Vanilla Vengeance
Page 16
Marianne screams when she enters the kitchen. She has more optimism than me, because she darts to his side and fishes for a pulse.
I can tell just by looking that Amos died a while ago.
From the looks of things, Amos Vandermuth has been dead for days.
“No, no, no…” Marianne repeats herself on a loop. She is no doubt in shock that anything so horrible could be possible in the small town utopia that is Sweetwater Falls.
Marianne’s hand cups her mouth, her eyes flicking over Amos’ sprawled form.
I take in the details at the slow pace my brain is able to process them.
There’s a bowl of oatmeal spilled and dried on the kitchen floor.
A glass is broken, the shards scattered near the stove.
A chair is tipped to the side, while the other has been scooted out from the narrow table.
The yellowed and unwashed curtain that should be over the sink has been torn down.
I know I shouldn’t, but I take out my phone and snap a few pictures. I get one of the body, sure, but I focus mostly on the chaos surrounding Amos.
Amos’ head is bent to the left, his eyes open in frozen horror. His mouth is open, telling me he probably died pleading for either mercy or help.
My stomach sinks as I call the emergency help line.
It is clear to me that Amos did not die peacefully.
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About the Author
Author Molly Maple believes in the magic of hot tea
and the romance of rainy days.
She is a fan of all desserts, but cupcakes have a special place in her heart. Molly spends her days searching for fresh air, and her evenings reading in front of a fireplace.
Molly Maple is a pen name for USA Today bestselling fantasy author Mary E. Twomey, and contemporary romance author Tuesday Embers.
Visit her online at www.MollyMapleMysteries.com. Sign up for her newsletter to be alerted when her next new release is coming.