Read Mouth of the Rat (A Samantha Jamison Mystery) for Free Online Page B

Hazel.
    “What are you doing on the floor?” Betty asked. The two of them pulled me upright.
    “Why aren’t you two working at the bookstore?”
    Betty shrugged. “It’s been closed for renovations.”
    “Clay said it will take about a week,” said Betty.
    Why would Clay close his store, The Bookworm, now?
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 21
    That Old Feeling
     
     
    I sensed that old feeling floating around me, a fine mist of distrust. Was something up? Not that I was ungrateful for the extra seniors unexpectedly thrown my way. Any help in that department was much appreciated, but still…
    I liked to think I always had the upper hand. Of course, I took it for granted that the scales leaned in my favor. But maybe that was Clay’s fault for continually letting me think I was the one coming up with all the doable plans to get out of whatever mess I always found myself in.
    I just had this feeling that Clay was moving furniture behind the scenes again. Our sizzling on-again, off-again whatever-we-had-going-on, always left me doubtful. Plus, his background as a PI and associate of dubious agencies always left me guessing who was manipulating who?
    “And whose idea was it to come down here?” I asked.
    Tall and thin Betty patted at her gray hair bun. “Clay!”
    Plump and curly, gray-haired Hazel said, “Martha!”
    “Okay,” I asked skeptically. “Which one is it?”
    Embarrassed, Betty recovered first. “Well, we…”
    Then Hazel jumped in. “We thought that…”
    Suspicious, I eyed the two spinsters. Neither one was looking me directly in the eye. I had that feeling…
    “Come on. Out with it. Tell me the truth…now!”
    Betty touched my arm. “We were going crazy up there.”
    Hazel nodded. “Knowing Martha was working a case.”
    “Working a case?”
    “That’s the correct jargon, right, Betty?” Hazel asked.
    Betty nodded. “Right on the mark and very apropos.”
    I put my hands on my hips. “I know there’s more.”
    “Well, Clay was worried about you,” said Hazel.
    “And so were we,” added Betty.
    I exhaled. “I appreciate the concern, but I can do this.”
    Betty bit her lip. “We figured that, but…”
    I cut her off. “Without anyone second-guessing me.”
    Hazel looked crushed. “Does that include us, too?”
    I smiled. “Considering your age, you guys can stay.”
    Betty stifled a laugh. “In other words, you want to prove to Clay you can do this without his help just once, right?”
    My face flushed. “Well, that too.”
    “What do you mean, that too?” Hazel asked.
    I sighed. “He’s a major distraction. There! I admit it!”
    The two glanced at each other and burst out laughing, while I stood there trying to recoup, my face flushing pink.
    Hazel patted me. “We’ve seen the sparks fly, dear.”
    Betty laughed. “If I was just a tad younger, I’d…”
    Hazel turned to her. “You’d what?”
    Betty laughed again. “Give Sam a run for her money.”
    I chuckled and relaxed. “Thanks, you two.”
    Hazel moved closer, conspiratorially. “Now, fill us in.”
    And so I did.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 22
    And Then There Were Five
     
     
    A short time later I realized I had one issue that needed resolving: sleeping arrangements. There were only three bedrooms and five of us. No, two issues. Martha and Mona had no clue who had arrived and they were due any minute.
    This could get ugly.
    I braced myself when I heard the door open. Martha and Mona barged in, arguing about something, as usual. Betty and Hazel were unpacking in my room. I didn’t relish breaking the news of their unexpected arrival, and then informing Martha that I’d be bunking with her. She would be extremely unhappy about that.
    Martha had territorial issues. Come to think of it, she had issues with just about everything. After a while, I got used to it because she had a great perspective and a well-developed BS indicator. I guess it was a it took one to know one kind-of-thing.
    Martha and Mona were still