Watch for the Dead (Relatively Dead Book 4) Read Online Free Page B

an egg.
    “Hi, Abby,” Ellie greeted her. “I was going to make something, but then I figured I didn’t know where everything was, and I didn’t want to wake you up, so I decided I could take some more pictures. It’s kinda cool to take really close close-ups of things, you know? Like if you get right up to the egg and take a picture, you wouldn’t even guess it’s an egg.”
    “That sounds like fun. What would you like to eat?”
    “Scrambled eggs, maybe? I can make toast, if you show me where the bread is.”
    “Sounds fair to me.”
    “Is Ned going to be up soon?” Ellie asked, looking in the refrigerator for butter.
    “Probably. We’ll make enough for all of us, shall we?”
    “Is he coming with us to Cape Cod?”
    “Not right away, but in a couple of days. He has to work.”
    “What does he do?”
    Abby wondered if Leslie had told her anything. “Well, he’s a scientist, and he runs a company that analyzes DNA, and does chemical tests on a lot of other things. Do you know what DNA is?”
    “Kind of. What’s he looking for?”
    Dangerous ground, again. “Sometimes it helps to identify people.”
    “You mean dead people?”
    “Yes. If they’ve been dead for a long time, or if someone killed them and took their wallet and stuff, it can help find out who that person is.” Now was not the time to talk to Ellie about using DNA evidence to solve things like rape cases. Abby hoped Ellie could stay innocent just a while longer—although almost any television show that wasn’t a cartoon made references to the more appalling crimes. Not quite the world Abby had grown up in, or maybe when she was young she’d just ignored the things she didn’t want to know about. Or changed the channel. “Tell me, what other things do you like to do? Most of this summer, when we’ve been together we’ve done something, or gone somewhere. But aren’t there times when you just want to sit?”
    “I read. Sometimes Mommy thinks I spend too much time inside, but then she thinks about when I used to go visit that cemetery near our house, and she doesn’t say anything. Are there cemeteries on Cape Cod?”
    “Of course, love. People die everywhere.”
    “Do you know anybody there?” Ellie asked.
    Abby was both amused and dismayed. She knew exactly what Ellie meant: did Abby know any dead relatives who had died on Cape Cod? But what kind of eight-year-old asked questions like that? “Not that I know of, but I haven’t been looking long. Do you really want to visit graveyards on your vacation?”
    Ellie shrugged. “I like them.”
    Well, Abby thought wryly, at least they won’t be crowded with tourists.
    She heard a knocking at the front door, followed quickly by the sound of Ned coming down the stairs. Shortly after that he led Leslie into the kitchen.
    “Hi, baby,” Leslie said, going straight to her daughter.
    “Hi, Mom,” Ellie said. “I’m helping Abby make breakfast.”
    “Good, good. I brought you some clothes.”
    “How’s Daddy?” Ellie asked.
    “He’s okay. Kind of weak and tired. He’s still in the hospital, but he should be coming home today or tomorrow. Don’t worry about him, okay? You just have fun with Abby and Ned, and I’ll see you in a couple of days. And I’ll call you and talk to you. Come on, give me a hug.”
    Ellie got out of her chair and hugged her mother, but it was Leslie who hung on longer.
    Finally, when she let go, Leslie said, “You have your phone, right? You can call me if you need me.”
    “Yes, Mom, I have my phone. You take care of Daddy.”
    “I’ll do that.” Leslie straightened up and turned to Abby and Ned. “Thanks again. I’ll let you know when I know anything more. Have a good time, you all.”
    “I’ll see you out,” Ned told her, and followed her toward the front of the house.
    “Mommy’s sad,” Ellie said, sounding more like the child she was than usual.
    She was right. “She is, sweetie,” Abby agreed. “She’s worried, too. But the