Read Murder in Vein (2010) for Free Online Page B

Dedhams much as she did her childhood in foster care-one day at a
time. Although in the case of the Dedhams, it might be one night
at a time.
    During her final stretches, Madison noticed the desk chair
had been moved to the side of the bed, as if someone had been
watching her sleep. She'd had a dream about a man, a very dark
man, watching over her. When he'd touched her in the dream,
she'd been both thrilled and terrified. Madison moved the chair
back to the desk. Dodie had probably come in to make sure she
was all right, but Madison still found it slightly disturbing.
    Something else was different. On the desk was a laptop and
a stack of books. Not just any books, but her schoolbooks, along
with a few other books she'd had in her apartment. The laptop
was hers, too. Her eyes swept the room and came to rest on the
dresser. On the top of the dresser were neatly folded clothes that
also looked familiar. She crossed the large room and fingered
the articles, instantly recognizing several pairs of her jeans and
various sweaters and tee shirts. There was also a plastic bag filled with her personal cosmetics and toiletries, including her hairbrush and comb. Then her eye snagged on two other recognizable items.

    Half hidden by the pile of clothing was Pookie, a raggedy
stuffed kitten, and a photograph in a blue wooden frame. It was a
photo of a very young Madison with her mother. Leaning against
the frame was a folded piece of stationery monogrammed with
a stylized D at the top. With a shaking hand, Madison picked up
the paper. It was a note from Dodie. The handwriting was clean
and precise.
    We thought you'd be more comfortable with some of
your own things. There are a few more in the closet.
Your lingerie is in the dresser.
    Madison yanked open the top dresser drawer to find an
assortment of her panties, bras, and socks. Dashing to the closet,
she flung open the doors. Neatly hanging from wooden hangers
were the only two pairs of dress pants she owned, a few blouses,
and a dress. On the floor of the closet were a couple pairs of her
shoes, including her favorite boots.
    Returning to the dresser, Madison picked up the photo and
studied it as tears ran down her cheeks. She traced the outline of
her mother's face. She'd died when Madison was five years old.
The stuffed kitten was the last thing she'd given Madison before
her death.
    Madison put down the photo and picked up the stuffed animal. Clutching it to her chest, she slipped back into bed and buried her head in a pillow, sobbing until she was too exhausted to
cry anymore.

    It was nearly ten by the time Madison showered and went
downstairs dressed in her own clothing. Much to her surprise,
the drapes were open and the house was flooded with sunshine.
She heard noise coming from the kitchen and headed in that
direction.
    Bustling around the kitchen was a squat African-American
woman with long, braided hair. The mixture of black and gray
in her hair gave it the appearance of a tweed veil. She wore gray
leggings and a long tunic sweater the color of a ripe banana. An
apron was tied around her thick waist. Her feet were stuck into
white Keds. The woman's back was to Madison. She was humming a tune that sounded like church music.
    Madison cleared her throat before speaking so she would not
scare the woman. "Are you Pauline?"
    The woman turned around, not surprised at all. She appeared
to be in her fifties, with a broad face, high cheekbones, and small,
sharp bird eyes. "That's me-Pauline Speakes. And you must be
young Miss Madison." The woman eyed Madison up and down
without apology. "Thought you were going to sleep the day
away, but now that I see that black eye and those cuts, I'm not
surprised."
    Madison self-consciously touched the bandage on the side
of her face. "Dodie gave me a pain pill last night. Those things
knock me on my ass."
    "Hmmm" Pauline crossed her arms and stared at Madison. "You need to know right off, I don't