Read Rest in Peace for Free Online Page A

The rest of the time I was away at boarding school, while Dad did business around the world and Mom did whatever she did in her social whirl of a life. After Grandpa died, Grandma had turned her home into a boardinghouse for seniors—mostly lifelong friends. But it came as a complete surprise when Grandma had left Cedar Lodge to me in her will.
    I went through the rest of my mail then went down to take care of the seniors’ rooms. Most of them were already spotless, but I checked for bed linens that might need to be changed early.
    I laughed silently when I entered Martin’s room. Comics were stacked up in three piles. His collection. Those, I wouldn’t dare touch.
    When I went into Miss Aggie’s room, Whatzit glared at me as though he’d like to peck out my eyes. He liked me about as well as Clyde had.
    When I finally made it down to the first floor, wonderful smells drew me to the kitchen.
    “What’s for lunch, Mabel? It smells delish.”
    “Mexican meat loaf. I found the recipe online the other day. Sounded like something you’d like, so I thought I’dmake it for lunch when the seniors weren’t here.”
    Everyone knew I loved Mexican food. Most of the seniors liked it too, but I’d pretty much burned them out on it when I was doing some of the cooking before Mabel came.
    The meat loaf was as good as it smelled, and I asked Mabel to keep the recipe on file.
    After lunch I went to my office and pulled out the list again.
    Beside Laura’s name, I put a notation.
Seeking revenge for her mother?
    I frowned at Christiana’s name and wondered if she’d started working for Ben yet. I reached for the phone and began to punch-in his office number, then slammed the phone down. How pathetic was I? Besides, if she answered she’d probably figure out why I called. I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction.
    Maybe I’d call his cell instead, just to hear his voice and ask him if his new secretary was working out. As I reached for the phone again, the front door opened.
    “Victoria?” Phoebe’s voice rang out. “Where are you?”

    Phoebe Collins and I were complete opposites. While I was insecure and sometimes shy around strangers, she liked everyone and figured they liked her, too. Bouncy and outgoing, she drew me out of myself and taught me how to have fun again. I’d known her as the bank teller where I made my deposits, and that was about it, until Corky fell head-over-heels in love with the blue-eyed, blond beauty. Since then, she and I had become best friends. The first real friend, except for Ben and the seniors, I’d had since leaving Dallas to take over the lodge.
    “Phoebe. Aren’t you working today?”
    “Yes.” She laughed. “But I had to tell you something. Face-to-face. Uncle Jack’s coming this weekend.”
    My stomach jumped. Why did Jack Riley show up every time someone got murdered around here? Raised in Cedar Chapel, he’d left at a young age to eventually own an import/export business in Germany. Until last year, when he’d arrived for an unexpected visit, Phoebe had never met the uncle she’d heard about and admired all her life. While here, he had regaled them with tales of his exploits during World War II and afterwards. At the time I’d suspected him of being guilty of selling jewels stolen from the Jewish victims before and during the Holocaust years. But when Mr. Riley had helped solve the murder at Pennington House, I’d decided I might have misjudged him.
    But here he was, popping up again after a suspicious death had occurred.
    “Really? That’s great, Phoebe. Why is he coming to the states?”
    “Well, silly. Because he wants to see us, of course.”
    “Of course. I am silly.”
    “I have to run. I’m almost late back to work.”
    Okay, but I wanted to know more about Jack Riley’s sudden visit. “Why don’t you and Corky come to dinner tonight?”
    “Wonderful idea. Will you call Corky and ask if it’s okay with him?”
    “Sure thing. See you later.”
    She