Dead on Arrival by Lori Avocato

was going to give for paging the older woman. Lilla really was a peach.
    Looking around, I noticed the door to Pansy’s office still open, even though she’d told Lilla that she had to go meet with the undertaker right after she’d told me to go home. I shuddered, said a prayer for Payne’s soul, which by the sounds of things from ER Dano, might need a bit more than a “few” prayers, and walked very nonchalantly into Pansy’s office.
    And nearly passed out from fear!
    In the center of the room was a life-size cardboard figure of Payne Sterling!
    I grabbed onto the desk to steady myself since I could almost picture the knife in….
    After a few mental shakes, I told myself this was probably for the memorial service—although weirder than anything I’ve seen so far. There was an odd, almost grimace on Payne’s face, and I couldn’t help wonder if he had the last laugh.
    But he couldn’t have known he was going to die when the picture for it was taken.
    Okay, Sokol, compose yourself , I ordered. Gawking at an eerie cardboard Payne was not getting me anywhere. I tried to ignore him, although to get past him, I had to ease to the side. No way in hell was I going to touch the damn thing.
    I figured Pansy would be gone for a bit if not the rest of the day, so I needn’t hurry. Then again, who knew how long Lilla could keep Mrs. Dawson busy and away from here?
    After taking my gloves from my scrubs pocket and sticking them on, I walked to the door and eased it closed, hoping that would buy me time if I heard someone coming. Hurrying to the other door, I opened it. Good. Payne’s office door was unlocked. A perfect escape route.
    After a quick prayer that I wouldn’t need it, I went to Pansy’s desk and started my snooping.
    After what seemed like hours, I flopped down in her black chair that went with the monochromatic décor and sighed. Nothing. She had nothing, or make that I had nothing on her. Could cloned twins like Payne and Pansy not be in cahoots? Was it really possible that Payne was scamming the insurance companies, and she never knew about it?
    I didn’t buy that.
    There had to be something fishy going on here…wait! Pansy must have cleaned out her office of any evidence. That’s why she was here since Payne’s murder instead of being home mourning.
    My gut was talking to me again, and once again I agreed.
    â€œI’ll get it for you, Miss Sterling.”
    Mrs. Dawson!
    And, yikes, she was talking to Pansy. I hoped it was on the phone. Before I could find out, the doorknob started to turn…and I got myself over to and through the door to Payne’s office in a flash.
    But I kept the door opened a crack and watched as the dear woman walked in, hefted up Payne into her arms, sniffled, then shook her head—almost in disgust—and carried him out the door.
    Maybe his presence was requested at the funeral home now.
    Phew. I leaned against the wall, took in a deep breath, and blew it out while looking at the room. Eerie wasn’t quite strong enough of a word. The kaleidoscope colored room almost had a feeling as if someone was watching me. I shook my head and ignored the nonsense as I silently walked toward the door.
    When I went to grab the handle, a hand covered mine!
    My eyelids fluttered. I sucked in some air and tried to remember where I was and why was I lying on the floor? I looked up to see that colorful room and remembered I was in the late Payne Sterling’s office. “Right,” I muttered. “What the hell made me pass out?”
    I heard a soft chuckle and swung my head around to see Sky near the doorway. “I went to get a cold compress. So sorry I scared you, Pauline.” He knelt down and gently set it on my forehead.
    As if I’d feel better from a wet cloth. Okay, it was soothing. “What happened?” I held the cloth with one hand and pushed myself to a sitting position with the