The Happy Housewife (Samantha Sherman Book 1) by Kate Cooch Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kate Cooch
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Sam’s eyes drifted over to a dresser which stood to the left of the bed. What appeared to be Dan’s bathroom bag sat on it with some items spilled out: a comb, a brush, Listermint, some Q-tips, dental floss, a razor, and a watch. His keys were also on the dresser. She didn’t see a wallet so she leaned her head towards the room just a small amount more. She spotted the wallet in the corner of the room, opposite the bed. It looked open, as though the money was taken out rapidly, and then it had been tossed aside.
She realized one second too late that she had leaned over a bit too far. She looked up and right into the eyes of Detective “Fife.”
Darn it.
She snapped back up and looked for Don who was still chatting with the female police officer. Why couldn’t she have just gotten her quick peek and stopped
?
Nathan moved to the doorway, blocking her view of the room with his body. Okay. Last resort. She gave him a big smile which he did not return. Not even close.
“Mrs. Lee Sherman,” he said it slowly savoring the silliness of her Civil War name, “what are you doing?”
“Well Detective Fi … um Nathan,”
darn what was his last name
… she couldn’t think of it now so she stumbled on, “I am waiting for Don who is going with me to get a couple of things for Mrs. Thomas.” C’mon kid, she thought to herself, remember your confidence. You dealt with more difficult people than this in the Coast Guard.
“Mrs. Lee Sherman,” oh he was enjoying her name now, “perhaps you wouldn’t mind waiting for Don in the living room. This is a crime scene.” Again with that voice usually reserved for a four-year-old …
She gave him her best sweet smile and said, “Of course, Detective. Oh, and no need to be so formal. You can call me Mrs. Sherman.” That was really weak she thought as she tried to turn defiantly, not really even knowing how one ‘turns defiantly,’ toward Don. She ignored Nathan, who remained in the door watching her, and stepped back to Don who looked up and broke off his conversation.
“Sorry Sam. I’ll get you out of here.”
Don told the female police officer he would be right back and escorted Sam past the bedroom. They went by a bathroom on the right, another bedroom which had been turned into a sewing room and study on the left, and finally to Mrs. Thomas’s bedroom on the right.
The room was perfectly neat and looked like it was decorated in the Victorian style. The furniture was ornate, dark wood, almost too big for the small master bedroom. The flowered wallpapered matched the flowered bedspread. Flowered pillows that looked hand stitched were at the head of the bed. The end table was covered in a lacy cloth as was the dresser. On one side of the dresser an antique silver comb and brush were laid out. On the other side of the dresser was a picture of a man and a little girl. Sam assumed they were Mrs. Thomas’s husband and daughter. Sam headed to the closet and quickly found a small overnight bag.
With Don chatting about the last time he had seen her father, she went to the dresser and grabbed two changes of clothes that looked similar to what she usually saw Mrs. Thomas wearing. She then went to the night stand, pulled open the drawer and saw the scrapbook on top with the nightgown underneath. She grabbed both. She didn’t ask Don if she could take the scrapbook but he could see what she was doing so she didn’t worry about it.
She then went to the bathroom where she found the small makeup kit and toothbrush right on the counter. She pulled open one of the cabinet drawers under the sink and saw what looked like cleaning supplies: Scott’s Liquid Gold, Windex, 401 spray, Clairol Glorious, Tide stain sticks, Clorox, and several scrub brushes.
Oh, the shampoo
, she remembered. She stood up and turned to the shower. She found Mrs. Thomas’s Suave shampoo and conditioner quickly.
Mrs. Thomas and I use the same shampoo
, she noted to herself. She stuffed the two bottles
Sam’s eyes drifted over to a dresser which stood to the left of the bed. What appeared to be Dan’s bathroom bag sat on it with some items spilled out: a comb, a brush, Listermint, some Q-tips, dental floss, a razor, and a watch. His keys were also on the dresser. She didn’t see a wallet so she leaned her head towards the room just a small amount more. She spotted the wallet in the corner of the room, opposite the bed. It looked open, as though the money was taken out rapidly, and then it had been tossed aside.
She realized one second too late that she had leaned over a bit too far. She looked up and right into the eyes of Detective “Fife.”
Darn it.
She snapped back up and looked for Don who was still chatting with the female police officer. Why couldn’t she have just gotten her quick peek and stopped
?
Nathan moved to the doorway, blocking her view of the room with his body. Okay. Last resort. She gave him a big smile which he did not return. Not even close.
“Mrs. Lee Sherman,” he said it slowly savoring the silliness of her Civil War name, “what are you doing?”
“Well Detective Fi … um Nathan,”
darn what was his last name
… she couldn’t think of it now so she stumbled on, “I am waiting for Don who is going with me to get a couple of things for Mrs. Thomas.” C’mon kid, she thought to herself, remember your confidence. You dealt with more difficult people than this in the Coast Guard.
“Mrs. Lee Sherman,” oh he was enjoying her name now, “perhaps you wouldn’t mind waiting for Don in the living room. This is a crime scene.” Again with that voice usually reserved for a four-year-old …
She gave him her best sweet smile and said, “Of course, Detective. Oh, and no need to be so formal. You can call me Mrs. Sherman.” That was really weak she thought as she tried to turn defiantly, not really even knowing how one ‘turns defiantly,’ toward Don. She ignored Nathan, who remained in the door watching her, and stepped back to Don who looked up and broke off his conversation.
“Sorry Sam. I’ll get you out of here.”
Don told the female police officer he would be right back and escorted Sam past the bedroom. They went by a bathroom on the right, another bedroom which had been turned into a sewing room and study on the left, and finally to Mrs. Thomas’s bedroom on the right.
The room was perfectly neat and looked like it was decorated in the Victorian style. The furniture was ornate, dark wood, almost too big for the small master bedroom. The flowered wallpapered matched the flowered bedspread. Flowered pillows that looked hand stitched were at the head of the bed. The end table was covered in a lacy cloth as was the dresser. On one side of the dresser an antique silver comb and brush were laid out. On the other side of the dresser was a picture of a man and a little girl. Sam assumed they were Mrs. Thomas’s husband and daughter. Sam headed to the closet and quickly found a small overnight bag.
With Don chatting about the last time he had seen her father, she went to the dresser and grabbed two changes of clothes that looked similar to what she usually saw Mrs. Thomas wearing. She then went to the night stand, pulled open the drawer and saw the scrapbook on top with the nightgown underneath. She grabbed both. She didn’t ask Don if she could take the scrapbook but he could see what she was doing so she didn’t worry about it.
She then went to the bathroom where she found the small makeup kit and toothbrush right on the counter. She pulled open one of the cabinet drawers under the sink and saw what looked like cleaning supplies: Scott’s Liquid Gold, Windex, 401 spray, Clairol Glorious, Tide stain sticks, Clorox, and several scrub brushes.
Oh, the shampoo
, she remembered. She stood up and turned to the shower. She found Mrs. Thomas’s Suave shampoo and conditioner quickly.
Mrs. Thomas and I use the same shampoo
, she noted to herself. She stuffed the two bottles