Horse of a Different Killer Read Online Free

Tony’s dead body.”
    â€œLurking, was I?” She shook her head slowly, eyes bright with amusement. Before I could ask her to let me in on the joke, she said, “You know the cops are under no obligation to tell you the truth, right?”
    I blinked at her while that sank in. “Wait. So all this stuff about Tony being dead and you being there—”
    â€œAll true,” she said. “I
did
go to speak to Tony. When I went in, I found him in the office very much dead.”
    â€œEm, why would you go to his house?” I had a sinking feeling I knew. “This is about the auction, isn’t it?”
    â€œI went to return his money and explain that he was not to contact you again. Which, in hindsight, was stupid.”
    â€œYes it was. You should have let Wes deal with Tony.” Wes had handled my sister’s divorce and made it clear Ortega was never to have contact with our family again.
    â€œLike I said, hindsight.” She lifted a shoulder.
    I leaned forward. “You went inside?”
    â€œThe door was open, and by open I mean
standing
open.” She spread her arms in a combo, this-wide
and what-was-I-supposed-to-do? gesture.
    My lips parted as I gaped at my sister.
    â€œWhat? It was my house, once.”
    I shut my mouth, then opened it again but Emma cut me off before I could speak.
    â€œDon’t,” she said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œSay whatever it is you’re thinking about saying.”
    She hit me with a pointed look and I wasn’t sure if my sister was warning me to keep my trap shut because she didn’t want to hear any flak or as a reminder that we were being observed.
    Probably both. She would get an earful from Wes when he got here and the bigger deal I made about her interacting with Ortega, the more weight the police would give it.
    I could think of a dozen questions to ask her, but ended up going with one the cops knew the answer to.
    â€œSo, what are you in here for if not murder?”
    â€œThey charged me with trespassing.”
    â€œTrespassing?”
    â€œYep. Even though the door was open and I knew the owner, going inside was trespassing. At least that’s what they tell me.”
    â€œBogus.”
    â€œProbably. Wes will sort it out, but not in time for the party tonight.”
    â€œEm—”
    â€œListen. Everything you need is on my laptop in my briefcase at home.”
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œIt’s important, Grace. I have a friend, well, you know Kevin.”
    â€œAikido Kevin?” I asked, thinking of the tall guy who sometimes joined us in my sister’s private dojo for class.
    Emma nodded. “His brother, Tyler, was just diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He’s an artist, and though the cancer is treatable, his insurance doesn’t cover it.”
    â€œAnd the party is to raise money for his medical bills?”
    â€œSort of. Tyler will be teaching guests how to paint one of his original designs.”
    â€œLike an art class?”
    Emma shook her head. “It’s a painting party. We serve champagne then heavy hors d’oeuvres, everyone paints, there are breaks so there’s time to chat and have a glass of wine. Tyler’s work will be on display and many of the guests own galleries or are influential in the art scene. We’re hoping to get him a gallery show from this event.”
    I blinked at her.
    â€œIt’s easy. All you have to do is welcome the guests, introduce Tyler, then make sure everyone is having a good time.”
    I could feel my eyes bulging out as she spoke.
    â€œGrace? Are you breathing?”
    â€œNo.”
    My sister canted her head and studied me. “Okay. On second thought, I have a better idea. I know the events coordinator for the Ritz. Call the hotel and ask for Kendall. She owes me a favor.”
    â€œWhat do I say?”
    â€œTell her you’re my sister and you need help with an event. She’ll