Terry Odell - Mapleton 01 - Deadly Secrets Read Free

week. Eventually, the law of averages said one of them would be true, which, of course, merely reinforced Angie’s belief in all the rest.
    “And you think Justin could be up to something? You’re talking about Jumbo Justin? Justin the Jerk? Get real. He’s a lump. Never gave a damn about anything. But he wouldn’t harm Rose or Sam. He wasn’t that kind of kid. Appeared, sat around, went home.”
    “Well, he’s not sitting around now. You should see all the repairs he’s convinced them to make on their house.”
    “Repairs? Then of course they’d be draggy. Living with contractors is exhausting. Especially if you’re Rose and feel obligated to feed them.”
    Angie wiped the counter. “Maybe I overreacted.”
    Yeah, just a little. “No matter. Thanks for lighting the fire under me. It’s been too long since I’ve been home. If there’s a problem, I’ll get to the bottom of it.”
    Megan waved off a coffee refill and gathered her jacket and purse. “I’ll be in touch.”
    As she rounded the corner to the parking lot, the whoop-whoop of a siren filled the air. She stopped as an ambulance sped down the street.
    When she realized the ambulance was headed in the direction of Rose and Sam’s, she ran the rest of the way to her car. Coincidence? There were plenty of other homes out that way.
    She tossed her jacket and purse into the car and peeled out of the lot.

 
###
 
    Justin Nadell gripped his grandfather’s bony shoulder. “They’ll be here soon, Opa. Don’t worry.”
    His grandmother tutted from the sofa. “I don’t know why you insist on making such a fuss. I slipped, that’s all.”
    “Rosie, you were unconscious,” his grandfather said. “You didn’t slip, you fainted.”
    “I don’t faint, Sam. I got a little lightheaded. From the paint fumes.”
    Justin sat and slipped his arm around his grandmother. “Oma, I told you and Opa to leave until the work was done. A nice Florida vacation.”
    “I’ve been to Florida. It was hot. Full of mosquitoes and old retired fuddy-duddys.”
    The wail of the siren grew louder. Justin dashed to the front door, flung it open and peered down the street. Lights flashed through the aspen-lined avenue. The white-and-orange ambulance appeared, the siren shutting down as it neared the house. Justin waved to the driver and went inside.
    He sat beside Oma, taking her hand. “They’re here. Everything will be fine.”
    She glowered. “Everything is fine. What a waste of time. I’m sure there are people out there who truly need help.”
    “Rosie, it shouldn’t hurt they take a look at you,” his grandfather said.
    She struggled to rise, pushing Justin away.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” Justin said. “Sit down.” He motioned to the paramedics, then jumped to clear a path through the obstacle course of furniture in Oma’s living room. Two men, one a stocky African-American, the other a tall, lanky blond, pushed a gurney into the entryway.
    “Such nonsense,” Oma said. She crossed her arms across her narrow chest. “Davey Gilman, you can take that contraption back out to your fancy ambulance.”
    The African-American man crouched at her feet. “Long as we’re here, Mrs. Kretzer, might as well let us check you out.”
    “Listen to them, Rosie,” Opa said. “The sooner they check you out, the sooner they’ll leave.”
    She tsked, but unfolded her arms. “Oh, very well. Justin, why don’t you bring some lemonade and the platter of cookies from the kitchen. Might as well give these nice boys something for their troubles.”
    The paramedic Oma had called Davey spread his lips in a wide grin, his white teeth gleaming against his dark skin. “They wouldn’t be gingersnaps now, would they?”
    “What else with lemonade?” Opa said. “And she baked them this morning.”
    Davey’s grin widened even further. “Here we go.” He wrapped Oma’s arm in a blood pressure cuff and stuck the earpieces of his stethoscope into his ears.
    “I