Death Wore Brown Shorts (Happy Holloway Mystery Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

work.”
    “She doesn’t have cable, twerp,” Paisley told him. “Plus, Mom, says your show is on in five minutes.”
    Ben let out an alarmed squeak and ran to his sister. She grabbed his hand and spun on her heel. Ben waved to Annie. “See you later, Aunt Annie. I’m going to give Mommie another chance.”
    “That’s a good idea, Ben. She’ll straighten up and fly right.”
    He appeared confused as to the meaning of the expression but dismissed it with a shrug. Annie shook her head watching them walk to the end of her property and disappear around a group of trees. They had been through this routine before, and she expected to repeat it many more times. As she shut the door, she recalled the mystery brown through the hedges and hurried to her bedroom for her shoes.

Chapter Four
    A t the back of the house, Annie cut across the yard to reach the side. Rather than a fence like the white one surrounding Jane’s rear property, bushes and trees sectioned off Annie’s yard. If one wanted to risk being poked and scratched, one could cut through to the neighbors’ grounds on the street behind hers. That is, if one didn’t know where the gaps lay.
    The area that caught Annie’s interest was located at one of these spots. She trudged through the grass thinking she needed to call the lawn service some time in the next two days. Otherwise, she might get slapped with another citation from the city. Darn grass kept growing back, and she forgot about it.
    “If I get on a schedule like he suggested,” she muttered and moaned. The commitment didn’t appeal in the least. So silly she felt that way, but she never managed to change her habits.
    As she neared the spot, flashes of brown met her gaze through the trees, along with a bit of gold writing. Now she knew what it was. Why would the delivery truck be here at this time of morning? Paul usually drove through around ten a.m. and again at three in the afternoon. Once in a while, someone else delivered late packages about eight in the evening.
    “So what’s he doing here now?” she whispered as she shoved aside a branch and scurried through the opening.
    Annie stepped out onto the walk, arriving at the side of the big brown truck. The door lay open as usual, but this time, a pair of tanned legs with black running shoes hung out over the step. Annie had never heard of Paul taking a drink while on the job. The gossiping ladies would have made sure to pass that tidbit around.
    Something about the stillness in Paul’s legs sent a cold chill down Annie’s back. Dread tightened the muscles in her throat, limiting her air supply. She told herself to look away, but her head refused to turn. A stumbling step caused a branch to poke into her right hip, and the sting brought her to life. She swung on her heel about to return to her house.
    “Annie, what’s Paul doing around at half past six in the morning? Are you two having a secret rendezvous?”
    Annie froze. Stacy walked toward her, being one of the residents who lived on the small side street. Annie looked past her friend to the house beyond. Stacy’s rancher, one of the newer properties unlike Annie’s Victorian and others like hers, lay in the middle of two other ranchers. Each of the properties was situated just yards away from the spot where the truck was parked. Stacy should have a good view of the spot from inside her house.
    “I think we need to call the police, Stacy,” Annie said. She twisted her hands together.
    Stacy’s eyes widened. “Why? What happened?”
    Annie moved toward Stacy, wanting to get away from the body and keep Stacy from seeing it at the same time. She worked on automatic, her mind somewhat clouded. Stacy zipped around her, ever nosy, and squeaked in horror.
    “Paul!” Stacy rushed forward but then dropped back to grab hold of Annie’s arm. “Is he…”
    She all but dragged Annie closer.
    Exercise and strength training is what I need.
    Stacy’s grip was insanely strong.
    “Paul?”