Free The Murder in Skoghall (Illustrated) (The Skoghall Mystery Series Book 1) by Alida Winternheimer Page B

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    Jess opened her purse and withdrew her wallet. She had brought a pile of cash from her “mad money,” hoping for a find like this. She selected two hundreds from the back of the pile. “Look at that, I have $200 exactly.” She pressed it into the old man’s hand and cupped the bottom of his fist with her empty palm, something like shaking to seal the deal. “I’ll take good care of them,” she assured him. “And I’ll come back when I have more time to look.”
    “You do that,” he said before stepping back and closing the door on them.
    “I wish you hadn’t done that,” she said as they walked toward the truck.
    “Done what?”
    “Negotiated with him. The wood is not warped, and $200 is a great price. It’s not enough, really.”
    Tyler sighed and pushed his hands over the top of his head. “I’m sorry. I’m used to bartering with people. It’s a bad habit, I know.”
    “Besides, he looks like he needs the money.”
    “All right, Jess.” He opened the passenger door for her and she climbed in. Tyler pulled up to the shed, backing in so the tailgate was near the desk. Jess was wondering how they would get the desk in there when Tyler dropped the tailgate and slid out two steel ramps and laid them on the ground.
    Jess’s irritation vanished. “That’s brilliant.”
    “I don’t know about brilliant, but they come in handy. I have to save my back.”
    “Is something wrong with your back?” she asked as they maneuvered the desk to the edge of the ramps.
    “Old injury. If I’m not careful I can end up laid up for days.”
    “Then you better let me push. I don’t want you getting hurt over my desk.”
    He smiled at her and his eyes showed warm admiration. “See these?” He flexed a biceps impressively. “I have way more of this than you do. Fact of nature. I’ll be careful about my back.”
    Jess did as much of the work as she could, but had to admit that Tyler was right about upper body strength, and she appreciated his help anew.
    Getting the desk inside the house wasn’t too difficult, it was getting it upstairs that hurt. Jess offered to wait and hire movers, but Tyler was determined to see it all the way to its final home. Despite her better judgment, she agreed. When Tyler left, her desk was in the front bedroom, and her television in the back bedroom. She waved him away from the front porch with her gratitude and a dinner invitation for that same evening. Now, she had the afternoon to herself, time to shower, play with Shakti, and figure out what she was going to cook for a chef.
     

     
     
     
     

 
     
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Jess emerged from the shower and dressed in a flowered skirt and brown top. It was the first time she’d worn a skirt since the move, and she was feeling particularly feminine. She stopped in the office before going downstairs to admire her new roll top desk once more. Jess ran her hand over the smooth surface before plunking down in her chair. The chair squeaked as she pushed it back on its spring. She let it rock her forward and find its own equilibrium with another squeak each time it tilted away from the desk. She put her hand into one of the bookstalls, feeling the smooth side panel, thinking how neatly her Oxford English Dictionary would fit inside. The letter cubbies called to her next. She couldn’t help probing one of the smooth compartments with curious fingertips. She felt something and jerked her hand back out. Jess leaned forward to peer inside, wondering what small treasure awaited discovery. Whatever it was, it was too far back to see. She slid her hand inside again and found it. Pinched between her first and second fingers like tweezers, she withdrew the lead cowboy.
    Jess stared at the little figure in disbelief.
    She had a dinner guest coming soon, which was reason enough not to think about the cowboy. She set it atop the desk and stood up to go downstairs. Pausing before she turned away, a wave of deep sadness came over her