Another Word for Murder Read Free Page A

precisely for the kind of work he did every Tuesday afternoon: the pro bono examinations, routine fillings, and other general dental care he provided for the Bay Clinic located a few blocks from the St. Augustine Mission for Men.
    Despite every attempt at being low-key, despite the nondescript wardrobe, his customary Rolex and Guccis replaced with an inexpensive black plastic sports watch and running shoes, Dan had the sensation that someone had tried to follow him home. Several times, he’d noticed a gray Toyota four-door sedan in his rear-view mirror. It was an old car with numerous dents on the side doors, and it was not the type of vehicle ordinarily spotted in a tony place like Halcyon Estates. The fact that the driver’s route coincided with his own was both odd and profoundly disquieting.
    Before removing the key from the Explorer’s ignition, Dan glanced into the rear-view mirror one last time. But his search revealed only the familiar: a semicircular drive opening into a tree-lined cul-de-sac. Every car in his sight-line was one he recognized as belonging to a neighbor or a neighbor’s live-in household help; and all were parked and empty. Then he turned in the seat to survey the rest of the street, his broad, athlete’s shoulders and frame fought against the shoulder harness until he impatiently stabbed at the clasp and released it.
    There was no inkling of suspicious activity on any side. In fact, the road and sidewalks were remarkably devoid of people. No kids tossing frisbees, no skateboards, none of the other dads arriving home from work. But then it was six forty-five on a weekday. Everyone would have been inside enjoying their supper. By seven thirty or eight, the kids would be back outdoors—especially on a warm evening like this.
    Dan opened the Explorer’s door, stepped out, then beeped the car’s automatic lock as he began walking toward the house. He turned once to look behind him, but the scene remained almost eerily empty.
    â€œKaren? Lily-bet?” he called the moment he stepped in. “Where’s my baby girl?” He shut and locked the door behind him and threw the dead bolt; something he only did the last thing at night.
    Bear and Lily hurtled toward him, both canine and child making as much noise as possible. The foyer’s marble tiles echoed and pinged while the cathedral ceiling heightened rather than lessened the sound. “Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” Lily screamed. Bear barked and jumped up on Dan, and the dog’s weight and forward momentum nearly knocked him over.
    â€œDown! Bad dog. Get down, Bear!” he said. His tone was far more forceful than was necessary; the stress of a long day coloring each of his words.
    Watching the dog suddenly sink into an unhappy crouch, Lily began to cry.
    â€œTough day?” Karen appeared from the living room. She was wearing an apron; in her hand was a wooden stirring spoon coated with chocolate icing. She gazed lovingly at Lily. “And, did someone here forget to eat the chocolate frosting she was helping me put on the cake?” Mother bent down to daughter, who continued to weep. Lily made no further move toward her father.
    â€œDaddy’s cross … cross words.”
    â€œHe’s not cross with you, sweetheart. He’s trying to teach Bear not to jump. Bear’s too big a fellow to be jumping on people. If that had been you … well, your daddy and I don’t want to see you get hurt, now, do we?”
    But Lily would not be consoled. Instead, she eyed Dan with a child’s pout while Karen cocked her head and gave her husband a complicitous glance.
    â€œSomeone’s a little T-I-R-E-D,” she spelled out. “I’ll get her to bed and then you and I can have a leisurely, grown-up dinner. I’m experimenting with a new veal recipe.”
    â€œSounds wonderful …” Dan paused, then squatted down to Lily’s level.
    â€œDaddy’s sorry,