House of the Hanging Jade Read Online Free Page A

pets here. You’ll have to ask.”
    â€œThanks.”
    Akela returned to her duties and I found my way back to the kitchen, where I found a pad of paper and a pencil. I started making notes of things I wanted to ask Mrs. Jorgensen. I wandered out onto the lanai to find the small dining room Akela had mentioned earlier. It was indeed tucked right next to the kitchen, though there was no way to get to it directly from inside the house, making it a cozy and intimate space.
    So far, I loved this job.

Chapter 4
    I was checking cupboards in the kitchen again, taking stock of the pantry staples that were already there, when I heard voices coming through the living area. A high-pitched laugh was accompanied by lower, quieter tones.
    A petite woman with long curly blond hair appeared in the kitchen. She walked over to me briskly on her very high heels, holding out her hand.
    â€œYou must be Kailani,” she said with a wide smile. “I’m Barbie Merriweather-Jorgensen and this is my colleague, Dr. Douglas Fitzgibbons.”
    I shook hands with them in turn, then faced Mrs. Merriweather-Jorgensen. “I’m just acquainting myself with your kitchen. It looks like I have everything I’ll need to get started whenever you’re ready.”
    She beamed. “Wonderful! Can you start now? We’re rav enous!”
    I was suddenly a little nervous, but I smiled and answered, “Of course. What can I get you?”
    â€œOh, surprise us. Just something light, though, since we both have to get back to work.” She motioned Dr. Fitzgibbons onto the lanai. I looked around and took a deep breath. I had seen chicken broth and dry soba noodles in one of the cupboards, so I reached for those. Normally I would have made my own chicken stock, but there wasn’t time for that now. I searched in the refrigerator for vegetables and found carrots, mushrooms, and scallions. I threw together a quick soup, added some bread I had found, and lunch was ready in no time. I arranged the food with napkins and utensils on a large lacquered tray and carried it out of the kitchen carefully.
    I found them seated across from each other at the large dining table farther down the lanai.
    â€œI hope chicken and soba-noodle soup is okay for lunch,” I told them.
    â€œSounds de li cious!” gushed Mrs. Merriweather-Jorgensen.
    Dr. Fitzgibbons made an mmm sound and nodded his agreement.
    They still needed drinks, so I went back to the kitchen for iced tea and took it to them. Mrs. Merriweather-Jorgensen was putting down her spoon.
    â€œKailani, this soup is out stand ing!” she effused.
    â€œGreat!” the doctor agreed.
    â€œThanks,” I said, putting down the drinks. I returned to the kitchen, where I cleaned up from lunch and waited to collect the soup bowls from the table.
    It wasn’t long before the pair came into the kitchen again. “Kailani, thank you for the won derful lunch! I won’t be home in time for dinner, and Lars and the children can fend for themselves. Can you start with breakfast the day after tomorrow? You can move your things in tomorrow.”
    â€œSure.” I paused. “Do you have any objection to me having a cat here?”
    She looked doubtful. “You have a cat?”
    â€œYes. She’s a small cat. I would keep her confined to my rooms. Her name is Meli.”
    â€œIs that a Hawaiian name?”
    â€œYes. It means honey .”
    â€œWell, I guess we can give it a try. Bring her here and we’ll see how it works out. But if she smells, she’ll have to go,” Mrs. Merriweather-Jorgensen said, wrinkling her nose.
    â€œThank you,” I said, sighing with relief. She didn’t seem too keen on the idea of having a cat in the house, but if I could keep Meli in my suite, it should work out.
    I left after quickly cleaning up the remaining lunch dishes, then went back to my parents’ house to make sure everything was packed.
    They had