Nursing a Grudge is Murder (A Maternal Instincts Mystery) by Diana Orgain Read Free Book Online Page A

nodded after Ross, signaling Galigani to poke his nose around with the uniformed officer.
    Galigani eyed Melanie and Jill, then nodded at me and walked down the hallway toward what I presumed were the bedrooms.
    I wanted to call after him to look for a black skull cap with a Smith & Wesson logo on it, but what would that prove?
    It would link the man to Perry, but certainly not prove homicide.
    Melanie turned away from the window. “So, you’re a private investigator?”
    I nodded.
    Melanie looked at Jill, “Have you hired her to look into Perry’s case?”
    “Case?” Jill shook her head. “I don’t think we have a case—”
    “Well, what about the threats?” Melanie persisted. “We have to consider that Brent Miles could be behind this. I mean, what if—”
    Jill pressed her fingers into her temples. “No—”
    Melanie grabbed my arm. “I want to hire you. Oh, but…” She covered her heart with her hand and said, “But, I don’t have any money. I…what am I going to do? I want you to look into this—”
    “Mel, calm down,” Jill said. “I know you’re in shock, but please. All we know is that Perry had a tragic accident—”
    “Your TV show! On Foodie Network! You’re going to get some cash out of that, right? Are they giving you a signing bonus?” Melanie asked.
    Jill's face flushed red. “No! I’m not getting a bonus. Where did you hear that?”
    Melanie took a step back as if deflecting Jill’s anger. She looked surprised and a little confused, but Galigani and Ross returned to the room before she could respond.
    Ross had tucked away his notebook and had some business cards in his hand.
    “I didn’t see anything unusual, Miss, except that the television looked askew. Like someone was trying to wrench it off the wall. Can you tell if anything is missing?”
    Melanie shook her head. “Only Whiskers, as far as I can tell.” She turned to Jill, “Do you want to look around?”
    Jill shook her head and shifted her weight impatiently.
    Ross handed Melanie a card. “All right. If you think of anything else, call me.”
    I wondered about the television. Could they get fingerprints off it? Why hadn’t Ross lifted any prints? Was there something about the burglary he wasn’t taking seriously? Or was that something that was done later?
    Could I learn how to dust for prints?
    Galigani walked Ross to the door. They exchanged words I couldn’t hear and then Ross left.
    Galigani turned to us, looking grim. “I’m so sorry for your loss today, ladies. Please let Kate or me know if we can assist in any way.”
    Melanie leapt at him. “Please, oh yes, please.”
    Galigani nodded.
    “We’ll do what we can,” I said. “Don’t worry about the money. I’ll work pro-bono.”
    Galigani gave me a strange look, then reached inside his jacket pocket for his business card.
    Melanie took the card while Jill watched nervously, her face set in an expression I couldn’t read.
    I recalled her words, this afternoon at lunch, about Brent Miles really being able to mess with her career. Her television foodie show would soon begin filming, and Galigani and I were about to crawl into Brent Miles’ life and make him miserable. No wonder Jill seemed upset.
    And how likely was it that Miles had anything to with any of this? For all we knew, Perry could have slipped and fallen on his own.
    What about the break-in then? A coincidence? Or an acquaintance of Perry’s trying to help himself to some of the belongings Perry would no longer need?
    My thoughts were interrupted by Jill saying, “I’ll drive you home, Mel. You need some rest.”
    “How will you get home?” I asked Jill.
    “Don’t worry. I’ll stay with Mel for a while, until she feels better, and then I’ll take a cab.”
    We left the apartment together and then Jill and Melanie split off from Galigani and me.
    “What was that look you gave me?”
    “Pro-bono? You’re not even supposed to be charging anyone. You have no license,