Free Accused: (Mystery Series) (My Murder Mysteries #3) by H. B. Rae Page A

front door." Jessica mumbled out loud to herself. She listened but instead of hearing the creak of the front door opening she heard the girl's footsteps getting closer.
    Kelly McGee was a plump girl with a round pudgy face who wore too much make-up and not enough clothing. It was snowing outside and as she appeared at the end of the hallway that opened to the kitchen and living room Jessica noted her black fishnet stockings and ankle high boots. Her backside was barely covered by a pair of tattered black cut-off shorts and a white tank top with a thin, black hoodie did nothing to conceal her cleavage.
    "What are you doing?" she snapped at Devin.
    He picked up another ornament from the plastic tub they were stored in and turned his back to his sister as he found a place to hang it on the tree.
    "What does it look like." he said back calmly.
    Kelly shifted from her left foot to her right and let out a huge sigh.
    "Don't you think I might want to help decorate the tree?"
    "You weren't home. I'm not going to wait for you."
    "And you just let him do whatever he wants?" she barked at her father who clicked the television off and sat up on the couch. "Devin always gets to do whatever he wants! You never say shit to him!"
    "Shut up, Kelly." Devin said, in a low, calm voice shaking his head as he reached for another ornament.
    "Don't tell me to shut up! That tree looks like crap anyways."
    "Kelly, that's enough." Roland said, rubbing the back of his neck.
    "He started it!" Kelly looked in the kitchen and saw Jessica watching her. Jessica wasn't afraid of Kelly like Roland and Mrs. McGee were. They were afraid if they had her arrested or checked her into rehab she'd never come back or get killed on the street or some other guilt-riddled excuse. But Jessica felt nothing but disgust for the girl. And the sentiment was mutual.
    "What the hell are you looking at? Real nice of you to make yourself at home using our gas and electricity and water. Don't you have a home to go to?"
    Jessica rolled her eyes, not giving Kelly the satisfaction of a reply and turned her back to take the last of the Christmas cookies out of the oven.
    "I asked you a question!" Kelly yelled.
    "Kelly, stop that right now." Roland said, standing up. "I have to go to work." He slipped past his daughter and made his way to the front door where he put on his heavy work boots, thick winter jacket and a hat. Without another word he opened the door and left. Kelly had the ability to empty a room this way. Devin wasn't surprised at his father's behavior. He had left the house a thousand times before just so he wouldn't have to listen to his daughter have another temper tantrum.
    But Devin knew Kelly’s outbursts were more than just tantrums. Some people on talk shows would say that she was a victim. Poor thing just wanted love and discipline. Ship her off to some resort in one of the warmer lower forty-eight states where she can ride horses and paint pictures and whine in a circle with a bunch of other brats who felt at the age of sixteen life was too hard. That would cure her anger issues. Not.
    The truth was Devin knew there was something wrong with Kelly all their life. He always felt there was a short circuit in her brain that made her enjoy hurting people. If he could blame it on drugs he'd feel a lot better about her but the truth was she wasn't on drugs. Sure she experimented but she wasn't what you'd call a doper. She was just mean. Cruelty was a sport to her. And Devin wasn't embarrassed to say he hated her.
    "Give me that!" She yelled at Devin, stomping up to him to snatch the ornament he was holding out of his hand. "That one is mine!"
    "Fine. Take it." He said, still calm. He looked at Jessica.
    "What are you looking at her for? Gotta get permission to do anything?" Kelly said, standing on tip-toe to hang the red ornament she had taken. "Jessica? Is it okay if I wipe my ass?" she said in a sing-songy voice loud enough for Jessica to hear.
    Devin shook his head and