The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove
Chapter One
Theophilus Crowe
As dead people went, Bess Leander smelled pretty good:
lavender, sage, and a hint of clove. There were seven
Shaker chairs hung on pegs on the walls of the Leanders'
dining room. The eighth was overturned under Bess, who
hung from the peg by a calico cloth rope around her neck.
Dried flowers, baskets of various shapes and sizes, and
bundles of dried herbs hung from the open ceiling beams.
Theophilus Crowe knew he should be doing cop stuff,
but he just stood there with two emergency medical technicians
from the Pine Cove Fire Department, staring up
at Bess as if they were inspecting the newly installed angel
on a Christmas tree. Theo thought the pastel blue of Bess's
skin went nicely with her cornflower-blue dress and the
patterns of the English china displayed on simple wooden
shelves at the end of the room. It was 7 A.M. and Theo,
as usual was a little stoned.
Theo could hear sobs coming from upstairs, where Joseph
Leander held his two daughter ... read full excerpt from: The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove ebook
