Read 2 A Different Shade Of Death for Free Online

bricks looked beautiful the smoke blackened ones looked more
attractive, in a funny sort of way.
    “Why
would Amy do it?” Charlie repeated.
    Grace
shook her head. That was another question for Amy. From all that she’d gathered
so far it sounded like Amy had been making many changes since Charlie died.
    Grace
shivered. Was it possible that the small mouse like woman could have killed her
husband?
    Grace
opened the iron gate and walked resolutely up the stone path. She rapped on the
front door. She wasn’t sure how she was going to ask Amy questions about
herself and the house but she knew she had to try.
     

Chapter 12
     
    Amy
was flustered as she opened the door. “Oh! Thank you for coming! The house is a
mess. Do come in, watch the floor, it’s covered in dust sheets but they’re a
bit slippery underfoot. I never caught your name yesterday.”
    Grace
walked through the front door. She told Amy her name. Then she stopped and
looked around her. The sense of déjà vu was overwhelming, Grace’s legs
weakened. Charlie muttered at her side, “This is so weird, I half expect that
old man to come marching through you. Amy’s really got on with the work in
here, I didn’t know she was so organised.”
    A
step ladder had been opened up a little way down the hall. A middle aged man
was halfway up it, he was scraping wallpaper off.
    Amy
noticed where Grace was looking. “We’re getting rid of the old wallpaper. Can
you believe that someone has papered over that lovely wood panelling? I always
think of secret doors when I see panelling. Oh, I’m being silly, don’t listen
to me!”
    Grace
smiled at her. “I know what you mean, I feel like reaching out and pushing the
panels to see if they reveal a secret room.”
    Charlie
gave a snort of derision. So did the man on the ladder.
    Amy
ignored the man on the ladder and Grace ignored Charlie.
    They
walked down the hall. Grace looked over her shoulder at the stained glass
window that was over the door. “That’s a beautiful window, I think it’s the
first mill that Benjamin Heath built.”
    Amy
said, “You’ve been doing your research. The drawing room is down here on the
left. Grace’s steps slowed as they neared the library. She said, “What’s in
this room?”
    Amy
swiftly reached for the door and pulled it shut. “Don’t look in there, it’s a
mess. This way.”
    She
led Grace into a large room, there were dust sheets everywhere apart from on
two small sofas and the table that stood between them. On the table stood a
teapot and assorted tea things.
    Amy
apologised again for the mess. “It’ll get sorted out soon. Please, do sit down.
Would you like tea? I can organise coffee if you prefer.”
    Grace
sat down. “Tea will be fine, thank you. Are the sheets covering some of the
original furniture? Did some furniture come with the house?”
    Grace
didn’t miss the look of alarm that flashed across Amy’s face. She quickly said,
“No, it’s just our old stuff from our previous house.”
    Charlie
sat down next to Grace. He leant forward, his hands resting on his knees. He
studied Amy’s face. “She’s lying. And she’s wearing lipstick. Why does she need
to wear lipstick? Who is she wearing it for?”
    Amy
started to pour the tea. Grace took the opportunity to ask one of the many
questions that were bursting to come out of her head. “I see you’re having the
outside of the house done. I always thought that old buildings looked nice with
a bit of soot to age them. It gives a sort of nod to the industrial past.”
    Amy
finished with the tea pot. She picked up a milk jug and gave Grace a
questioning look.
    Grace
nodded and continued talking. “This house has been part of the town forever, I
guess some people won’t like the work that you’re having done, making it look
new again.”
    Amy
put the milk jug down. She gave Grace a direct look and said, “I don’t care
what people think. Charlie, my late husband, thought the same thing. I thought
it