by Judi Lynn
The Body in the Apartment
Books by Judi Lynn
Mill Pond Romances
COOKING UP TROUBLE
OPPOSITES DISTRACT
LOVE ON TAP
SPICING THINGS UP
FIRST KISS, ON THE HOUSE
SPECIAL DELIVERY
Jazzi Sanders Mysteries
THE BODY IN THE ATTIC
THE BODY IN THE WETLANDS
THE BODY IN THE GRAVEL
THE BODY IN THE APARTMENT
Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Table of Contents
Books by Judi Lynn
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Recipes
The Body in the Apartment
Judi Lynn
LYRICAL UNDERGROUND
Kensington Publishing Corp.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
LYRICAL UNDERGROUND BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
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New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2020 by Judith Post
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Lyrical Underground and Lyrical Underground logo Reg. US Pat. & TM Off.
First Electronic Edition: March 2020
ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-1020-9 (ebook)
ISBN-10: 1-5161-1020-X (ebook)
First Print Edition: March 2020
ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-1023-0
ISBN-10: 1-5161-1023-4
Printed in the United States of America
Dedication
I’d like to thank my usual suspects: Mary Lou Rigdon and my daughter Holly Post for their insightful critiques.
I’d also like to thank my good friend, Ralph Miser, for sharing so many of his ideas with me. He’s a mine (mind?) of interesting clues for fixer-uppers.
And of course, these books wouldn’t be possible without my wonderful agent, Lauren Abramo, and incredible editor, John Scognamiglio, and the entire support team I have at Kensington.
So thank you, Larissa Ackerman, Lauren Jernigan, James Akinaka, Rebecca Cremonese, Alexandra Kenney, Michelle Addo, and Alexandra Nicolajsen.
And thank you to Tammy Seidick for my wonderful covers.
Chapter 1
Jazzi had mixed feelings. Ansel’s older brother, Radley, was moving out after staying with them for three months. She’d enjoyed getting to know him, and Ansel had enjoyed having him around. But it would be nice to have the house to themselves again. And it’s not like Radley was moving back to Wisconsin. He’d found an apartment in the same building where Donovan, his work supervisor lived. He’d still pop in every weekend for the family Sunday meal, probably more often if he got hungry.
As he stalked through the kitchen on his way upstairs, he stopped to sniff. “What’s in the oven?”
So much like his brother, a man who loved food. At six one, Radley wasn’t as tall as Ansel, and his build was sinewy instead of pure muscle, but he was almost as good-looking. And he was more outgoing, making friends easily.
“Beef enchiladas. I made an extra pan for you to take with you. You can keep the glass dish. You might need it.”
Radley came to give her a hug. “If I bring it back empty, will you fill it for me again?”
Yup, he and Ansel had a few things in common. She waved him away. “Dream on. But you’re always welcome to drop in.”
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before tromping up the steps. Inky and Marmalade chased after him. Her cats thought moving day was a new kind of entertainment.
When Radley had come for her and Ansel’s November wedding, he’d liked River Bluffs so much, he left his family’s dairy farm and started training at the furnace and air conditioning company where Thane worked. Thane was her sister, Olivia’s, live-in boyfriend. The two had hit it off so well, he became a regular at Thane’s Saturday night poker parties, along with Donovan and Walker, Thane’s BFF.
None of this set well with Bain, Ansel and Radley’s oldest brother. Their dad was furious. When Radley called to tell Bain he’d signed a one-year lease on an apartment here, Bain went ballistic. But what could he do about it? Radley didn’t want to milk cows for the rest of his life.
Jazzi glanced at the kitchen calendar. The time had flown so fast. She couldn’t believe the day had come for Radley’s move—February twelfth. And five days after that, on the seventeenth, Franny’s baby was due. She, Ansel, and Jerod flipped houses together. Her cousin was so nervous about Franny’s pregnancy, he walked on pins and porcupine quills. Every time his phone rang at the fixer-upper they were working on, he jumped for it.
Ansel and Radley had taken bets on whether the baby would come before or after Jerod handed the buyer the keys to the finished house. It was almost done, so Ansel—who’d bet on before—teased Franny to get busy and push the baby out.
Franny was ready. Big and uncomfortable, she swore this would be their last kid. No more.
A loud thunk came from the basement, and Ansel grunted.
“Are you okay?” Jazzi went to the door to hold it open.
“This bench isn’t heavy. I thought I could manage it myself, but it’s awkward.”
