Read Salvaged to Death for Free Online Page A

asked.
    “Someone’s been messing with my ladies,” Fiona said.
    “I told you I don’t know who done it,” he replied.
    “So you say. I hired an investigator to figure it out and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
    Now Mr. Tomkins turned his attention to Hal, eying the deerstalker cap on top of his head with suspicion. “Do they make you wear those ugly hats?”
    “Actually, I’m…” Hal began, but Sadie interrupted.
    “He’s not allowed to divulge proprietary secrets,” she said, squeezing closer to Hal as she slipped her arm around his waist.
    “And who are you? His secretary?” Mr. Tomkins asked.
    “Of course not. I’m his cousin. He said I could tag along and watch him work this case. There’s nothing I love better than spending time with my family.”
    “I can’t believe your suspicious mind,” Mr. Tomkins said, returning his attention to Fiona.
    “Me? Who’s the one that greeted my guests with a shotgun to the head?” she said.
    “I have valuable scrap to guard,” he yelled.
    “My valuable pumpkins are being murdered!” she countered.
    “No one is touching your pumpkins!” he screamed. “No one’s touched them in years!”
    “Then how do you explain Marge?”
    “Marge died of natural causes!”
    “Having her stem sliced in half is not natural!”
    “Her stem wasn’t sliced! It split from too much water!”
    “You’re crazy!”
    “Crazy is as crazy does!”
    Sadie nudged Hal. He stepped forward and extended his hands toward the couple who looked like they were gearing up to come to blows. “Fiona, Mr. Tomkins, let’s agree to disagree for now. My cousin and I will soon get to the bottom of the situation and be out of your hair in no time.” Hal, being Hal, had slipped into an accent reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes. Fiona seemed unfazed by his behavior, but Mr. Tomkins squinted up at him.
    “You talk funny.”
    “It’s all part of what has made me one of the top twenty private investigators in the eastern half of the northwest quadrant of Virginia,” Hal said. Mr. Tomkins scratched at his whiskers and stared at Hal’s hat.
    “Git out of my house,” Fiona said. If she had a broom, she would be brandishing it at her ex-husband and the other mystery man.
    “Not without my guns,” Mr. Tomkins said, a feeble show of defiance since she had already propped their guns congenially beside the door.
    “Take your guns and stop using them on my guests,” Fiona said.
    “I’ll do what I want, when I want as long as it’s still my land,” Mr. Tomkins said, but his bold words didn’t match his meek gesture. He scooted to the door with haste, grabbed his gun, and fled. Behind him, his silent companion trounced without ever having said a word.
    “Who was that other man?” Sadie asked.
    “That’s Bo,” Fiona answered. “He works for Tom, doing whatever needs done.”
    “Tom is your husband,” Sadie surmised.
    “Tom Tomkins,” Hal said. “You’re kidding.”
    “Ex-husband,” Fiona said with a sigh. “Let me show you to your rooms. She turned and they followed her down a narrow hallway. Sadie was surprised and impressed by the small house. What had looked like a plain brick domicile on the outside turned into a charming cottage on the inside. Cabbage roses and lace abounded, as did framed cross stitch and embroidery. Based on Fiona’s masculine appearance, Sadie would have guessed that Fiona’s house would abound with camouflage and deer heads.
    She deposited them in two small, yet equally appealing bedrooms. Each was equipped with a cottage-style single bed, causing Sadie to wonder who Fiona’s guests were. Obviously she must occasionally host someone. Why else were her guestrooms so adorably appointed? As soon as Sadie retrieved her suitcases and set them down, she made her way to Hal’s room and sat on his bed.
    He sat beside her. “Are you going to tell me why you’re my cousin now? And why I’m now in charge of this investigation? Not that I’m