Honeysuckle Homicide (Trash-to-Treasure Crafting Mystery) by Rose Pressey Read Free Book Online

It was probably just a faulty lid —at least that was what I’d convinced myself.
    I handed him the card. “I found this in the Dumpster.”
    He looked at me. “The Dumpster?”
    I shrugged. “What can I say? I found a great picture frame.”
    He held back a grin and then said, “I’ll bag this for evidence, but we already checked the trash in the area.”
    “I don’t know what to tell you, that’s where I found it.”
    Kent placed a call. I assumed he was having the area searched again.
    “I guess I’ll go home now. I have a deadline for an article for the paper.” I pointed at my found item.
    Ken t picked up the frame and carried it over to the back of his car. I was kind of protective of my treasures and I wondered what he was doing with it. He unlocked the trunk and placed the frame inside.
    “That’s not evidence,” I said.
    He laughed. “Come on. I’ll drive you home. It’s too hot to walk and carry that.”
    I’d carried heavier and in hotter conditions, but the offer was sweet , so I didn’t refuse. Plus, the air conditioning in his car felt good when I slipped in the passenger seat. I was just glad I wasn’t handcuffed and placed in the back.
    It was only a minute until he pulled up in front o f my house. He shoved the gear into park and looked over at me.
    “Thanks for calling me with what you found,” he said.
    “Just doing what I can to help you.” I picked at the edge of my shirt.
    “You have a little something in your hair .” He reached out and pulled the item from my head.
    I took th e piece of scrap paper from his hand. At least it hadn’t been something worse like an old food wrapper or something equally stinky from the trash.
    “I gu ess I’d better go inside.” I gestured.
    “I’ll walk you to your door.” Kent opened his door and came around to open mine.
    I wondered if Kent saw Ross’ mother watching us from the bushes.

Chapter Seven
     
    Doreen Perkins took off when we got out of the car. Kent heard movement, but I told him it was a bird. She was nuts, but I figured she would leave me alone soon, no need to involve the police. As much as I didn’t get along with her, I knew she was hurting because her son was in jail. Even after all that Ross and I had been through, I didn’t wish him harm. I honestly hoped the police found the real killer and let Ross go.
    Kent kissed me on the cheek and said goodbye. He was going back to the scene of the crime to have another look. I should have asked if I could tag alon g. Earlier I’d thought I should avoid the scene, now I wondered if I would see a missed clue.
    As soon as I was inside , I grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and settled at the counter stool to complete my project. Once I finished, I’d write the article for Claire Ann.
    I had a bit of burlap left over from a pillow I’d made , so I cut a piece to fit in the picture frame I’d found. Once I’d secured the back on the frame again, I turned it over and pulled out my new window marker I’d picked up at Wal-Mart in Belleville, the next town over. We didn’t have a craft store or even a Wal-Mart in Honeysuckle.
    With the marker I wrote directly on the glass. Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air . The turquoise color of the marker complimented the white frame. Using the markers on the glass, I could change the quote any time I wanted. It was a simple project, but would have a big impact on my dining room wall. The cost had been next to nothing.
    Over the past week, I had been working on a larger project that I thought would be finished in time for this week’s article. I’d been sidetracked with painting my bedroom walls and hadn’t completed it in time. A couple weeks ago I’d discovered a perfectly good dresser sitting along someone’s curb. I’d put it in the backseat of my Mustang and picked up a gorgeous shade of turquoise paint and chestnut-colored glaze to go over it. My idea was to turn it into a media center