Jazzi went to grab an end and help him carry it up. She studied it and shook her head. “It’s an old garden bench. I hope he paints it if he’s using it in his living room.”
Ansel laughed. “I promised to help him sand it an
d give it a coat of glossy blue. Either that, or he’d use it, as is. My brother doesn’t care too much about matching furniture.”
“He loves our house.” She scanned the big open kitchen and sitting area they’d lovingly redone.
Ansel followed her gaze, as proud of their house as she was. They’d remodeled it with entertaining in mind. “Why wouldn’t he? But if my brother doesn’t marry a woman with the gift of decorating, we’ll be sitting on hodgepodge couches and chairs for a long time.”
“I heard that!” Radley called, coming to join them. He set down the two wooden chairs he’d carted from the attic. “And you’re right.” He nodded to his brother. “Let me help you carry that to your van.”
Jazzi went to toss the salad she’d serve with the enchiladas. Glancing out the kitchen windows, she frowned at the white expanse of snow covering their backyard. When she and Ansel had tied the knot before Christmas, they’d intended to go on their honeymoon the first week of February, flying to some place tropical during the Midwest winter. But then Radley had moved in with them and Jerod’s baby was due, so they’d decided they didn’t want to leave. They’d figure out a time to honeymoon once everything settled down.
Jazzi sighed. Life didn’t always go according to plan.
The stove buzzer rang and she took the two pans of enchiladas out of the oven, putting them on the stainless-steel countertop to cool. While the men carted Radley’s things to Ansel’s van, she’d opted to stay out of their way and cook. When they returned to grab the small wooden table Radley had found with the chairs in the attic, they came to inspect her work.
“The cheese is all melted and gooey.” Radley reached to snitch a bite, but she slapped his hand.
“It’s too hot. You’ll burn your fingers and your mouth. Yours will cool enough to eat on the way to your apartment.”
He snitched a piece anyway and winced when he swallowed it. “Have I told you that Ansel did a good job when he married you? Thanks for putting up with me so long. It took me till now to buy a used van and find a place to live.”
The used van rankled her. “It was tacky that your dad didn’t send you the money he got when he sold your old car.”
Radley shrugged. “It wasn’t worth much. He used the money to pay for extra help until he and Bain got used to the new workload since I’m not there.”
Right. He’d kept the money to punish Radley.
She put her hands on her hips. “Your dad wouldn’t even send you your clothes.”
“No loss there. Most were barn clothes. I had two good outfits for when we went to town, which wasn’t often.”
Radley was being more generous than his idiot father deserved. As far as she was concerned, Ansel’s dad and brother were self-absorbed tyrants. Until Radley had gotten his first paycheck, all he had to wear were the clothes he’d packed to come for their wedding. He didn’t even have much of a savings because the farm hadn’t paid that well lately. Bain had kept most of the profits in an account to cover expenses.
“I think serfs got treated better than you. Your dad and Bain had enough money for their new vehicles.”
Radley’s crooked smile blossomed. “You’re a great friend to have in my corner.”
She waved him away. His blue eyes were twinkling and he was enjoying himself too much. “Do you have everything yet?”
“I only have one small load to go. Jerod drove to Walker’s to get a recliner he’s getting rid of. Thank heavens he decided to get a new one in his lower level. They’ll meet me at 3F.”
She pressed her lips together. “You’re sure not starting out with much.”
“Are you kidding? You’re even giving me the queen-size air mattress you bought when the house was too full of people at your wedding, and Thane’s donating an old chest of drawers from his bachelor days he’s kept in his garage.”
Jazzi tried to picture the hodgepodge of used furniture and shook her head. “Call me when you’re ready to leave and I’ll grab my coat.”
This February had been mild compared to last year. So far, no ice. Lots of snow, but the city kept the streets cleaned, salted, and sanded. The stove buzzer rang again, and Radley paused before grabbing his clothes. He turned to see what she brought out of the oven this time, then came back to get a closer look.
“Is that a pie?”
She put it on a trivet to cool. “Could be. Ansel told me you loved cherry, so I made two of them. One for us, one for you.”
He watched her take out the second one and turn off the oven. “You love to feed people, don’t you?”
“That, and I like spoiling them, if I can.” She’d gotten that gene from Gran. She’d spent many a weekend at her grandma’s house, learning to cook. She wouldn’t have even known how to boil eggs if she had to rely on her mother. Mom and Olivia would rather shop and eat out.
Radley picked off a small piece of piecrust. “You can spoil me any time you want to.”
