Midas Murders [Book 3 of the Katherine Miller Mysteries] Read Free

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    "Aunt Katherine, you look wonderful."
    The spicy scent of his aftershave was a welcome addition to the sterile air of the deserted house. “You look great and Megan has grown."
    The dark-haired child danced around us. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement. She pointed to the carrier. “That's a suitcase for pets. You bring Rose Prairie. Let me see him."
    Momentarily I pushed my concern for Lars aside. No need to upset Megan, especially since she'd lost her mother just eight months ago. “He didn't come this trip.” I looked at Don. “You may hate me when you see what I've done."
    "Never.” He ran his fingers through his hair, a color between blond and brown. “Never hated you. Back then I let my sister run my life.” He closed the door.
    I opened the carrier and lifted the kitten. “This is who I brought."
    "Rose Prairie, you shrink.” Megan's blue eyes widened and she touched the kitten's brown, white and sable fur. “Him soft."
    "This is Robespierre's baby sister. Thought you might like to take care of her."
    "Me! Daddy, can I?"
    "Yes.” Don met my gaze. “Thanks. This is the most animated she's been since Ramona...” Sadness clouded his blue eyes.
    I grasped his hand. “The kitten will help Megan with her grief. Rose Prairie has had all her shots and you won't have to worry about offspring."
    "Bless you."
    "Megan, why don't you take the kitten to the sunroom and let her run? I need to talk to your dad.” Ever since they'd entered the house, I'd wanted to blurt what I'd found, but my concern for Megan had stopped my tongue.
    "What's wrong?” He trailed me to the living room. “Where's Dad?"
    "Hoped you would know. When I arrived the gate was open. So was the front door.” I halted in the archway to the dining room. “This is what I found. Looks like he left in a rush."
    Don frowned. “That's not like Dad. Maybe he went to the office."
    "His car's outside."
    "He could be at Bonnie's.” He put his hand on my arm. “She's planning a bash for New Year's Eve and might have needed his advice."
    "Call her."
    Don did. The housekeeper said Bonnie was out.
    "What now?” I asked.
    "Maybe Carl drove him to the office."
    That explanation didn't quell the fear that had grown steadily since my arrival. Was Lars’ disappearance linked somehow to the problem he'd spoken of in vague terms last night. He'd mentioned his dead daughter-in-law. Had he learned Ramona's death hadn't been an accident but was part of something more sinister?
    I wasn't ready to ask Don those questions. I wasn't sure I wanted to know anything other than Lars was all right.
    "Try the office."
    He nodded. “First let me show you the guest room. Then I'll make a number of calls. Don't worry. I'll find him."
    He carried my suitcase and the hanging bag to the bedroom and put them on an ornate Spanish Mission oak bed. If my neighbor had been here, he could have told me if the room's furniture was antique or just excellent reproductions.
    After hanging my clothes in the closet and filling the bureau drawers, I carried my stash of mint to the kitchen. Don followed me. The kettle on the stove held water so I turned on the burner.
    "Did you learn anything?” Hope filled my voice.
    Don slumped at the table. “Carl and Damon were in a meeting. The secretary refused to disturb them. She said Dad wasn't with them and she hadn't seen him since the middle of the month."
    "What now?"
    He rested his elbows on the inlaid painted tiles of the table. “Have you seen Consuela? She's usually here by eight."
    "No one was here.” The kettle whistled.
    As I reached to turn off the burner, a stout woman with ebony hair entered by the kitchen door. She carried two bags of groceries.
    Don jumped up to help her. “Aunt Katherine, this is Consuela."
    "Welcome, Senora.” She looked around the room. “Donaldo, where is your padre?"
    "I don't know. He wasn't here when Aunt Katherine arrived. Did he say anything about going out?"
    "Nada.” She opened one of