MURDER TO GO (Food Truck Mysteries Book 1) by Chloe Kendrick Read Free Book Online Page A

that the last person had not been raised properly, I pushed the door open and entered.
    The flash was blinding, accompanied by sharp pain. After that, there was nothing.
     
     
    I slowly lifted myself from the worn carpet as I woke up. The files of the office had been strewn across the floor like a confetti parade. Some had even fallen on top of me, which showed how little consideration I was given.
    The office was much like the one I’d just left. The room was square with hard plastic chairs, except these chairs had been flipped over. It looked as though there had been a struggle here, but I didn’t see anyone.
    I looked around for a human to report this to, but no one was available. I slowly got up and walked toward the window in the wall. I staggered a bit, because the growing lump on the back of my head ached. I touched it. My hand was slightly bloody when I pulled it away.
    I shouted but received no answer. I stuck my head through the window and immediately wished that I had not. I saw a repeat of the last posture of Fred Samples. Someone had cut the head off a woman, presumably the health inspector, and rested it on top of a pile of papers that were now soaked in blood. Her eyes were open, and her mouth formed the same O-shape as that of Fred Samples. The rest of her body had collapsed onto the floor where it, too, pooled blood on the carpet. This was much closer and much more intense than the food truck had been. I was only inches from the body, and I had been in the same room with the person who had done this.
    I felt ill. The morning coffee and hot dog rose up and I vomited on the floor. Twice more, and then I was down to just the dry heaves. The coughs that racked my body made my ribs ache. I finally stopped throwing up long enough to call 911. I reported what had happened and what I’d found. They assured me that they would be on their way. I called Land to tell him that he’d have to work without me. He sounded nonchalant about it, as if my help wasn’t needed. I didn’t tell him about the dead body, mainly because I didn’t want to hear about the growing body count in my presence.
    Having done those two things, I slumped down against the wall and waited. I didn’t have to wait for long. Detective Danvers was at the door in seven minutes by my watch. He still looked as cute. He was wearing an identical jacket and pants, which made me wonder if he wore these all the time or if he had duplicates. Either one would be telling.
    I’d spent the last seven minutes realizing what a dilemma I had on my hands. I’d already been warned about my possible involvement in a murder. Now I was the only person present at the scene of yet another murder. The only proof I had of another person at the scene was the goose egg that was growing on the back of my head. This was not a pretty situation.
    Danvers showed up before my thoughts could go much further than that. I wasn’t running on all cylinders, so it was probably a good thing that he interrupted.
    He looked down at me. I didn’t bother to get up. “What do we have here? Maeve and another murder. It sounds like that should be a book title.”
    I just rolled my eyes. I wasn’t up for verbal repartee at the moment. My head hurt too much.
    I just watched as the team of crime scene investigators flooded the place, looking for clues amidst all the papers on the floor and desks. Someone took the head and body out on a gurney.
    After about ten minutes, an EMT approached me. At least he didn’t have an accusatory look. He was young and thin with a cute smile. I tried to chide myself for being shallow at a time like this, but my chider wasn’t working. I wondered if he was a safer choice for a companion than Danvers or Land. “Ma’am, I need to check that head wound.”
    He helped me to my feet. I swayed a little as he led me to an open chair. He and another EMT performed the usual tests for a concussion. I remembered who I was, what year it was and the name of the