Murder Most Mellow (A Kate Jasper Mystery) Read Online Free

machine and watched the game light up. The Texan on the backglass gave me a broad, toothy smile that always reminded me of my ex-husband Craig’s. Craig and I had actually managed to have a warm, platonic friendship once we had finally separated. But after his girlfriend’s death, he had begun to think of me romantically again. And as little as I wanted to marry Wayne, I wanted even less to be romantically involved with Craig.
    I shot a ball listlessly. It hit a thumper-bumper and careened across the playfield. Bells rang. God, I missed Wayne. Was it time to give up my illusion of independence and marry him? I shook my head. Surrender couldn’t be a good basis for marriage. The ball came plummeting down the playfield. I pressed the flipper button a second too late. The ball touched the flipper’s tip, wobbled uncertainly, then dribbled down the drain hole. I turned off the machine and went back to bed.
    I had just fallen asleep with a little help from NatuRest, the “natural” sleeping pill, when the phone rang. Had I forgotten to set my answering machine? The second ring answered the question. I had forgotten. I pulled myself out of bed and looked at the clock. It was almost two in the morning.
    Groggily, I ran down the hall to the phone in my office. C.C. was ahead of me all the way. I flopped down into my comfy old Naugahyde chair and picked up the receiver. Sarah’s greeting came singing over the line. I grunted in return.
    “I’ve got a problem for you, Ms. Detective,” she announced cheerfully as C.C. jumped into my lap.
    “I’m not a detective,” I groaned. “Do you realize what time it is?” C.C. began ecstatically purring and clawing my thigh through my pajamas. That hurt! I hadn’t trimmed her claws for weeks.
    Sarah’s voice became more serious. “I really need someone to help me figure this out,” she said.
    “Figure out what?” I demanded. I was beginning to wake up. I plucked C.C.’s claws from my thigh and held her paws in my hand.
    Sarah didn’t answer me right away. “Come on over and we’ll talk about it,” she said finally. C.C. loosened a paw and dug in again. I unceremoniously dumped her on the floor.
    “You mean right now?” I asked Sarah incredulously.
    “Sure, why not?” she answered, her tone cheerful again. “You’re up, aren’t you?”
    “No, not tonight, Sarah,” I told her firmly.
    “Just for a few—” she began.
    “Tell me about it now, over the phone,” I interrupted. But Sarah wasn’t going to let me off that easily.
    “I want you here in person,” she insisted. “Can you come over tomorrow morning?”
    “No, I can’t come over tomorrow!” I exploded. Sarah was as imperious as ever and I just wasn’t in the mood for it. After ten more minutes of her badgering, I ungraciously agreed to visit her on Thursday evening.
    I slammed down the phone just as C.C. jumped into my lap for another try at my thighs.
    “You’d better watch it, cat, or I’ll have you de-clawed permanently,” I threatened, with a glare I wished I could have turned on Sarah. C.C. looked at me unblinkingly and sank her claws in again. I dumped her on the floor once more, set my answering machine and went back to bed. Tomorrow, I promised myself. Tomorrow I’ll trim her nails.
     
    The next morning I overslept. It was after ten, and I had a NatuRest hangover. So much for “natural.” I was lying in bed when I heard a sound in the house. I jerked awake. Was it only C.C.? No, there it was again. A human being was definitely in the house, creeping around. Actually, whoever it was seemed to be banging around. A loud burglar? I wondered drowsily.
    Still half-asleep, I pulled my robe around me and crept out the bedroom door. I nearly collided with my quarry. I jumped. She jumped higher.
    “God, you scared me,” I told her.
    “Well, you scared the crap out of me! What the fuck are you doing sneaking up on me like that? And not even dressed yet,” she growled, shaking a handful of