Death Among the Doilies Read Online Free

was her second home. The first, of course, being the shelter itself. She rarely even slept at her own apartment—she bunked on a cot in the storage room of the shelter, which she cleaned off before she could lie down and catch a few hours of sleep. Rarely even four hours, let alone the full eight her doctor prescribed.
    This began the somewhat crooked path to her starting a new life. Or starting a life, actually. Before, she never had the time to read a whole book, see a complete movie, or sometimes even to eat an entire meal. Which set her up perfectly for a severe panic disorder. Her condition had gotten so bad by the end of her counseling career that her doctors practically ordered her to quit.
    Now, Cora and Jane sat in the sparse but comfortable room in the police station, waiting on Cashel O’Malley.
    â€œI don’t understand this,” Jane said. “What have I done to make them think I killed someone?” Her voice quivered and her blue eyes widened.
    â€œI’m sure there’s been some kind of mistake,” Cora said with confidence. Of course this was all a terrible mistake.
    â€œBut what if—” Jane began.
    â€œShhh,” Cora said. “Don’t even think it.”
    Cora could hardly bear to look her in the eye—Jane’s fear was so raw that it was difficult to witness. She’d seen dread in her eyes before—and with good reason. Jane had a record. Cora had been by her side in court several times.
    Cora looked around the room. One table. Four chairs, two of which they were sitting on. Nothing on the gray walls. Plain but clean. It wouldn’t hurt them to spruce up the place with some prints or other framed art.
    When the door opened, both Cora and Jane jumped. Cashel O’Malley entered the room with a confident stride and a bit of a swagger. Handsome, downright hot; he could have stepped off the pages of GQ magazine, with those piercing, intense blue eyes, a strong jawline, and a dimple in his chin.
    This man was Ruby’s son? He was so sophisticated and well-groomed—exactly the opposite of earthy Ruby. Cora admired her lack of pretense; she was a woman who probably never even wore lipstick, let alone got a manicure.
    â€œWhich one of you lovely ladies is Jane?” he asked.
    Jane blushed at the mention of her name, and Cora’s tongue would not move, but she managed to point at Jane.
    â€œI’m Cashel O’Malley.” He held out his hand to Jane. “Your attorney.” She reached out her hand and they shook, and then he took Cora’s hand as well.
    Cora’s eyes wandered along the ridges of his perfectly sculpted face and then to his eyes. Zing! The prettiest blue eyes she’d ever seen. In fact, he may have been the prettiest man she’d ever seen. Focus, she told herself, Jane may be in serious trouble here.
    â€œSo let’s get right to it, shall we?” Cashel said. “The police will send someone in to take your official statement, but we have a few minutes to chat.” He pulled out his laptop and set it on the table.
    â€œI need to know what you were doing the night of Sarah Waters’ death,” he said point-blank, as he clicked on his computer.
    â€œI, uh . . .” Jane stammered.
    â€œIt’s very important I know where you were and what you were doing on August 23.”
    â€œI think I was at home,” she said.
    â€œYou think?”
    Cora’s thoughts raced. The twenty-third? Where had she been? Could she answer that question if it were asked of her? She’d have to check in her journal or on her phone. Who knew off the top of her head where she was on any given day? Jane apparently felt the same.
    â€œI can’t remember,” she said. “I assume it was like any day. I was probably working at my home. I was probably still unpacking. We’d just moved here.”
    Cora mentally sifted through dates and times. They’d moved to Indigo Gap about a