conflict of interest?" Meredith asked.
    "No," Kevin and I both said at once.
    "Who's Kate Hathaway?" he asked.
    I filled him in.
    "And the Nordic guy is her husband Dale." Color rose up Meredith's neck. "And he does have amazing cheekbones."
    I shot Kevin an I-told-you-so look.
    He ignored it. "Did Dale and Russ Grabinsky get along?"
    Meredith fidgeted. "I don't like to talk."
    Right.
    "This is an official investigation," Kevin told her. "You