Read Death of the Swami Schwartz (A Kate Kennedy Mystery Book 2) for Free Online Page B

Frances access to the cavernous apartment.
    In an entrance hall the size of Marlene’s living room, an irate Gina Lombardo was wagging a finger at a tall guy in designer jeans, while wailing about her ruined wallpaper.
    Jeez! Dallas Dalton would need a map to find the kitchen. “Twenty people could live here with room for guests,” Marlene said.
    Another older, heavier tall guy, holding a set of blueprints, laughed. “We’re imported from Texas, ma’am, we like wide-open spaces.” He smiled at Marlene and Mary Frances. “Howdy, ladies, I’m Jeff Jones, the chief engineer.”
    The designer jeans guy turned out to be the head plumber, also “imported from Texas,” and he was assuring Gina Lombardo that he’d solve the problem pronto.
    The chief engineer concurred. “Yep. After the plumber fixes the leak, I’ll have to reinforce the floor.” He smiled at Gina. “And don’t you fret, ma’am, Miz Dalton accepts full responsibility for any damage and will take care of all costs incurred by her neighbor down below and the Ocean Vista board.” Jeff Jones handed Gina a check. Then he offered another check, made out to Ocean Vista and signed by Dallas Dalton, to Marlene. “Y’all can see the amount has been left blank…on both checks…just to show our good faith.”
    Marlene’s anger morphed to envy. Being a multimillionaire made life really easy. Then she realized that Dallas’ money had solved her problem too. She took the check and put it in her red handbag. “Thanks.”
    If she hurried, she’d be on time for her date-to-die-for.
    “Mary Frances, let’s go.” She looked around the b allr oom-size living room. No sign of the dancing nun.
    The plumber smiled. “I think that pretty little lady went on tour.”
    “Which way did she head?”
    “South, toward the solarium. Now that’s really some thing worth seeing. We put in a skylight and the telescope brings you so close to heaven that you think you’re swinging on a star.” He gestured left with his thumb. “Go around the circle in the statuary hall outside the kitchen and keep going till you reach the archway. The solarium is off to the east.”
    Marlene, never noted for her sense of direction, not only couldn’t find Mary Frances, she couldn’t find her way back to the foyer.
    She’d gone round the circle until she felt as if she knew the seven bronze statues—all of dead presidents—on a first name basis. “So Woodrow, where the hell is Mary Frances?”
    She decided to search one more time, then try screaming.
    At the arch, she turned right and entered a long corridor. Had she taken this route before? No. She’d have remembered that large metal door at the end of the pale yellow hallway.
    Would a thick steel door lead to a solarium and a telescope that swept you up to the stars? What would she find behind a door like this? Mary Frances?
    Marlene reached for the knob, so icy cold that her fingers smarted. Strange. The door opened. She stepped in. A blast of frigid air almost knocked her off her feet. The temperature had to be way below freezing. Shivering, she glanced around, hearing the heavy door as it closed behind her. Four steel walls. Cables hanging from a steel ceiling. No windows. No furniture. No Mary Frances.
    Though she’d been sweating all morning, she felt so cold that her fingers and her toes, peeking out of her red patent leather sandals, hurt. She reached into her matching bag and pulled out her cell phone. Useless. No signal. Damn. She had to get out of there. She spun around and turned the knob. Nothing. She tried again. Oh, God. The door was locked.

Eleven

      
    Kate had heard more than enough from Dallas Dalton. She stood and said, “Tiffani and I have to leave. Enjoy your cornbread.”
    Back in the almost blinding mid-morning sunshine, Kate readjusted her slouchy hat and big, black sunglasses. If she’d known that Ballou’s walk would turn into a marathon morning, she’d have put sunblock and a lipstick in her