A Fair to Die For Read Online Free

interesting. I’d like to hear more about your experiences since you met Henry. It sounds as if the two of you have very special skills.”
    “Well, maybe so. We do enjoy solving puzzles. But tell me more about yourself now. I admit I haven’t been able to remember anything about the time when you and your parents lived in Tulsa. I guess you’re right, I was too young. Later, my folks never talked about a sister or her family. Lots of missing pages. Since you called, one thing I’ve wondered is if I had additional cousins. Do you have younger brothers or sisters?”
    “No, I ended up being an only. And you and I never saw each other after the move because there was a serious break between our families.”
    “Why? Do you know?”
    “I know more than I admitted when I called you. They never discussed it with me back then, but Mother says now that your folks considered my father a criminal. They didn’t want his activities to contaminate or endanger their family, especially their precious little daughter.”
    Carrie said, “Oh, Edie, surely . . . ”
    Edie uttered a sharp “Shhh” and, startled by this, Carrie stopped talking. She watched her cousin look around the room, then back at her before she continued in a monotone, “My father may have been involved in some kind of illegal drug business. Suspecting that has brought years of grief to my mother.”
    Carrie was unable to stop her quick intake of breath. She put her hand over her mouth and said nothing, mostly because she couldn’t think what to say.
    “I guess you’re aware of the huge problems illegal drugs cause in this country?”
    “Of course. One can’t avoid knowing. The news is full of it almost every evening. Columbia, Mexico, poppy fields in Afghanistan, meth labs in our neighborhoods, all the ruined lives. Henry and I were even involved in a small way in stopping a very large marijuana growing and distributing business a couple of years ago.”
    “Either of you ever use recreational drugs? Maybe in the sixties?”
    When Carrie just stared at her, Edie said hurriedly, “Sorry. That’s an impertinent question. Forget it.”
    “Well, the answer is no, speaking personally. I really don’t know about Henry, but as a man in a job that wouldn’t tolerate drug use—a cop who was tested for drugs periodically—I doubt it, though I have never asked him.”
    “Implying I shouldn’t have asked you. Well, you’re right, I shouldn’t have.”
    Edie wasn’t aware that Henry had finished in the kitchen and was standing in the doorway behind her, but now he came to join them. “Did I hear my name?”
    Neither of them said anything. The only sound was the soft swish of the dishwasher and an occasional bird call from the forest outside.
    Finally, after a brief nod to Henry, Edie continued. “I’ve never really understood which side of the law my father was on. I suspect it might have been both sides, and that could be the reason he disappeared. Somebody found out. Somebody took exception. Somebody killed him.”
    “Do you really want to tell us this? I think . . .”
    Edie held up her hand, silencing Carrie again. “No! I don’t want to hear any pious protests. I came here wondering how much of my father’s story I would be able to tell you. I feel okay sharing it now. Learning more about what happened to Dad is important to me, especially for my mother’s sake, and I can use your help, if you’re willing. But first you need to hear some history—some perspective.
    “Addictive drugs have been a problem in this country for much longer than you probably suspect. During many of the years when various drugs were openly available, they were thought of as more benefit than problem. That, in itself, caused problems, though I think it justifies—or at least explains—people’s interest in those drugs and their eventual addiction. I’m not excusing criminal activity, but many of the victims shouldn’t be thought of as criminals, then or