Scrapbook of the Dead by Mollie Cox Bryan Read Free Book Online Page A

mother. She had a moment of existential dread and panic. Stop , she wanted to say . Stop growing up . I want to hold you here forever.
    Her back jabbed at her and brought her back to the present. She carefully sat on the couch, with Karen lifting her feet and Jacob propping pillows up behind her.
    â€œThat okay?” His blue eyes were full of concern.
    Dee Ann nodded. Yes, it was okay. It would be okay. Time marches on, the way it’s meant to. It felt like just yesterday she was a new bride, a new mom, and now, here she was—an old, fat woman with a bad back.
    Her husband handed her a tissue. “Get yourself together, woman,” he said and grinned.
    â€œI better see to the chicken,” Karen said and left the room.
    â€œI love you, Jacob Fields, even if you don’t know where the heating pad is kept. Jesus Lord, man, where do you live?”
    Jacob laughed. “I never had to use it, I guess. Is it getting hot?”
    DeeAnn nodded.

    When they were gathered around the TV after eating dinner and watching the Steelers game, DeeAnn filled them in on what she knew about Esmeralda.
    â€œHow about that? My mom is in on the scoop,” Karen said.
    DeeAnn beamed. “Of course, they figure the killings are linked. They’re sisters. Both killed within a day of one another.”
    â€œNobody knows how yet?” Jacob asked.
    â€œNope,” DeeAnn said. “But you know what is the oddest thing?”
    Jacob and Karen looked in her direction.
    â€œBoth of them were found with scrapbooking pages in their hands,” DeeAnn watched as her daughter almost spilled her after-dinner coffee.

Chapter 10
    â€œRat poisoning?” Annie said into the phone.
    â€œYes, it’s very easy to get a hold of and very easy to kill someone with it. Both sisters had it in their systems. Marina was probably almost already dead when she was attacked with the craft knife. Esmeralda was probably dead when the ribbon was tied around her mouth and nose,” Ruth replied.
    â€œCould the poisoning have been accidental?” Annie wondered more to herself than the medical examiner.
    â€œIt’s possible,” Ruth said. “I hate to say it, but maybe the apartments where they lived had a rat problem and they were trying to get rid of them. Maybe.”
    â€œWhere did they live?” Annie asked.
    â€œUm, let’s see.” Papers were shuffled in the background. “They lived on Druid Lane. Riverside Apartments. Know where it is?”
    â€œNo, but I guess I can find it,” Annie said. Druid Lane? In Cumberland Creek? It was an odd name, that was for sure. The town was so small. How had she never run across it?
    â€œBut what about the scrapbook pages?” Annie asked. “Why would they have had a scrapbook page?”
    â€œI have no idea. I haven’t seen the evidence. Have you?”
    â€œYes, I saw one of the pages, but not closely,” she said, thinking back to yesterday at Paige’s kitchen table. Her eyes wandered over to the cupcakes she had cooling on the kitchen counter. She glanced at her watch. “Thanks for talking with me. You might hear from me again.”
    â€œYou know where to find me,” Ruth said and hung up.
    Annie reached for her box and placed the cupcakes inside. Today was the library bake sale at her sons’ school. She’d pledged to donate chocolate cupcakes with orange frosting—very Halloweenish. She was getting to be a better baker. She hadn’t burned anything in a long time. After she dropped the cupcakes off, she would stop at the grocery store and pick up a few things for dinner. She’d make dinner and leave it on the stove for when Mike got home. Meanwhile, she’d be at their son Ben’s soccer game.
    Things sure were getting complicated with their schedules. Sometimes she was tempted to just swing into a drive-thru. Most of the time she resisted, but every once in a while, it was the only way.