3 Men and a Body Read Free

December—in sight. She didn’t know if
    Wesley had told Coop that Jack had spent at least one
    night in her bedroom, but Coop probably suspected as
    much. Coop had also met Peter and was aware of their
    history. All of which would have to be sorted out at
    another time…. At the moment she couldn’t think past
    Wesley being gone.
    Luckily, Hannah arrived with three cups of coffee, and a
    box of sweet rol s left over from one of her catering gigs
    the previous day. Carlotta took the food grateful y, her
    stomach rumbling from hunger.
    “Wesley has to come back,” Hannah said dryly. “Or you’l
    starve.”
    Carlotta stuck out her tongue, but she appreciated her
    friend’s attempt at humor. And it was true. Wesley did all
    the cooking, and had done so for years. He was pretty
    good, too, darn his infuriating, scrawny little ass. Her eyes
    watered.
    “Hey,” Coop said quietly, putting his large hand over hers.
    “Wesley is a smart kid. If he’s in trouble, he’l figure out
    something.”
    Carlotta nodded and inhaled a cleansing breath. If their
    parents’ leaving had taught her anything, it was that tears
    didn’t solve a thing. Action did.
    “What now?” she asked Coop.
    “I know he has an appointment to see his probation officer
    at eleven. I’d say if he doesn’t show, then you should call
    the police. Considering that thug’s comment to you about
    Wesley having done something stupid, this might have to
    do with the loan sharks he owes.”
    Her heart squeezed, but she had to consider worst-case
    scenarios. “You’re right. He wouldn’t miss his appointment
    with Eldora. Not voluntarily.”
    “Meanwhile,” Coop said, pushing himself to his feet, “try
    to think of somewhere he might’ve gone, or someone who
    might know where he is. I’l keep making inquiries.”
    “Okay,” she said, fol owing him to the door. “And Coop…”
    She squared her shoulders, but that only caused pain to
    shoot down her arm. “I hate to ask this, but have you
    checked the…morgue?”
    His brown eyes fil ed with sympathy, and he nodded. “I
    did. He’s not there.”
    Tears of relief fil ed her eyes. “Thank you for caring.”
    He gave her a little smile. “I can’t seem to help myself.”
    Then he turned and walked to the bottom of the steps.
    “You have my cel phone number if you need me.”
    “Yes,” she called after him, waving with her good hand
    until he drove away.
    Carlotta looked to her left and saw their neighbor Mrs.
    Winningham working in her yard. They weren’t the best of
    friends, but the woman had called 911 a few days ago
    when two of The Carver’s thugs had tried to drag Carlotta
    into their van. So she went down the steps and crossed to
    the fence that separated the yards of their respective
    town houses. “Hi, Mrs. Winningham.”
    “Hel o,” the woman chirped. “And you’re welcome.”
    “Pardon me?”
    “I said you’re welcome for the get wel card I sent to you
    through your brother. He said you managed to only break
    your arm.” The woman sniffed. “Although I must say you
    made a spectacle of yourself, dangling half-naked from the
    balcony of the Fox Theater.”
    “Yes, I’m good at that,” Carlotta said cheerful y. “I’m sorry,
    but I haven’t seen Wesley yet to get your thoughtful card.
    May I ask when you gave it to him?”
    The woman looked perturbed. “I gave it to him yesterday
    morning. He said he was going to meet you at the hospital
    and bring you home in a taxi. Then he rode off on his
    bike.”
    “And did he seem okay to you?”
    “‘Okay’ is a relative term where your family is concerned,
    but yes, reasonably so.”
    “Thank you,” Carlotta said as pleasantly as she could
    manage. “I’l let you know when I get your card, Mrs.
    Winningham.” Her stomach rol ed as she went back to her
    house.
    “What’s wrong?” Hannah asked.
    Carlotta told her about her conversation with the
    neighbor. “So Wesley didn’t just get wrapped up in