Old Bones: a Hetty Fox Cozy Mystery (Hetty Fox Cozy Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

my son-in-law. “Damon, you’ll be fine. In the meantime, don’t say another word. Call a lawyer. Do exactly what he tells you to do. Megan, I’ll call you later... after I check on a few things.”
    “Hetty,” Oberton said, fixing me with a hard stare.
    “Sir, this is my family. I will do what I must to ensure their safety. And so will they.” That said, I marched out the front door.
     
    ***
     
    “ We’re on. Aren’t we?” Andrew was practically tap dancing with excitement. “We’re going to take up the chase!”
    “You saw?”
    He nodded. “Every fascinating second of it.”
    “I’m glad you found it entertaining. That was my son-in-law in the hot seat.”
    “Yes, but he’s also a man I’ve heard you bad mouth more than a few times.”
    I shrugged. “That was different. Before this, I thought of him as a distant relation. Now,” I expelled a lungful of air, “I suddenly see him as a valued member of my small family who is being threatened by the police.”
    “And that changes things?”
    I swiveled to face him. “Do you think I want my grandsons’ father convicted of murder?”
    He took a step back and shook his head. “Probably not.”
    “Indeed.”
    “So I take it we’re on this case?”
    “Absolutely. Damon may not be my favorite person, but he’s no murderer. I’m absolutely certain of that.”
    “And you’ll start where?”
    “In the kitchen,” I replied. “The first thing I want is a fresh pot of tea.”
    I took off for the other room. Andrew instantly circled around me and popped up in front of me. Startled, I staggered backwards. “I wish you wouldn’t do that,” I hissed, my hand plastered to my chest.
    “So did Damon know the McNays?” he asked. “I mean whoever the killer is, they had to have access to that attic.”
    “That’ a good point. As to Damon knowing the McNays, I don’t know yet if he does.”
    “That’s your first task, then, questioning him.”
    “No, knowing Damon the way I do, he won’t thank me for focusing my attention his way. I’ll let him wait a bit. He might not even agree to speak with me.”
    “What’s his problem?”
    “I blame his parents.”
    “Well, yes. I think I’ve you’ve already made that perfectly clear.”
    “Look, would you please get out of my way?”
    Andrew let me step around him, and I proceeded to the kitchen. After snatching the tea kettle from the stove, I turned on the water.
    “You were going to fill me in on Damon’s background,” Andrew said, his arms folded across his chest.
    l took a deep breath and said, “His family was a big deal here. They always have been, apparently. His great grandfather started a grain elevator and made mega bucks over the years.” I turned off the water and carted the kettle to the stove.
    “The males in the family all carried on that tradition,” I continued. “Then, after his parents died, Damon inherited fistsfull of money and the business. Inheriting all that wealth at such a young age means he’s nearly impossible to deal with today. Or at least, he is for me. I assume Megan does better with him.”
    “And his grain elevator is still a thriving business?”
    “Yes.”
    “But I thought the big conglomerates were pushing the little operators out of business.”
    I looked at him suspiciously. “You seem rather well informed.”
    “I watch the news with you. I read the newspapers over your shoulder. I keep up.”
    I shrugged. “Yes, the answer to your question is that his business is alive and healthy. Damon’s firm is part of a multi-county cooperative. He and a group of elevator owners started it a year or two ago. It’s designed to push back at the big boys trying to sink them.”
    “That’s clever.”
    I nodded. “Damon put the entire operation together. And now he’s the new firm’s top dog. I’ve never doubted his business sense. And from what Megan says their personal income has almost doubled. No, when it comes to making money, Damon is a