To Catch a Leaf by Kate Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

answer it.
    â€œAbby,” I heard Grace whisper, “something dreadful has happened. My friend Connie has met with an untimely death.”
    I glanced around to see my mother disappear through the purple curtain, probably on a hunt for the missing nose. “I’m sorry, Grace,” I said quietly. “What happened to her?”
    â€œShe took a fatal fall down the cellar steps. I was the one who found her.”
    â€œOh, Grace, that must have been terrible.”
    â€œTragic, Abby. Simply tragic. The police are here now. I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave until they finish their investigation.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it, Grace. Do you want someone there with you?”
    â€œThank you, dear, but I’ll be fine. Please don’t let this get around—other than to Lottie, of course.”
    â€œNot a problem. How far away are you, Grace?”
    â€œI’m at the Newport mansion.”
    â€œReally?” The Newport mansion was the biggest, costliest piece of real estate in the county. I’d heard the home had ten bedrooms and fourteen bathrooms, plus a ballroom and a ten-car garage. “Is your friend the housekeeper?”
    â€œNo, dear, and I forgive you for thinking that my friend would be merely the housekeeper. She’s Constance Newport.”
    For a full ten seconds my brain froze. Constance Newport, the wealthiest woman in New Chapel, was Grace’s friend? Why hadn’t Grace ever mentioned that?
    â€œGrace, I didn’t mean to imply—”
    â€œNever mind that now.” She cupped her hand around the mouthpiece to whisper, “I’m alone for the moment, so listen carefully. Connie was murde—”
    She stopped speaking.
    â€œGrace? Are you there? Did you say your friend was murdered?”
    â€œI can’t talk now,” she whispered.
    And I’d thought the day was on the upswing.
    My mom came back into the room holding up the missing nose. “Found it.”
    I said into the phone, “Grace, would you hold for two seconds?”
    â€œYes, but hurry, dear. My mobile isn’t getting a signal here, so I’m using their house phone.”
    The second line flashed to indicate an incoming call, but I ignored it, knowing Lottie would pick it up in the other room. I put Grace on hold, then turned to my mom. “I’ve got to get back to my desk to take down some information. I know you have to get to school, so just leave everything here with me and I’ll take care of it.”
    â€œThank you, Abigail. And here’s a thought: The manikin display would be smashing in your bay window.”
    More likely the people walking past the manikin would be smashing in my bay window.
    I blew her a kiss good-bye, then darted through the curtain to my desk and sat down. Lottie handed me a sticky note that said, Marco—line 2 . I whispered to her, “Make sure my mom leaves. I don’t want her to hear this conversation.”
    Lottie nodded and headed out.
    â€œGrace?” I said quietly. “Are you sure Constance Newport was murdered?”
    â€œAbsolutely, but I can’t discuss it now,” she whispered. In a normal voice she said, “The crime scene chaps are downstairs taking photographs and collecting evidence, so perhaps I’ll know more by the time I get back to the shop. I hope to be there within the hour.”
    â€œTake as much time as you need, Grace. And I’m very sorry about your friend.”
    â€œI have to go, love. One of the detectives would like to interview me again.”
    â€œAgain?”
    â€œWell, dear, I did discover the body. And no one else was around at the time, so I imagine they consider me a suspect.”
    She was unbelievably calm, as though reporting a flat tire. “I’m going to call Dave Hammond. Don’t say anything more to the detectives until you get some direction from him. You probably shouldn’t have talked to them