Murder in Barbados: An Anna Winters Cozy Mystery (Murder in Paradise Book 4) by Penelope Sotheby Read Free Book Online Page A

poison that had been used for the murders at the other hotels.
    “It must be easy to obtain after all.” Anna said out loud.
    Anna wondered who supplied the poison and why it had been used so many times without authorities putting an end to its availability. She made a mental note to suggest to the detective that the poison be traced to its supplier. Then they might be able to find out who bought it and was present at all the weddings.
    As she had come in contact with the vial, she wondered if the toxic residue would get on her hands and pose a problem for her. Not wanting to find out, she walked into the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror as she washed her hands thoroughly.
    Looking at her reflection, she could see the stress lines crawling across her face. Her hair also had a streak of grey in it that she hadn’t noticed before. All of this had started as soon as the murders started. She felt somehow responsible, and the relationship problems that she was having at the moment didn't help either.
    She knew the job was not good for her and was getting to be far from worth it. A part of her wanted to just walk away now and throw in the towel. There were plenty of other people who could look for a killer without her help. She was not indispensable and she could finally get some sleep and not live in fear of the next murder she’d feel responsible for.
    Thinking of murder caused her to remember her friend. Anna knew that it was critical she take a few minutes to call her and hear her voice and know that nothing had happened. Something was wrong and she could sense it.
    Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her phone. Dialing it, Pauline’s phone kicked over to voicemail right away.
    Anna felt her throat tighten for a moment. The phone had rung normally the time before. Hoping it was a cellphone glitch, she attempted to call her friend again. Once more, the phone kicked over to voicemail again.
    With her heart beating rapidly, Anna walked out of the room, she cleared her throat and the officer jumped.
    “I was awake!” he exclaimed.
    “There is a vial and a threatening note in the room.” Anna began. “Process it for fingerprints beyond my own. I handled the card.”
    “You are supposed to wear gloves.” the man hissed. “You have contaminated a crime scene.”
    ‘You fell asleep and allowed it to happen.” Anna glared him down. “Which one of us caused a bigger issue?”
    With a snort, the man stormed into the room. Anna shook her head and headed quickly toward Pauline’s room. Walking up to it, she knocked on the door. It gently opened as her hand struck it. Anna felt her stomach drop instantly. In her heart, she knew what this meant and because it was her best friend, she didn’t want to believe this was a possibility at all.
    Walking into the room, she looked around.
    “Pauline?” Anna called out. “Are you here? If you are just ignoring me right now, tell me. I don’t want any surprises. Pauline, please.”
    Silence in the room. Anna’s heart quickened and she turned the corner and saw fingers in the doorway to the bathroom.
    “Oh, God, no!” Anna screamed and rushed over to the bathroom and saw a bloody body on the bathroom floor that was the same shape as Pauline's. The face had been bashed in and her hair was a blood soaked dark crimson red. Anna dropped to her knees, sobbing. Frantically, she felt for a pulse and couldn’t find one. Howling, she pulled the body into her arms, rocking with it.
    Her heart pounded in her chest and the pain filling her at that moment caused her to struggle. The tears burned her eyes. The only person she truly could trust was dead in her arms and had parted the world without there being any forgiveness between them.
    “Anna, what did you do?” a voice screamed.
    Looking up, Anna’s eyes adjusted to see a mortified Pauline looking at her. Fear was etched on her friend’s face. Anna looked at her friend and then at the body with confusion. This wasn’t