Death is a Bargain (A Kate Kennedy Mystery Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

those entrusted to her care.
    Kate pushed open the back door and a cool ocean breeze ruffled her short hair, making her smile. So it wasn’t April in Paris—April in Palmetto Beach wasn’t bad either. The sun hovered over the horizon, the sky a pastel palette ranging from soft violet to muted coral. A broad expanse of sand almost devoid of humans led down to the deep blue sea topped with whitecaps that shimmered like whipped cream.
    “Wait up!” Marlene shouted the exact same words she’d used over sixty years ago to stop Kate in her tracks; they worked just as well this evening.
    Kate spun around, still smiling, in a far better frame of mind than during the car ride home from the flea market. The salt air? Or the anticipation of Mary Frances providing her with a raison d’être? A cause she could champion. Kate liked causes. Missed not having one. Why couldn’t she volunteer at the Humane Society too? Maybe track down the elephant abuser.
    “Hi, Marlene.” Ballou strained on his leash, pulling Kate back toward Marlene. The Westie liked most people, but he so adored Marlene that, before Kate and Ballou grew so close, she’d felt jealous of her former sister-in-law.
    “Where’s Mary Frances?” Marlene had changed into a gauzy aqua caftan and low-heeled sandals, and she’d wrapped an aqua turban around her platinum French twist.
    “Right here.” The dancing ex-nun rose gracefully from a chair by the pool, barefoot and beautiful. Her red hair glinted in the waning sunlight, and her green sweat suit matched those sparkling eyes. Only Mary Frances could make sweats look like haute couture.
    Ballou, not impressed, growled softly and pulled back when Mary Frances reached out to pet him.
    “Your dog doesn’t like me, Kate.” Mary Frances sounded hurt and indignant. She’d remarked on Ballou’s unfriendly responses to her overtures many times before this snub.
    “Oh, he only has eyes for his Auntie Marlene,” Kate said, handing Marlene his leash. “He even ignores me when she’s around.” She had a quick word with God, willing Marlene not to comment.
    Seeming to get the message, Marlene remained silent, letting Ballou prance like a king several paces ahead of his ladies-in-waiting.
    “The staff at the Humane Society has been lobbying the Palmetto Beach Police Department to investigate rumored abuse for some time.” Mary Frances, over her snit and aware that she had an avid audience, spoke with a sense of breathless drama. “So far the police haven’t done a thing, but after a recent phone call, a volunteer from the shelter visited the circus again and nosed around. She reported that Edgar had suspicious injuries.” Mary Frances sounded like a commentator on Court TV.
    “Edgar?” Marlene started when Ballou, who’d been chasing a sea gull, stopped short after discovering the bird could fly faster than he could run.
    “The elephant. Edgar,” Mary Frances said. “He has a sister, Edna. They’re named after Poe and Ferber.” She shrugged. “Apparently, the trainer has a literary streak as well as a mean streak.”
    Mary Frances had spoken Kate’s exact thought. “Who called to report the abuse?” Kate kicked a ragged piece of colored glass out of her sandy path, glad she’d worn her boat shoes. The barefoot ex-nun might wind up with some serious nicks on her soles.
    “Well, that remains a mystery,” Mary Frances said. “He wouldn’t give his mane, but promised to phone the next day. The director never heard from him.”
    “Did the caller name the elephant trainer as the abuser?” Kate, rather uncharitably, believed Donna Viera might be capable of behaving that cruelly.
    Mary Frances shook her head.
    “So, there’s no proof. They never heard from him again.” Marlene raced ahead to keep up with Ballou but shouted over her shoulder. “Exactly what type of abuse had this guy reported?” She sounded like Court TV too. The hard-nosed prosecutor.
    “Ah, but there is proof.” Mary Frances