With a laugh, she shooed him away. “You’d better get the rest of your things, or Ansel will be in here wondering what you’re up to.”
The cats ran, one on each side of him, as he climbed the stairs one last time. George, Ansel’s pug, guarded the house from his dog bed with his eyes shut, as usual. She went to look out the window to see what Ansel was doing just in time to see a black pickup park in front of the open garage. Its door flew wide and Bain got out. Oh, fudge! He started to the kitchen door, hands knotted into fists, his lips pulled into a snarl.
Ansel yelled and started after him. “Hey! Wait. What are you doing here?”
Bain reached the door first and banged on it. Jazzi waited until Ansel had caught up with him before opening it. They spilled into the kitchen together, both of them looking angry. Her Norseman didn’t lose his temper often, but Bain pushed all of the wrong buttons for him.
Bain stabbed his finger in her direction. “Where’s Radley?”
“Right here.” Radley didn’t sound a bit perturbed. He set his suitcase and clothes on their long farm table and faced his brother.
“This has gone on long enough,” Bain barked. “We need you at home. Pack your things, and I’ll drive you back.”
“I have packed my things, and I’m moving into my new apartment. I’m not working on the farm anymore.”
“I didn’t ask you. I told you,” Bain snapped. “Get your things and get in my truck.”
“He’s not going.” Ansel moved between Bain and Radley. “He’s staying here.”
“You keep out of this. It’s your fault. You encouraged him to stay.”
“No, he made a choice. Unlike me. You kicked me off the farm, remember? And it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Radley can do better here, too.”
“He’s coming with me. Get out of my way.” When Ansel didn’t move, Bain drew back his fist and swung at him.
Ansel caught his wrist and held it. “I don’t want to fight with you, but I will.” And he’d win. Ansel was six-five of solid muscle.
Bain winced, obviously feeling Ansel’s grip. “Okay, let go.”
“Can you control your temper?”
“I have to, don’t I? But I’m not leaving. Not until I get to talk to Radley.”
“You’ll have to wait till we move his stuff into his apartment. Walker and Jerod are waiting for us there.”
“I’m coming with you, or you’ll move Radley in and won’t bother to tell me where to find him.”
Ansel looked at Radley.
“Let him come. It’s not going to change anything. Maybe he’ll see how many friends I have and be happy for me.”
Fat chance, but Jazzi kept her opinion to herself. Instead, she went to slip on her coat and load Radley’s food into cardboard boxes to carry with her.
Ansel turned to his pug. “Stay, George. We won’t be long, and you’ll only get in the way.”
Geor
ge stretched and rested his head on his paws. It took a lot to excite Ansel’s dog.
Jazzi rode with Ansel to Radley’s apartment in West Central. Radley rode with Bain. “That way I can give him directions, and we can talk.”
If Radley thought he could reason with him, Jazzi suspected he was wrong. But if anyone would give it a shot, it would be him. He was the most lighthearted of the three brothers.
Jazzi liked the idea of Radley starting out in West Central. When she’d met Ansel, she was renting the bottom floor of an old house there. She loved the neighborhood, within walking distance of downtown. Now, their good friends, Reuben and Isabelle, lived in the tall Victorian she’d called home. They’d restored it to its former glory and returned it to a single family house.
Ansel pulled to the curb in front of Radley’s long, brick apartment building. “Bain must have parked in the back lot.” Only tenants were supposed to park there, but Bain thought rules didn’t apply to him. That was fine with Jazzi. When they left, they wouldn’t have to walk out with him.
They entered the old building and climbed the steps to apartment 3F, carrying the bench between them. They’d come back for the rest later. Radley’s door was open, and Jerod and Walker were angling a recliner so they could fit it inside. The chair was a brown tweed, out of date, but it looked worn and comfortable. Ansel and Jazzi carried the bench in behind them.
Radley put it against the wall in place of a couch. He arranged the chair at an angle beside it, facing his TV. Thane had already come and gone, and his chest of drawers anchored a wall in Radley’s bedroom. There was a quick knock on the door and a man with wavy, sandy colored hair and liquid brown eyes came in, carrying a round coffee table. He reminded her of a cocker spaniel. “I used it as a nightstand, but bought a new one last week.”
Radley gave a quick nod to him. “Hey, everyone, this is my supervisor at work, Donovan.” He made quick introductions.
Jazzi had never met him, but she’d heard a lot about him. Both Thane and Radley rated him highly as a supervisor and friend. He sure looked like a nice guy. He’d make a great neighbor for Radley. If she remembered right, he lived one floor down.