Pampered to Death: A Deadly Calm Day Spa Mystery by Molly Dox Read Free Book Online

decided to make two.
    Jocelyn bounded in all bouncy and upbeat. “Hey, I was thinking-”
    “Uh oh, what now?” Andrea waited for her friend to finish.
    “Oh hush, you, it’s not that bad. I was just thinking that after we bike over to see Cassie, we could check in on Carmen.”
    “Oh, that actually is a good idea. I’m not sure exactly how to handle that end of things, but I’m thinking once we talk to Cassie, it might clear Carmen.”
    “I hope so, Andrea. I really hate the idea that Carmen could have done something like that. If it was her, it makes me realize if she snapped that it could have been any one of us that was killed.” Jocelyn shoved her hands in her pockets. “Ooh, are you making parfaits! I love those.”
    “Yep, here you go. I’m not perky yet. I need time to eat and shower, then we can go.”
    “I’m anxious to talk to Cassie. I can’t wait to see her face when we tell her we know she was in town,” Jocelyn said. “Do you think she’ll just flat out confess, or spin a tale? I always wonder about that when I watch documentary detective shows. Like some people just confess because of something somebody said, while and others clam up. Like the detective will say, ‘we know what you did’ and next thing you know this hulking guy is crying like crazy and confessing his sins. Others play stupid, but you know, you can see it in their face.”
    Andrea laughed. “Yeah, I don’t think she’s going to give it up that easy, but I would like to hear how she tries to get out of this one.”
    The girls ate breakfast, and Jocelyn sat and watched television while Andrea grabbed a shower. She called out to her, “You’re just going to get sweaty again. You should wait until after the ride.”
    Andrea called back, “I’ll take one then, too.”
    Once they were ready to go, the girls went to their outdoor storage lockers and got their bikes. Andrea’s was dusty from sitting unused for too long. She blew at the dust and cobwebs. She hoped her legs would keep up with her and didn’t wear down.
    “This will be good for you,” Jocelyn encouraged.
    Andrea groaned. That was the only response she was offering.
    They headed out, riding single file on the side of the road, Jocelyn leading the way. Andrea pushed her thighs to keep moving. Oh, she’d feel this when she got off her bike later. Maybe it was time for her to take this exercise thing serious again. Flat sections of the road weren’t that bad, but when it came to hills she had to climb off and walk her bike up. When they finally arrived at the Chadwick’s estate, they parked their bikes and went to the large wooden door.
    They didn’t expect Brad to be the one answering the door. Didn’t they have people who did that stuff for them? They used to. “Can I help you?” he asked, recognizing them from the country club. He was dressed in a collared golf shirt and looked as if he was about to go off and play a round.
    “We’re here to see Cassie. Is she home?”
    Brad told them to wait in the room to the right, a study, and went up to find her. The girls walked through the door of the study to be met with grand wooden bookshelves, pictures, and stacks of books filling the shelves.
    Andrea whispered. “Do you think they read the books, or are they just for show?”
    Jocelyn poked around. “I don’t know, but look at this.”
    Andrea moved over to where Jocelyn stood. “Who is that?”
    “That’s what I’d like to know.” The picture showcased Brad standing next to a woman. She had a definite bohemian flair and wore bracelets up her arm, just like Cassie did.
    When Brad returned, he told the girls that Cassie would be down shortly.
    Andrea held up the picture they’d found. “Mr. Chadwick, can I ask who this is? She looks so familiar.”
    “That’s my sister, Olive. She used to have this eccentric flair,” he said with a laugh. “Now, instead of being a groovy hippy as she used to call it, she’s much more business minded, but