The Case of the Angry Auctioneer (Auction House Mystery Series Book 1) by Sherry Blakeley Read Free Book Online

deadbolt and opened her door. A ribbon of cigarette smoke curled inside. Fanning the air, she stepped out on the landing in her stocking feet and closed the door behind her.
    “There you are!” Her downstairs neighbor Mrs. O’Neil stood near the open front door in the ground floor entryway. She wore a red and blue plaid bathrobe. She aimed a spray of gardenia-scented air freshener up through the clouds of cigarette smoke toward Jasper. “You have company!” She slammed the front door and marched off into her own apartment.
    Jasper padded downstairs. That same buzzer sounded from over Jasper’s shoulder.
    “Next time you’ll know the sound of your own door! Mr. O’Neil and me get the bell,” Mrs. O’Neil shouted.
    The first five knocks of shave-and-a-haircut came from outside.
    Jasper flung open the door. On the porch outside stood a familiar looking woman of 70 years or so.
    “I’m sorry – “Jasper began.
    “I’m sorry to bother you,” the woman said. “And that other person.” She giggled. She held a stuffed animal of some kind up to the screen. “Welcome to Hickory Lane.”
    “Oh! You’re from next door.” Jasper fumbled with the lock on the screen door.
    When the woman was inside the foyer, she handed over the toy which turned out to be a fluffy orange and white cat. Jasper immediately dissolved into tears. She sank onto the second step from the bottom and clutched the toy cat to her heart.
    “Mrs. Rowe, you’re overwrought.” She edged onto the step next to Jasper. “I’m Ginny Gardener from next door.”
    “Jasper,” Jasper said.
    “No, Ginny. There, there.” Ginny Gardener draped her arm gently around Jasper’s shoulders and pulled her into a motherly side hug.
    Jasper rested her tired head against the other woman. “You don’t understand,” she blubbered. “My old name is Rowe. My new name is Jasper. Jasper Biggs.”
    Ginny Gardener reached for the toy cat. “I think I’ve made a mistake.”
    Jasper held on tight. “Don’t take the kitty!”
    “You don’t have to keep it to make me feel better. I know you’ve been through a lot lately. I don’t want to add to your burdens.”
    Jasper hugged the toy cat. “How do you know? My name – my old name?”
    “That’s what neighbors are for. At least they are in an old-fashioned neighborhood like ours.”
    “I love the kitty, Mrs. Gardener.” Jasper felt about ten years old hugging the stuffed cat and, for the moment, she did not care how she was coming across to her new acquaintance.
    “Ginny.”
    “Call me Jasper.”
    “Of course, dear.” The older woman cleared her throat. “I wanted to warn you about that policeman who lives on the other side of me,” she said. “He’s married, you know.”
    “Oh?” Jasper snuffled back the last of her tears.
    “I’ve never met the lady. They don’t live together. But I believe it’s the real legal deal and all that.”
    Jasper swallowed her disappointment. Told you the world was a wicked place. Better get used to new heartaches, that wicked old familiar voice inside said. “I suppose he has a bunch of kids too,” she said.
    “That I couldn’t say. Although sometimes there are young people visiting next door. I believe he has other family in the area.”
    Jasper squared her shoulders. “Thanks for sharing that with me.”
    "We’re a close-knit little neighborhood here,” Ginny said.
    "Yes, I see that,” Jasper said. She helped the older lady to her feet and linked her arm with hers. She escorted her next door, explaining en route how she had to hurry to leave for her first day on the job. The front lawn felt crunchy under her feet, but warmed by the morning sun, soaked the soles of her hose.
    Ginny pointed at the footprints that trailed them across the adjacent driveways. “Oh, dear. I’ve caused you problems.”             
    “It doesn’t matter,” Jasper said. She hugged the friendly neighbor good-bye and promised to come over for a longer visit