The Body Finder Read Online Free Page B

different.
    Violet dropped her backpack on the floor inside her front door. It was the area that her mother not-so-fondly referred to as the “shoe graveyard,” where everyone who came in left their coats, shoes, umbrellas, and in this case, a backpack.
    She smelled dinner already, and she knew that her mom was making lasagna. Not because of the aroma drifting out to meet her, but instead because, when her mom actually cooked something, that was what she made. And it wasn’t ofthe homemade variety either, but one of the prepackaged, mass-marketed frozen ones. That, and a fresh loaf of French bread from the bakery, made up the meal that Violet had eaten more times than she cared to count. Her mom wasn’t exactly what you’d call a domestic diva.
    â€œVi? That you?” her mother called from the kitchen.
    Violet kicked off her shoes and followed the scents.
    â€œHi,” Maggie Ambrose greeted her daughter as she stepped into the airy, farmhouse-style kitchen. “How was your day?”
    Violet grabbed a pop from the fridge and sat at the table. “Pretty good. How was yours?”
    That was all the encouragement her mom needed. “I’m almost finished with the painting I’ve been working on—you know, the one with the river? I can’t wait to show it to you.” What she lacked in cooking skills, she more than made up for in enthusiasm for her work.
    Violet looked at her mother’s paint-covered smock and the rainbow of colors crusted beneath her short fingernails, and she smiled. “Mom, I think you got a little of that river on you.”
    Her mom looked down at her fingernails and grimaced. “Yeah, occupational hazard, I guess.” And then she changed the subject. “I hope you’re hungry. I’m making lasagna for dinner.”
    â€œGreat,” Violet responded with as much zeal as she could muster under the circumstances. It was probably the only hot meal she would get all week, so she didn’t dare complain aboutit, for fear that her mom might go on strike permanently.
    â€œOh, and don’t forget, you’re babysitting for Uncle Stephen tonight.”
    Violet made a face, but her mom stopped her before she could actually argue.
    â€œYou promised, remember? They asked you over a month ago, and you said you would do it.”
    She was right, and Violet knew it, but it didn’t stop her from whining a little. “Yeah, well, a month ago it seemed like a good idea. Now, not so much. Besides, it’s the weekend.”
    Violet loved her little cousins, but they weren’t exactly her ideal Friday night dates.
    Her mom raised her eyebrows. “Oh, and did you have big plans, Cinderella? Big night at the ball?”
    Violet laughed at the sarcasm in her mom’s words. “No. But even nothing is better than babysitting.” She sighed, knowing there was no way out of it. “Fine. I’m gonna go do some of my homework before I head over there.”
    Violet went to her room and flopped down on the mass of rumpled blankets piled on top of her bed. She thought about studying, but she had all weekend, and right now, with the down comforter reaching up around her, she decided to close her eyes…just for a minute….
    And then another. Her breathing became even…steady…and soon she drifted off….
    It was the smell that jarred her back to consciousness. Not the familiar smell of melting mozzarella and marinara sauce, but something acrid—harsh—that felt like it wasburning the skin inside of her nose.
    She opened her eyes and looked around her.
    She wrinkled her nose against it. The smell seemed to be right on top of her, but she couldn’t begin to imagine what it might be. She winced, holding her breath as she sat up, alarmed.
    â€œWhat the—?” She scanned the room, not sure what she was looking for.
    But there it was. Right in front of her.
    The cat had jumped up on her bed while