A Treasure to Die For Read Online Free

remote and hit the back button. She had a DVR that allowed her to reverse or pause whatever she had been watching.
    Bonnie stopped stirring her coffee again. I once remarked that if she drank cream instead of coffee, she could turn it into butter. She pointed at the television with her spoon. “Isn’t that’s Shelia’s new boyfriend? What’s he doing on TV?”
    “Shelia’s been murdered,” I answered, realizing Bonnie must have missed the part about Shelia checking out.
    It looked like she was going to drop the spoon. Her face went blank, and she stared at the television before speaking again. “Murdered?”
    “So it seems. Someone stuck her in the neck with a nail file and punctured her carotid artery.”
    The interview must have been live. The reporter, Paula Morgan, was shivering in the cold morning air while interviewing Mr. Jerk, AKA Craig Renfield. He, in turn, couldn’t seem to focus on anything above her neck. “I came home from watching the CU game at a buddy’s house and found the door wide open, and she was laying in the kitchen,” he said without taking his eyes from Paula’s cleavage.
    Paula was too focused on the camera to notice where Craig was looking. “Was it a burglary gone bad?”
    “How would I know?” He seemed annoyed, having his concentration interrupted. “I ain’t no psychic.”
    Paula rolled her eyes for the camera. “Well, is anything missing?”
    “She had a signed copy of Tom Sawyer she found at a garage sale last week I can’t find nowhere. She was looking it up on the Internet to see what it was worth when I left her.”
    “That must be worth thousands?” Paula asked.
    “Yeah, but that’s all smoke. I know who did it, and it wasn’t for no book.”
    Paula’s eyes lit up. “Oh?”
    “It’s those old bitties we saw at a book-signing yesterday. One of them pretended to be some kind of Mark Twain expert, so she could find out where we live.”
    Paula touched the ear-bud that kept her in contact with her producer. “Thank you, Mr. Renfield. I need to switch back to the studio for more breaking news. This has been Paula Morgan reporting for Channel Three News.”
    “Well, at least we know his last name now,” I said, hitting the mute button. Instead of breaking news, they went to a commercial. How putting a man and woman in two separate bathtubs will cure ED I didn’t need to know.
    “Did you hear that, Jake? He’s accusing me and Patty of killing her!”
    Her raised voice woke Fred, who had slept through the television broadcast. He moved closer to the door while I got up for more coffee.
    Bonnie seemed to be preoccupied looking around the room when I refilled her cup. “Have you seen my purse?” she asked.
    “On the counter by the fridge,” I answered.
    She got up and went over to her purse. “We would never hurt anyone. Why would he say it was us?”
    Now Fred wanted out, making me get up again. “Who better to blame than someone with a motive,” I answered while patting my dog on the head before opening the door.
    Bonnie stopped fumbling through her purse and looked up at me in horror. “You think I did it, too?” I thought she was going to cry. Julie once said I should duct tape my mouth before speaking, and this time I had to agree.
    “Of course not, Bon,” I answered, trying to think of something to stop the tears before they started. “It’s obviously that nasty boyfriend of hers. The way he spoke to her, and the bruise she had on her face at the signing, proves he doesn’t think much of women. He probably lost his temper arguing over something, grabbed the file, and then stabbed her with it. Now he’s trying to make it look like you and Patty did it. You’ve got to admit, the nail file was a brilliant touch.”
    “My God, Jake! It’s gone!”
    “What’s gone, Bon?”
    “My manicure kit. I always keep it on top of my purse where I can get to it. It’s not here, Jake. You don’t suppose…”
    I finished for her. “That Craig took it