Grace Sees Red by Julie Hyzy Read Free Book Online

time.”
    Percy gestured with his elbow. “There’s nothing dangerous about those.”
    â€œI didn’t say there was.” More poison darts.
    â€œWhat about it?” I asked.
    Frances resumed the story. “One of the nurses came in toflush it—they have to do that every couple of days so it doesn’t get infected—and that’s when they found Gus dead.”
    â€œWhich nurse?” Kyle asked.
    â€œThat skinny male nurse. The tall one with the bad complexion,” Frances said. “His name is Santiago something-or-other.”
    â€œSo how do they know Gus was murdered?” I asked. “I can’t imagine a gunshot would go unnoticed around here. Was he stabbed? Smothered?”
    â€œThey didn’t give me specifics. All I know is that they found something in Gus’s room that shouldn’t have been there.”
    â€œWhat did they find?” Bennett asked.
    â€œThey wouldn’t tell me.”
    â€œThat’s not very helpful,” I said.
    â€œYou think?” Frances grimaced. “They were waiting for me to say something that would prove I was there, so that they could claim I had insider knowledge. But I can’t give them information I don’t possess.” She tightened her arms across her chest and twisted around to face the rest of the room. Raising her voice, she said, “You all heard that loud and clear, right? I didn’t do it.”
    A few of the room’s inhabitants shot furtive glances to one another and pretended not to be paying us any attention. A couple of people shifted in their seats.
    Cathy came hurrying over, slightly out of breath as though she’d run the entire way down the hall. “Just so you know,” she said when she got to our table, “the police said they don’t know how soon they plan to allow you back in your rooms. So if you need something, you’ll have to ask one of us to get it for you.”
    â€œKyle and I aren’t sleeping in here tonight,” Percy said. “Not a chance.”
    â€œOf course not.” Cathy giggled, which seemed an odd reaction, given the events of the day. “We’re looking into options in case the police stay here really late.”
    â€œThere aren’t any open apartments in our wing,” Percy said. “They better not stick us together in one of those dormrooms where we have to share a TV and a bathroom. I don’t want to listen to the kid snore all night.”
    â€œI don’t snore,” Kyle said. “I breathe heavily.”
    â€œIt’s not for sure. And it would only be temporary,” Cathy said. “We’ll have to make do until we get the all clear from the police.”
    Percy shook his head. “No way. Frances pays an arm and a leg for me to stay in the apartment.” He flailed his elbows. “And it took two arms and two legs—mine—to get me in here in the first place.”
    Cathy was the only one who laughed at Percy’s attempt at humor. “Oh, you,” she said with a flirtatious giggle. To Frances: “He’s so funny.”
    â€œFunny doesn’t begin to describe him,” Frances said.
    â€œAnyway, I came to give you both that update. If anything else comes up, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
    A moment later, she was gone.
    â€œShe certainly is chipper,” I said.
    â€œCathy’s all right,” Kyle said. “I’ll take her over Santiago any day.”
    â€œYou mean the nurse who found Gus,” I said. “What’s wrong with him?”
    â€œHe’s nosy.” Frances leaned forward again. “Always butting into everybody else’s business. I’d like to open his closet and see how many skeletons tumble out.”
    I resisted the urge to make eye contact with Bennett. I knew at that moment we were both thinking about pots and black kettles. “Did he have a grudge against Gus?” I asked.
    Frances