Free Bring Home the Murder by Theresa M.; Jarvela Page A

attached to anything. I’m not sure why they call it a trapdoor. It’s more like a hole in the attic floor covered with a piece of wood.”
    Deputy Jarvis raised his head upward, his attention fixated on the trapdoor located directly above him. He locked his eyes on the rectangular indentation for several seconds and scratched his cheek. He looked at Meggie. “Is there another way into the attic?”
    Meggie shrugged. “I don’t know of any. Like I mentioned before, I’m just the housesitter. The owner mentioned this trapdoor in passing the day she walked me through the farmhouse.”
    Heavy footsteps pounded the stairs. Deputy Flynn appeared in the bedroom. “No one outside and I didn’t find anything unusual.”
    Deputy Jarvis nodded and jotted down a couple notes. He looked at Meggie. “We’ll need to clear the attic, make sure no one is still up there.” He thumbed his ear. “Any idea where we could find a ladder?”
    Later that night after the house and property had been thoroughly searched and no intruder found on the premises, the deputies left.
    Walter arrived soon after even though Meggie maintained she didn’t need anyone to spend the night with her. He insisted on it and that was that. When he encouraged her to give up the housesitting job and ask Molly to come home, she insisted on seeing the job through and that was that.
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    Bright and early the next morning Meggie introduced Walter to the farm animals. She gave him a play by play account of her duties and expressed her disappointment when he announced he wouldn’t be able to help with chores.
    â€œI already made plans with Bill to go fishing on the river. I don’t want to back out of them. But I could drive out afterward and spend the night with you.”
    â€œThat won’t be necessary.” Meggie looked at her wrist watch. “You better hurry if you don’t want to miss the catch of the day.”
    On their way out to the truck he turned to her with a pained expression on his face. “Under different circumstances, I’d like to stay and help with the chores.”
    Different circumstances? Meggie didn’t buy it. She knew her husband well enough to know there’d never be different circumstances. He couldn’t wait to get home, hook the boat trailer up to his truck and head for the river. Farm animal chores were not on his bucket list.
    Meggie thanked him for driving out to the farm and kissed him goodbye. “I know you’re disappointed you can’t stay longer. The next time I’ll give you a heads up so you don’t make any commitments. How does that sound?” Her eyes danced.
    â€œUh, that might work. I guess I better get a move on.” Walter fidgeted with his car keys. “Are we still on for tomorrow?”
    Meggie nodded and agreed to meet him at the boat landing as planned. She waited until his truck was out of sight then headed to the backyard to finish her chores. On the way she noticed the grass needed to be mowed. And the queen would have to mow it.
    By the time Meggie finished cutting the grass she was tired, hot and thirsty. She parked the mower in the garage and pushed the button on the automatic garage door. Looking forward to a quiet afternoon of relaxation, she crossed the front yard. On her way she noticed the flower bed around the birdbath had overgrown with weeds. The unwanted plants had taken over the little garden space.
    Ugh, not today. A gentle breeze blew the pretty pansy blooms. They nodded their heads as if to say, “Rescue us.” She bent over and snipped off several flowers and promised herself to clean out the bed later that day.
    In the bathroom she gazed at her sun-kissed reflection, ran cold water over a washcloth and held it to her face. The cool moisture soothed her burning skin. After rubbing aloe vera gel on her face and arms, she went into the kitchen to find a vase for the