Dying for a Change Read Online Free Page B

years. Does he still run the Emporium?”
    “ He does,” Sharon said with a grimace. “Which is part of the problem.”
    “ I used to love the Emporium,” I went on, “how could...”
    “ Later, Ellie, later,” Dan interrupted, sitting forward a little. “Sharon, wasn’t there some kind of ruckus recently between old Benjamin and Hank?”
    “ There was. Right in front of my office,” Sharon said. Her lips pursed, and her fingers tightened a little around her glass. “Hank was leaving and Benjamin rushed up to him, hollering and waving his arms, saying Hank was a traitor, in league with me, and he should give up his seat on the Planning Commission.”
    “ That’s a bit strong,” Dan commented. He nodded at Sharon to go on. “What did Hank say?”
    “ You know Hank. He never took anything very seriously. He laughed, then told Benjamin that he wasn’t going to vote on the Stop N Shop plans or on conditions for the new store because he was a partner in the corporation.” Sharon paused, absently twirled the wine glass in her fingers and watched the wine swirl. “Unfortunately, he went on to say that if Benjamin was worried about Stop N Shop ruining the Emporium, he shouldn’t. Benjamin was doing a fine job of that all by himself. That’s when Benjamin grabbed a hammer out of Hank’s truck and attacked him with it.”
    Dan started to smile. “I heard about that. Benjamin stormed into the station, wanting to file something, anything, against Hank. He wasn’t too happy when my officer told him the attacker couldn’t file charges. I gather he didn’t do Hank any damage.”
    “ No,” Sharon shook her head. “Hank took the hammer away from him, threw it in the back of his pick up, and left Benjamin sputtering on the sidewalk.”
    She paused a minute, glanced at Dan, looked away, and went on. “Benjamin was pretty explicit about what he’d do to Hank if he got the chance.”
    “ You don’t seriously think old Benjamin Lockwood could have killed Hank, do you?” I exclaimed. “Why, he was older than dirt when we were all growing up. Besides, he wouldn’t!”
    “ He wasn’t as old as we all thought,” Dan said, running his fingers through his hair, just like he used to when he couldn’t get a math problem to come out right.
    “ Things aren’t what they used to be, Ellen.” Sharon had on her serious face, the one she used in the office. “Or maybe, when we were children, we saw things differently. Benjamin’s always been a little strange and ever since Rose died, he’s been — well, stranger. And he’s tough. I’m not saying he did it, but I’ll bet he could have.”
    “ I don’t believe it,” I protested. “Nobody we know would do such a thing. I’ll bet it was a thief or something. Dan, don’t you think so?”
    “ Mighty sloppy thief,” he commented. “Hank’s wallet wasn’t touched and the keys to the pickup were in the ignition.”
    “ Maybe he was scared off,” I said, not willing to give up my easy solution so quickly.
    “ By who?” Dan sounded curious, as though he was willing to explore my theory. Then he ruined it all. “Hank’s is the only house on that street close to being finished. You, Bernice and Harvey were the only ones who were there today. Except, of course, the murderer.”
    I didn’t like that much. I didn’t like Dan’s grin much either. I was trying to think of something, anything, when I saw Sharon’s face. She was staring at one of the bookshelves that flanked the fireplace.
    “ Is that a cat?” she gasped. Her face was white, her tone strangulated.
    “ That’s Jake,” I said, wondering why she looked so strange. “Handsome, isn’t he?”
    Jake, my big yellow tom, was sitting on the top shelf, shining up his white feet and bib in preparation for dinner. Dan set down his glass and started to his feet. So did I.
    “ Watch this,” I told them, and whistled. Jake quit bathing, stood up, stretched, then sailed off the shelf to land on the