A Healthy Homicide Read Online Free

trying to get my brain working. “Why is she calling so early? Did she get fired for giving out discounts to too many friends?”
    “No, smarty, but she did call about the Pampered Life.” Ashlee grabbed my shoulder again. “That boss of hers there? She’s dead.”

Chapter 4
     
    At Ashlee’s words, all remnants of sleep vanished. “What? Are you talking about Carla?”
    Ashlee settled onto the edge of the bed. “I guess that’s her name. It’s whoever runs the place.”
    “How? When?” I couldn’t quite grasp what Ashlee was saying. I’d met Carla only yesterday. She’d looked ridiculously healthy and seemed so happy. How could she be dead now?
    “Brittany found her in one of the mud baths, her feet sticking straight up. She swears there were all sorts of weird symbols painted in mud on her feet, like maybe someone killed her as a gang ritual or something.”
    I shook my head. “Don’t be silly. Blossom Valley doesn’t have any gangs. Sure Brittany’s not looking for a little drama?” I shoved Ashlee off my bed, and she squawked in protest. “Never mind. I’ll find out myself.” I threw back the covers and rushed into the kitchen to retrieve my phone. If anyone knew the details of what had happened, Jason would. I called his number and got voice mail. Without leaving a message, I texted him to see if he’d heard anything from the police about Carla dying last night.
    I waited to see if he’d reply right away, but gave up after a minute and grabbed the bag of ground coffee out of the cabinet, frowning at how light the bag felt. Now was not the time to run out of coffee. The way this day had started, I might need more than one pot.
    While I listened to the machine gurgle, I heard the sound of a train horn, which meant I had a text. I snatched up my phone and read the display. Jason’s reply confirmed my fears. Carla was dead. I looked away from the words on the screen, caught off guard by the incredible pressure that had settled in my chest. I’d barely known the woman, so why did I feel like crying?
    I absentmindedly scanned the rest of the text. Jason promised to call when he had a break, but I knew not to wait around. Major crimes didn’t happen often here, and he’d be busy hunting down every witness to interview and every extra detail to write about.
    My hand trembling, I set the phone on the counter. The coffee machine beeped, and I automatically went over and poured myself a cup. I took a sip and winced as the hot liquid scalded my tongue. I needed to shake off this gloom. What had happened to Carla was terrible, but Esther still expected me at work this morning.
    With the coffee cup feeling unnaturally heavy in my hand, I went into the bathroom to get ready. On my way out of the apartment, I grabbed a packet of Pop-Tarts for breakfast, vowing to toast the things one of these days. My car started with only minor grumbling, and I backed out of my parking space.
    My route to work brought me down Main Street, and I slowed the car as I neared the Pampered Life. Three cop cars were parked at the curb, the only sign that anything out of the ordinary had happened. Still, three cars seemed like two too many, and I had to wonder how Carla had died.
    According to Ashlee, Brittany had discovered Carla in one of the mud baths. Had she fallen asleep while taking a soak and somehow drowned? Slipped on the tile floor and hit her head before falling into the muck? Or had she been helped along by someone? While I knew nothing about Carla, I had a hard time envisioning anyone shoving that happy, smiling face into a trough full of mud and holding her down until she suffocated. I shuddered at the image and brought my attention back to the spa.
    Several people stood at the back corner of the building, Jason included. At over six feet tall, he was easy to notice. I debated pulling over and talking to him, then thought better of it. The cops must be in the middle of their investigation, and I really had no reason