Organized for Homicide (Organized Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

and Kate 's heels clicked as she hurried across the foyer. The skinny two-story sidelights showed someone at the door, but the person stood too close, and all Kate could make out was a lustrous head of chestnut hair. At first she thought Lila may have returned but then realized this visitor wasn't wearing a full skirt.
    " Can I help—?"
    Kate was tossed aside, as a tall brunette with a phone sandwiched between her right shoulder and ear shoved the door farther open and stepped inside. Dressed in what was probably her work clothes, a pair of jeans with the Dolce & Gabbana logo emblazoned on a pink leather patch on the back pocket and a matching cotton candy-hued silk tee, the woman took aim with a laser device to shoot off points while talking into her iPhone. She used her free hand to rummage blindly through a D&G labeled handbag. "That's right, Lee Ann, twenty-four foot ceiling in the foyer, some kind of antiqued brass and lead glass craftsman-type hanging light. Nice, but not pricey enough. Be sure to make a note. We'll want to change it out for the viewings. Need to go high end here. The corporate sellers want this turned quickly, and I want the commission to be worth it."
    " Excuse me—" Kate tried, but received only a face-out palm in reply.
    " Yes, someone let me in, and I'm heading for the interior rooms now. Just stay on the line and I'll keep feeding you measurements and notes I want documented." The woman withdrew a business card case from her bag and flipped it open, extending it as if offering a cigarette. Kate frowned and pulled a card from the pack. Erin Parker. Broker, Vermont Views Real Estate. There was a local office number, followed by a cell number, and a full gamut of social media connection options.
    Kate tried again. "Can you—?"
    " Oh, for heavens sake! Hold on a minute, Lee Ann." Erin pulled the phone from her ear and faced Kate. Meg moved closer in a show of support. "What are you, the cleaning people? Yes, we'll keep you contracted until the house closes. But right now I have work to do. I have a primo prospect flying in within two days, and I have to transform this house in the interval."
    " We are not the cleaning people." Meg looked ready to blow.
    " We're organizing the Colliers' move." Kate extended her right hand, so she could not only offer a handshake but could cut off the direct path between Meg and the real estate pro.
    Erin returned the handshake, shook Meg's hand as well, and before turning back to her phone said, "You two look like soccer moms. I realize it's nearly time for all of you to line up to retrieve the kiddies at school. If you leave, put the key on that table over there, and I'll lock up."
    She and her rapid laser measure resumed producing measurements for the off-site Lee Ann, and Erin's long legs took her around the corner to disappear in the hall toward the media room and Blaine Collier's office.
    " I'll call Collier's personal assistant and figure what to do next. You go see if you can help her," Kate told Meg.
    " Keep an eye on her. Got it!"
    The foyer felt too open for a phone call, so Kate moved into the great room and seated herself on one of the cushy patterned sofas, tapping her phone against the padded, earth-toned arm. The floor -to-ceiling south-facing windows not only offered a lovely green view but allowed gentle heat from the sun to warm the room. She took a moment to calm herself and sent up a quick prayer for Collier to be tied up in meetings so she could speak with his assistant, Timothy, instead. Then she dialed.
    Luck, for once! "Hello, Timothy, it's Kate McKenzie."
    " Sorry, Kate, but Mr. Collier is in a meeting."
    " That's probably okay. I have a feeling you might be able to help. An Erin Parker is here now, and she wants me to leave her my key. Thought I'd better—"
    " No! She's to have no unsupervised access to the house, by Mr. Collier's direct order."
    Kate pinched the sharp crease that ran down the left leg of her twills. "Okay. My associate,