Murder of a Barbie and Ken by Denise Swanson Read Free Book Online

Barbie’s name, she followed the narrow path that appeared to lead toward the back.
    As Skye navigated the labyrinth, she read the various labels—cheddar broccoli soup, garlic mashed potatoes, lemon pepper penne rigate, Caesar pasta salad. These were all side dishes. Where were the main courses kept? She rounded a corner created by cases of vanilla almond oat cereal and stopped.
    She had come to a clearing. Three chest-style freezers were lined up against the wall that the garage shared with the house. That must be where the entrees were stored.
    A row of long tables held open cartons of food arranged assembly-line fashion down the center. On one end, stacks of round boxes covered in glossy apricot paper were empty, ready to be packed with the Instant Gourmet meals. The other end held the lids, three-foot lengths of peach wire-edged ribbon, and big fluffy bows. The finished products were piled on a round table off to the side. Skye shook herhead. No wonder this stuff was so expensive. The packaging probably cost more than the food.
    She scanned the area. Where was Barbie? Skye could still hear music, and the door leading from the garage to the house was open. Maybe she had gone inside while Skye was walking from the front door to the garage.
    As Skye moved forward, she noticed an alcove off to the side containing a desk and filing cabinet. Drawers hung open and papers littered the floor. Something was starting to feel wrong.
    Beads of sweat popped out on her upper lip and forehead. Why was it so hot? Should she leave and get her order some other time? No. She wanted to get this over with—her cold was getting worse by the minute, and she didn’t want to have to come back.
    Hesitantly, Skye climbed the three stairs leading into the utility room. The sound of the washing machine ending the spin cycle and turning off startled Skye. There was still no sign of Barbie. Surely she wouldn’t have left in the middle of doing laundry. “Barbie, are you here? It’s Skye Denison.”
    Skye entered the kitchen. On her left was a breakfast nook. To the right, a row of cabinets formed a peninsula dividing the area and blocking her view. As she edged past the counter, she could see the section of the room previously concealed. The cupboard doors stood gaping. Dishes and glasses were shattered on the linoleum, and food was smeared on the counters.
    In the midst of this mess, a large male body lay on its stomach in the middle of the floor.

   CHAPTER 4   
    … fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
    —Pope
    S kye ran over and crouched down. “Dr. Addison, Ken, are you alright?”
    There was no answer or movement. She put her fingers to his neck to check for a pulse. Instead of skin, her hand encountered a stiff, slippery material. A piece of peach ribbon was knotted tightly around his throat.
    She had to get it off. She tried to slip her fingers underneath, but it was tied so firmly that the wire edges were cutting into his neck. Scissors, she needed a pair of scissors. Where would Barbie keep scissors?
    A knife. There were plenty of them scattered around from the emptied drawers. Skye grabbed one and tried to slide the blade between the ribbon and his throat, but it was immediately evident she wouldn’t be able to do it without slicing into his flesh.
    With the ribbon wound so tightly, could he still be alive? Clamping her fingers around his wrist, she tried to find a pulse. Nothing. His hand flapped limply as she laid it by hisside. It had a bluish tinge. She finally took a good look at him. His skin was purplish, with a waxy overtone, his lips were pale, and his eyes had a curiously flat appearance. He was dead.
    She wished she could think straight. Should she turn him over? He was such a big man she wasn’t sure she’d be able to budge him. Besides, she shouldn’t disturb the crime scene. A phone. She had to call the police. Frantically, she looked around. The receiver was missing from the kitchen’s wall unit. She