Free Smoked (The Alex Harris Mystery Series) by Elaine Macko Page B

while I took a look around.
    “Where’s Riley?”
    “Right, here, Auntie.” Henry came into the kitchen with the dog at his heels.
    “Henry. What on earth are you doing here? Why aren’t you in school?”
    “Half day,” my dad said. “Some sort of teacher conference so he’s spending the afternoon with us.”
    Suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I jumped out of my seat and turned to my mother. “Where’s the, you know, his new friend?”
    “You mean Scopes, Auntie? I can’t bring her here because Riley would snap her neck like this.” Henry made a cracking sound that turned my stomach. How were Sam and I ever going to survive this intrusion into our lives for three years? Maybe the thing wouldn’t live that long.
    “Auntie, she’s really cute,” Henry said as he came to my side and put his arm around my neck while Riley stood by his side. “She likes to crawl up my shirt and nibble my cheek. It feels funny.”
    I was just about to kiss said cheek, but instead I kissed the top of his head. “I’m sure she’s wonderful, Henry, but I’m a bit afraid.”
    “So is my mom,” Henry laughed. “She kisses me good night at the door. She won’t come into my room. My dad has to read to me before I fall asleep.”
    “So, Mom, have you found a new home for Riley?” I asked while my dad rolled his eyes.
    “Despite my best efforts,” Mom began as she placed the sandwich in front me, “no one seems to want him.”
    “Can you imagine,” Dad chimed in. “Not one of those imaginary people she contacted wanted the dog.” My father reached down and rubbed Riley’s head then gave him a piece of crust. My mother wasn’t the only one who was hooked. “Your mother is even talking about starting one of those blog things where she writes about Riley every morning.”
    The mention of the blog brought up Maria Kravec and I spent the next twenty minutes explaining to my parents that I was not getting involved in the investigation into her death. Darn that sister of mine. She just couldn’t keep her mouth shut. As a matter of fact, I assured them, we didn’t even know for sure if a murder had been committed. It still could have just been an unfortunate accident. Highly unlikely, but I didn’t want to worry my parents. At least my sister hadn’t told them I had been “hired” as a private investigator. My mother would have called John on the spot.
    I decided to change the subject. “Henry, are you excited about your party?”
    “Yes! I can’t wait. Grandma’s making the cake. Auntie, you are coming to my party tomorrow, right?” Henry asked, his eyes bright with anticipation.
    “Is it at your house?” I winced. My mother kicked me under the table. “Of course I’m coming, Henry. Would I ever miss your birthday?”
    “Good, you can meet Scopes!” Henry took off with Riley chasing after him and I left a few minutes later promising my mother I would show up for the party.

 
     
     
Chapter Twenty
     
     
    The office that Maria Kravec had rented was in a small complex of one-story office buildings and I quickly located her suite. I wasn’t sure why I had stopped. I had the phone number for the assistant, which Ellery had given me, and I planned on calling her and setting up a meeting. I really didn’t expect to find anything, least of all an open office. With Maria dead, I was pretty sure the office would be closed, probably for good. But as long as I was here I might as well try and so I reached for the door knob and gave it a turn. To my surprise it opened up onto a small reception area.
    I didn’t see anyone but then I heard typing and called out. “Hello. Is anyone here?” I took a couple of steps into the room and called out again. “Hello?” I heard the typing stop and a second later a young woman appeared in the door way.
    “Can I help you?”
    “I’m not sure. I didn’t expect anyone to be here.”
    “Then why are you here?”
    I couldn’t fault the young woman for her