Page 75 of Little Dark Deeds

The fall had caused a clatter, no doubt echoing throughout the house, and within seconds, Foley and Whitlock rushed into the room.

“Are you all right?”Whitlock asked.

“A little embarrassed, but I’m fine, yes,” I said.“I chose the wrong shoes to wear today.”

“I’ve always wondered how you do it, investigating in some of the outfits you wear,” Foley said.“Can’t be easy.”

He reached for my hand, and as I went to take it, I hesitated, my eyes coming to rest on a piece of carpet in the corner of the room.It looked different than the rest, uneven and loose.It was almost as if it hadn’t been laid right in that area, or it had, and it loosened up over time.

“I just got off the phone with Ron, and you’re right, Georgiana, he did see something unusual on the day of the murder,” Whitlock said.

“Hold that thought,” I said.“I need to check something first.”

I scooted to the other side of the room and reached for the piece of carpet.Tugging at the corner, it started to pull right up.I then tugged at another piece a few feet away.It wouldn’t budge.I brought myself to my knees, eyeing the rest of the carpet in the room.No other areas stood out, which I found curious.

“Mind sharing what you’re doing with us?”Foley asked.

“This patch of carpet is loose.”

“It’s an older house.The carpet is old too.I bet it hasn’t been replaced in decades from the looks of it.”

I turned, reaching for the loose patch and lifting it higher so I could see beneath.Bending over, I slapped a hand to my lips, shocked at what I saw.

“What is it?”Whitlock asked.

A stroke of luck had led me to Queenie’s super-secret hiding place.

I lifted the carpet again.Before me was a notecard, my name written in cursive on the front.

Next to the card was something unique.

I glanced over at Whitlock.“Just now, you said Ron saw something unusual at Tiffany’s.Was it a lighter?”

Whitlock blinked in surprise.“Yeah, how’d you know?”

CHAPTER 27