Death Overdue (Librarian Mysteries) Read Online Free

for this moment.”
    We kissed again and moved into the kitchen to make our meal.
    “Let’s forget about Sally for right now,” I said.
    “Yes, tomorrow is time enough to think about that,” Caldwell agreed as he opened a can of baked beans.
    A voice came from the doorway. “Forget about who?”
    Brenda had some shopping in a mesh bag over her shoulder. She was in her late twenties, not a particularly attractive girl, but fresh and young. She wore her long brown hair pulled back tight into a ponytail and had on a small T-shirt that read QUEEN BEE .
    “Did I hear you mention Sally?” Brenda asked.
    “Yes, she’s come for a visit,” Caldwell said without any enthusiasm.
    “Oh, how lovely. It’s been so long. I wonder if she’ll even remember me. I was just out of school when she left.” Brenda patted her ponytail. “I had short hair then. She persuaded me to grow it long. And she taught me how to put on nail polish and eye makeup.”
    “Yes, I remember. I don’t think she’ll be staying with us for long, I’m afraid,” Caldwell stated.
    I was hopeful.
    “I’ll just pop up and say hi,” Brenda said.
    “She and her boyfriend have gone to dinner,” Caldwell told her.
    “Maybe later. This is great.” Brenda deposited the breakfast supplies on the counter and ran off to her room.
    “Someone’s glad to see her,” I said.
    “Sally was good with Brenda. She took her under her wing. But then she left her without a word too. I think Brenda suffered almost as much as I did.”

FIVE

Bedmates
    L ater, climbing into bed, I could tell Caldwell hadn’t let go of the Sally problem. I somewhat reluctantly slipped off the new white satin robe he had given me as a welcome gift and hung it on the bedpost. I felt beautiful when I wore it.
    Some of our sweetest moments together were tucked under the comfort of our large duvet, books in front of our faces, arms touching, pages turning, a lovely sort of harmony between us.
    But tonight, the pages weren’t turning very fast next to me and, when I looked at Caldwell, his face was contortedinto a deep-thinking frown. He was obviously not even reading his book.
    I reached over and smoothed out his forehead. “Calm yourself.”
    He let his book fall onto his chest and spit out, “Blast it, Karen, I can’t. Just when everything was going so well, Sally has to come along and ruin it all. I had so hoped you would never have the pleasure of meeting her, and now here she is staying with us.”
    “You could turn her out on the street,” I suggested sweetly.
    “Don’t think I haven’t thought of that. Would they take the hint if their bags were left on the front steps and the door was locked?”
    “They might, but I wouldn’t put it past that woman to be able to jimmy the lock.” We lay quietly for a moment, then I asked, “What had you been planning to do about her name being on the deed?”
    “I guess I was trying not to think about it. But it’s close to seven years now since she left. I had thought of declaring her dead.”
    *
    I woke up twice that night. The first time when Sally and Alfredo stumbled up the stairs on the way to their room. They were loud and sounded drunk. Alfredo was murmuring in Italian to her, and his words sounded amorous. I was ratherglad I didn’t know Italian. Caldwell didn’t wake, and I was glad of that too.
    The second time was when a loud crash happened in the house, like the sound of huge hailstones pelting the roof, but closer. I sat up in bed and saw with concern that Caldwell was not next to me.
    Fearing something awful had happened to him, I sprang up and ran out of our bedroom. Caldwell was standing down the hallway, staring into the book room, with the most horrible and disbelieving look on his face.
    I wasn’t sure I wanted to see what he was looking at. I walked slowly toward him as Penelope’s door banged open.
    “What was that noise?” she asked.
    Caldwell didn’t answer, but kept staring.
    I came up next to