Read The Lady Who Sang High: A Reed Ferguson Mystery (A Private Investigator Mystery Series - Crime Suspense Thriller Book 7) for Free Online

Carlo working on separate things. I overheard Carlo talking to someone about what he was doing, something about growth cycles and changes to them, and other stuff like that.”
    “Who was he talking to?”
    “I don’t know,” she said. “Besides that, Jude is in the lab a lot at night. I think he’s taking their research and adding to it. I can put things together.”
    No questioning that. She’d put an awful lot together. “But you’re not sure,” I reiterated.
    “Uh-uh. But I’ve been doing some research myself. What do you think would happen if I figure out what they’re doing?”
    I played dumb. “I don’t know.”
    “I could use it myself and open my own store. Or better yet, I could sell the new method to someone else.” She snickered. “You know how many people would pay big bucks to have a way to grow better weed faster?”
    “A lot, I’ll bet,” I said. Wow, this was Jodie’s nightmare come true.
    “Or I could blackmail Jude and Jodie into keeping what I know secret.”
    “But what about your job?” I continued with the naïve new employee act.
    The snicker was now a derisive laugh. “Who cares? They pay me, I’ll be long gone.”
     Such a devious mind. I had no idea . “Cool.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
    “You clean upstairs, right?” she asked, abruptly changing the subject.
    “Not yet.” I had no idea if Jodie would task me with that. Cleaning…ugh.
    “Well, if you do, let me know if you see anything that looks like Jude’s notes on new growing methods, okay?”
    I hesitated. “I don’t know. I don’t want to get in trouble or lose my job.”
    “Hey, if you help, I’ll cut you in on it. I’m real close to figuring this out.”
    “I don’t know,” I repeated. “Let me think about it.”
    “Don’t think too long.”
    I glanced at her. “Why are you telling me all this?”
    “I know what it’s like to be unemployed. The economy stinks, jobs are scarce. And I’m a pretty good judge of people, and you look like someone I can trust. Besides, I’ll make it worth your while.”
    “How so?”
    “You need money, right?”
    I shrugged.
    “Come on. You keep talking about just being grateful to have this job, and how you can’t lose it. Makes me think you need money.” I had been saying that – part of my ‘disguise’. She stared at me. “Am I wrong?”
    I tried to look humbled by my employment circumstances. “No, you’re not wrong,” I lied.
    “Like I said, you help me, I’ll help you.”
    “What if I tell them?”
    “I’ll deny it. No one has proof of anything. It’d be my word against yours.” I didn’t like the sudden chilly tone. “Besides, Jodie likes me and she’ll never believe you, and I’ll make sure she doesn’t trust you, and guess who will lose his job?”
    I gazed into those striking blue eyes that were now glinting dangerously. “I’ll see what I can do,” I finally said.
    “Good.” She put a lid on one of the jars and stood up. “I’ve got to get this out front. Fill up the other jar, bring it out front along with the bag so I can lock it up.” She glared at me long and hard, and then left the room.
    I sat for a moment after she’d left. If I was just employee Reed Ferguson, I’d have plenty of trepidation. This was not what I expected from Ivy. And I doubted that Jude or Jodie knew any of this. But I wasn’t just an employee. I was ace detective Reed Ferguson. And I had one big thought: Ivy deserved a second look. Definitely.
    ***
    When I came back into the store, customers were milling about. I was about to ask Ivy what I could do when a guy with a ponytail raised his voice.
    “I got a right to this!” He was jabbing a bony finger at Bill.
    Bill said something and suddenly the guy reached a long arm across the counter. Customers stepped back as the man shouted obscenities at Bill.
    “Sir!” Ivy said firmly but he turned on her.
    I stepped forward to help as she ran out the back door.
    “What’s the