The Cluttered Corpse by Mary Jane Maffini Read Free Book Online

voice mail,” she said.
    â€œAh.” I hadn’t realized that she would know that.
    â€œTwice. You have a new hobby wasting my time?”
    â€œI didn’t want to leave a message about this problem. It’s probably nothing, but I needed a bit of advice.” I wanted to shriek, “Don’t curl your upper lip at me,” but I kept my cool.
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œOkay, this might sound crazy, but I have a new client. She’s a sophisticated, capable woman, maybe forty years old. Very attractive. During our consultation, two guys from next door climbed the tree outside her bedroom window and made noises and faces at her.”
    Pepper said, “Made faces?”
    â€œFine, I know that sounds stupid. But it was terrifying for her. They even had a camera and took at least one photo. The neighbors think these guys are stalking her. But my client refuses to call the police. She says one of them is a harmless kid. Her husband seems annoyed but not worried. I didn’t know what to do. Maybe it’s none of my business. But I can’t let it go.”
    Pepper said, “Officially? Nothing we can do without a complaint from this woman.”
    â€œI wondered if—”
    â€œDid it set off your alarm bells?”
    â€œOh yeah. It seemed creepy.”
    Pepper pursed her lips. “Sorry to let you down, but we can’t go on a fishing expedition.”
    â€œWell, I guess not ,” Margaret said.
    Pepper agreed. “I don’t intend to harass innocent citizens.”
    â€œGood thinking,” Margaret said.
    I stared at her. How dumb was I? Margaret had set up her law practice in Woodbridge, and she would always keep an eye out for the rights of the accused. I hadn’t mentioned Emmy Lou’s situation to her. Too bad I’d run into the two of them together.
    â€œYou know, you might want to take a look at your taillight here, Charlotte,” Pepper said. “You’ll end up with a whopping ticket if you get stopped by the wrong cop.”
    I stepped to the back of the Miata with her.
    â€œThere’s nothing wrong with my lights,” I huffed.
    â€œKeep your voice down. Give me the name of the guy and his address,” Pepper said. “I’ll see what I come up with.”
    â€œOh right and—”
    â€œAnd Margaret doesn’t need to know everything.”
    I lowered my voice. “Okay. My client’s at 10 Bell Street. Her name’s Emmy Lou Rheinbeck. Her husband is Dwayne. The kid next door is Kevin something. Dingwall. That’s it. And his friend is called Tony Starkman. Kevin lives at number 8, a grey house with a big front porch. The people on the other side of Emmy Lou are Bill and Bonnie Baxter. They think these guys are trouble. Of course, they’re a bit odd themselves. Possibly paranoid.”
    I knew enough about Pepper’s upbringing to guess how she’d react.
    â€œLeave it with me.”
    â€œThanks,” I said in a normal tone. “I’ll get that taillight looked after.”
    â€œYou do that.”
    Margaret said, “Gotta go. See you tomorrow. Should be fun.”
    Pepper said, “What should be fun?”
    I don’t know who was the more surprised by that: Margaret or me.
    Margaret said, “There’s a baby shower for Sally.”
    â€œSally’s pregnant again ?”
    Margaret said, “One of these days they’ll find out what’s causing it.”
    â€œAnd there’s a baby shower?”
    â€œNot a real shower,” I said, feeling dread creep over me.
    â€œCharlotte’s bringing s’mores,” Margaret added. “I had no idea she could cook.”
    Pepper snorted and then said, “Is it a surprise?”
    â€œKind of. Benjamin’s at some kind of medical conference, and Sally thinks we’re dropping in to keep her company tomorrow night after the kids are in bed.”
    â€œWho’s going?”
    â€œMe, Margaret.