Revenge by Lisa Jackson Read Free Book Online Page A

knew that Fletcher was being honest with her.
    But she hadn’t expected to have to deal with a McKee on a daily basis. Thank God it was Jenner and not Max.
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    Lugging two baskets of fruit, coffee and cookies up the stairs, Skye told herself that she was making the right move. Fletcher hadn’t bothered to introduce her to any of her tenants and she wanted to meet each one on friendly terms.
    There were three units on the second floor, each with one bedroom; one unit was unoccupied. She rapped softly on the door to the left. Through the door she could hear the sound of rock music, which was immediately switched off.
    She saw an eyeball in the peephole, and then the door opened as far as the chain would let it. A girl about thirteen looked through the crack. “Yeah?”
    â€œI’m Skye Donahue and I wanted to meet you. I’m going to be your new landlord.”
    â€œMom’s not here.” The girl, whose face was covered with freckles, didn’t bother to smile.
    â€œOh, well...”
    â€œYou probably won’t want to talk to her, anyway. All she does is bitch about this place.”
    â€œAll the more reason to meet her. I’d like to find out all about your apartment—what you like and what you don’t like.”
    The girl’s eyes narrowed. “She don’t like anything about it. Neither do I.”
    â€œWhat’s your name?”
    Hesitation. Finally she said, “Paula.”
    The teenager’s attitude grated on Skye’s nerves, but she managed the cool smile she’d learned in medical school. “Well, Paula, maybe you could give her this basket and ask her to come down to the first floor and meet me. We could have coffee or something.”
    â€œGreat.” The girl rolled her eyes, reluctantly opened the door and held out her hand. Skye handed her the basket and the door was promptly slammed in her face. A few seconds later, the sound of heavy metal music seeped through the door.
    â€œGreat is right,” Skye muttered under her breath. She turned and knocked on the door across the hallway. It was opened immediately as if the tenant had been lurking near the door, waiting.
    A woman barely five feet tall, with gray hair tinged a soft apricot shade, stood on the other side of the threshold. “You’re the new landlord,” she guessed, blinking through thick, rimless eyeglasses.
    â€œYes, Skye Donahue.” Skye extended her hand, and the seventyish woman pumped it enthusiastically.
    â€œRuth Newby, and boy am I glad you’ve bought this building. Now maybe something will be done about my hot water heater, if that’s what you call it. Why, it barely keeps the water tepid, and I’ve got a window that rattles something fierce when the wind kicks up, not to mention that there are rats...huge rats in the cellar. Some of them have climbed up the drainpipe and burrowed into my furniture, I’m just sure of it!”
    â€œWell, Mrs. Newby, I’ll try to fix anything that’s broken.”
    â€œGood, because the oven thermostat is off by twenty-five degrees! Try to bake your grandson’s birthday cake in that! It’s a nightmare! Come in, come in, and I’ll show you everything. I’ve already prepared a list.” Mrs. Newby guided her through the small rooms decorated in green and gold, past a velvet sofa, fringed lamp shades and a gateleg table in the kitchen. “Here you go.” Mrs. Newby pulled a typewritten list from a bulletin board in the kitchen and gave it to Skye. “I certainly hope you do something about these problems. I’d hate to think that we’d have to organize a tenant grievance committee as I threatened to do with Dr. Fletcher.”
    â€œBut there are only two tenants.”
    â€œOh, that doesn’t matter.” Her lips pulled together and she wagged a finger in front of Skye’s nose. “It’s not the size that matters, it’s the