Secrets Come Home by Samantha Price Read Free Book Online Page B

said. “In plastic.”
    “That’s awful. I’d hate to have that job – the job of unwrapping the body. Who had to do that?”
    Ettie pushed out her lips. “I don’t know. I stayed inside when they were doing that.”
    “You were there?” Chad asked.
    “Oh yes. It’s my house.” Ettie realized the boy didn’t know the full story. “My friend left me the house, and my sister noticed something wrong with the floorboards so she had her grandson come take a look. He’s a builder – my sister’s grandson, my great nephew.”
    “Go on,” Chad urged, his eyes wider still.
    Ettie continued, “He lifted up a board, then went under the house and he found the body directly under the boards – the ones that weren’t right.”
    “And did he – your sister’s grandson – unwrap the body?”
    “No, that’s when we called the police.”
    “I read in the paper he was covered in plastic, but I thought he’d still stink. And wouldn’t someone have looked for what was causing the smell? If I wrapped a dead animal in plastic, I’d reckon it would stink after some time.”
    “I don’t know anything about that. I didn’t know my friend very well back then,” Ettie said.
    Chad pushed his dark hair away from his face. “What did they find with him?”
    Ettie frowned. “Like what?”
    Chad shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I just think it’s odd that he was under the house like that. The paper said he had no identification on him, nothing.”
    “That’s right. Well, we better go now. Thank you for being so helpful,” Ava said, handing him their address.
    “I’ll have these to you later on.”
    “Thank you, Chad. Where might we go to call for a taxi?” Ava asked.
    He pulled a cell out of his pocket. “I’ll call one for you.”
    “We’ll wait outside.” Ava put her arm through Ettie’s.
    When they were out of the front gates, Ava said, “What a strange young man.”
    Ettie had to agree. “What do you make of him asking all those questions?”
    “I don’t know, but I didn’t like it.”
    “I think he might be right about the body having an odor even though it was wrapped in plastic. I wonder why Agatha was never bothered by the smell?”
    “Maybe she just didn’t know what it was,” Ava suggested. “Do you think that might be partly the reason the police think she did it?”
    “Possibly. I know she wasn’t the kind of woman not to look into something like a strange smell.”
    “Shall I see what I can find out? I know someone who works at a funeral home. I could ask him some questions and find out what would be expected in a situation like Horace’s.”
    “Jah, do that,” Ettie said.
    “Okay. Do you think that young man asked too many questions?” Ava asked.
    “Murder doesn’t happen often around these parts. You know what people are like; he was probably just curious with it being in the newspaper and all.”
     

 
    Chapter 10.
     
    Ettie was alone in Agatha’s house when Chad knocked on the door to deliver the photocopies as he’d said he would. When Ettie opened the door she was pleased to see him.
    “There you go.” He handed the pages to Ettie.
    “Thank you. It was so kind of you to do this for us.”
    “No problem.” He pinched the front of his loose white shirt and shook it. “It’s so hot. Do you think I could have a glass of water?”
    “Yes, come in.”
    Ettie headed to the kitchen with Chad close behind her. She placed the papers down on the kitchen table and proceeded to the sink. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you chilled water.” She turned away from the sink and was surprised to see him right behind her.
    “This is fine,” he said taking the glass from her. He drank quickly and handed her the empty glass. “Thank you. I hope you find what you’re looking for. I’ll leave you to it.” He turned and walked toward the front door with Ettie close behind. When he was in the middle of the living room, he stopped. “Where exactly did they find