Free Picture Perfect Murder (Ryli Sinclair 1) by Jenna St. James

it. “Why
do you think you need it? You don’t smoke.”
    “I don’t smoke now , but you never know, I may start
taking up the habit someday. This little baby,” she continued, shaking it
around, “takes that worry away. It’s sort of a sneak attack for preventative
measures.”
    “I’m pretty sure there’s no such thing,” I said.
    “You calling me a liar?” Aunt Shirley said while sucking on
the e-cig. The vapor suddenly shot out of her mouth and she started hacking and
coughing. I could see tears forming in her eyes. I rushed over, ready to pound
on her back, but she waved me off. “I’m okay,” she wheezed, trying to take deep
breaths.
    “Doesn’t that hurt your throat?” Paige asked, shaking her
head at my aunt’s ridiculous behavior.
    “Only in the mornings. By mid-afternoon it subsides.”
    I closed my eyes and started counting to ten. I only made it
to three before I blurted, “Maybe that’s your body’s way of saying stop using
it!” I exclaimed.
    “Nonsense.”
    “Is there nicotine in that?” I asked.
    “Hell no! I don’t smoke cigarettes and never will. It’s a
disgusting habit,” Aunt Shirley said as she wheezed and puffed again.
    I decided not to push the issue and instead got to the
reason we were there. “Aunt Shirley, there was a murder Thursday night, and I
was thinking—”
    “I’m aware Dr. Garver was murdered,” she interrupted.
    “You are?” Paige asked.
    “Of course! I can still eavesdrop on a good conversation,
you know. There's not an orderly, nurse, or doctor around here that can keep
their mouth shut.”
    “Anyway,” I continued, “Paige and I thought maybe we could
help Chief Kimble figure out who the murderer is.”
    Aunt Shirley squinted at me. “Why?”
    I couldn’t tell her the truth, that I wanted to help solve
this murder to prove to Garrett he wasn’t the only one who could solve a crime.
That would just sound petty. “Journalistic reasons?”
    Aunt Shirley made an annoying buzzer sound. “Try again. I
think this has something to do with Barney Fife and how you’ve been sniffing
around him when you think no one’s watching.”
    I glowered at her. She and I both knew he was the exact
opposite of Barney Fife. I also knew if Garrett ever heard her, he’d definitely
lock her up and throw away the key.
    Trying to stay calm I said, “It has nothing to do—”
    “Save it, girlie.” Aunt Shirley said, cutting me off and
inhaling on her vapor again. I could tell she was trying not to cough because
her face turned dangerously red again. I figured it served her right.
    “We probably should help that whelp out. If his debacle with
me is any indication of how he runs things, he probably couldn’t solve a murder
if it was handed to him on a silver platter!”
    Once again I held my tongue.
    “Well, what do you got so far?” she wheezed.
    “We were thinking it was someone connected with—”
    “I don’t want to know who. I want to know what the crime
scene looked like. All of it. Don’t leave anything out.”
    Okay, now I was a little worried. I knew I wasn’t supposed
to reveal anything about the scene, even though some people already knew some
of the facts. There were still only a few people who knew the entire truth. If
I said something now, I knew I’d be risking my job with the police department.
    “Ain’t nothing you say gonna leave this room, is it?” Aunt
Shirley gave Paige a hard look.
    “Hey, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m now an accessory
in this mess,” Paige said as she put her hands up in the air.
    Chewing on my lip, I made a snap decision. “Okay, here’s
what really went down.” I proceeded to tell them about the crime scene, about
her heart being removed and her fingertips being cut off. I didn’t leave a
single gross description out.
    “Okay, now I’m hungry,” Aunt Shirley said when I’d finished.
    Paige whipped her head around to look at me. “Is she
serious?”
    “I never joke about food.” Aunt