Grace Sees Red by Julie Hyzy Read Free Book Online Page A

snorted. “Everyone had a grudge against Gus.”
    â€œUh-oh,” Percy said.
    I turned to follow his gaze. The nurse we’d spoken with earlier, Debbie, led an elderly gentleman into the room. She rested one hand on his shoulder and patted his arm with the other. The man was tall but stooped. Wearing a heavy rain jacket and carrying a small, weighty bag, he used his free hand to shield his eyes. Although he didn’t appear to need the support Debbie offered, his body language suggested that he appreciated her presence.
    â€œWho is that?” I asked.
    Kyle had turned his chair enough to see where we were looking. “Anton,” he said in a hushed tone.
    â€œGus’s best friend,” Percy said.
    â€œBest friend?” Kyle asked. “Don’t you mean contraband smuggler?”
    â€œMore like a little of both.” Percy waved an elbow dismissively. “Either way, it looks like he just heard the news.”

Chapter 6

    Debbie shot us a silent plea for help. Percy nodded and the nurse brought Anton to our table. Reading the situation, Bennett got up to bring over yet another chair. He positioned it to his right, next to Percy. Our group had swelled to six around a table designed for two.
    â€œWhy don’t you sit with Kyle and Percy for a while, Anton?” Debbie said as she helped him into the seat and patted his shoulder. “The police will probably want to speak with you. I’ll let them know you’re here.”
    Eyes red, he looked up to thank her before turning his attention to the rest of us. Though my presence and Bennett’s seemed to confuse him, he mumbled a greeting. When he placed his bag in front of him, it hit the table with a heavy
thunk
.
    â€œWe’re all very sorry,” Percy said. “This must be a terrible shock.”
    Anton blinked glassy eyes. “What happened?” When he spoke, his voice cracked. The man was about Bennett’s age and just as tall. Where Bennett was athletic to the point of slim, however, Anton was bulky. He had a ruddy complexion,a wide, flat forehead, and a full head of gray hair. “Why are all the police here?”
    I held my breath, but before Percy or Kyle had a chance to answer, Frances said, “They believe Gus was murdered, and they think I did it.”
    Anton’s grief-stricken expression shifted from bewilderment to surprise before settling on outrage. “They are mistaken,” he said. There was a trace of Eastern Europe in his manner of speaking. “This is not possible.”
    â€œFrances and Gus had another blow-up this morning,” Kyle said. “That makes her Suspect Number One.”
    Anton reached a furry hand across the checkerboard to rest it atop Frances’s. “But of course you didn’t hurt Gus,” he said. “Why would anyone? He had no enemies.”
    Frances looked ready to argue the point, but my swift kick under the table warned her off.
    Anton evidently hadn’t expected an answer. He sat back again and turned to the group. “Why do the police suspect murder? What don’t I know?”
    Under the table, Frances returned my kick before getting to her feet. “I need to visit the ladies’ room.” She turned to me. “You probably ought to come along so you know where it is. We may be here a while.”
    Nothing like a subtle hint.
“Sure,” I said. “Good idea.”
    Frances took off out of the room at a speedy pace. I caught up with her in the hallway. She didn’t break stride even when I fell into step next to her. Her hands were fisted, her brow tight. “Not a word. Not yet.”
    Three-quarters of the way down the long corridor, she made a sharp left and pushed her way into a door marked W OMEN .
    Three cream-colored stalls lined the right side of the utilitarian room. Frances placed her hands on her knees and half-bent, half-crouched to check under each of the closed doors.
    I pushed at