Read Aunty Lee's Chilled Revenge for Free Online Page A

not been collected (reminding her of the excess waiting in her kitchen), lemongrass was invading the screw pine leaves, and giant kaffir limes had been left to ripen on the bushes instead of being plucked and pickled . . . but today when Nina placed a cup of hot tea on the table, her employer smiled at her and said, “Good morning. Going to be nice and sunny. Clothes will dry well.”
    Nina was less cheerful. She did not mind houseguests but preferred them to come without murderous connections.Murder investigations disrupted opening hours at the café and sleep and housework cycles, and were bad for both business and health. Still, it was good to see Aunty Lee perked up, and hopefully the presence of a guest would prevent her from climbing onto things.
    Vallerie had not appeared since being put to bed in Mathilda’s old bedroom the day before.
    â€œHave you heard any more news about the murder? Did Salim say anything?”
    â€œMadame, this is not your business. Your business is to get better and look after your café.” Aunty Lee’s Delights was not opening till 11 A.M. for brunch, so Aunty Lee shrugged that off.
    â€œYesterday Josephine said they should have killed that woman—and now that woman is dead! She said it in my café so of course it’s my business.”
    Nina was unimpressed. “I also say like that what. Last week I told the egg deliveryman if he is late again and I got to go one more time to buy eggs from 7-Eleven I will kill him. If he gets heart attack are you going to call police?”
    â€œDid Allison Love die of a heart attack?”
    Nina started back into the house without answering.
    â€œIs our guest awake yet?”
    â€œJust now she go to the bathroom but never come downstairs yet.”
    â€œAh.”
    Nina left Aunty Lee to her newspapers. Today, in addition to her regular paper, the Straits Times, Aunty Lee had asked for the Business Times, the New Paper, and Today . Fortunatelythe nearby 7-Eleven was well stocked with papers (as well as fresh eggs).
    Unfortunately for Aunty Lee the newspapers proved sadly disappointing.
    There was nothing on the murder she did not already know. Aunty Lee studied a photo of the dead woman. Allison and Vallerie looked very alike, though it was not immediately obvious with Vallerie being so much larger in size.
    â€œI wish I knew how to make those spy drones,” Aunty Lee said in grumpy frustration. “I would make them small, like mosquitoes. And just make them fly around checking on people. I’m sure so many crimes could be prevented. And they could chase away mosquitoes so dengue fever also no more.” But she was not really disheartened because there was still Vallerie Love asleep upstairs.
    The reporters had not had a chance to speak to Vallerie. Aunty Lee had spent much of the previous day comforting and soothing the woman as she swung between furious, wild accusations and miserable wailing. Vallerie was not only in shock over her sister’s death but clearly terrified for herself. Aunty Lee hoped she would be calm enough to answer questions today. Though Vallerie insisted no one other than the Animal ReHomers and Allison’s ex-husband could have wanted to hurt her sister, she might remember someone Allison had met or mentioned. Despite her temporary handicap, Aunty Lee was sure she could do better than the police (certainly better than SS Panchal!) gathering information in this case.
    Aunty Lee did not believe any of the former Animal ReHomers could have killed Allison Love. Cherril had been in the café all morning, and surely neither Josephine (whom she had known as a child) nor Brian (so polite and so handsome) could have had anything to do with it. That left the unknown ex-husband.
    Vallerie rolled on her bed and stretched out on the clean sheets. Despite the shock and horror of the past twenty-four hours and her resolution not to let her guard down, sheer exhaustion had relaxed