Corpse Whisperer Read Free Page A

bad news.
    Shame since he found her attractive, but women like that were akin to Black Widow spiders. She’d probably eat her young, too.
    Then he smacked his own forehead, Dolores’ whereabouts came clear to him. “What day is it?”
    Tuesday, his discarded newspaper told him.
    She’s at work. He tried her there.
    “Hi, Zach. Is something wrong?” she said. Her voice sounded faraway, distracted.
    Too many years of him calling that he’d be home late for dinner. She always assumed there was a problem. “Not wrong. What do you know about this Grace Harmony?”
    “Why, she a murderer?”
    His eyes dropped closed. Little did she know. “I’m serious, Lors. What do you know about her?”
    “She’s a medic at Community Hospital.”
    “Did she tell you where she lived before coming to Glen Hills?”
    “No, I didn’t ask. Why the interrogation?”
    His other line rang, but he ignored it. They’d call back. “She’s in the computer. She’s been charged with a crime.”
    “Was she convicted?”
    “No, but--”
    “Well, then she’s fine.”
    The clock ticked on the wall. His cheap, metal blinds clanged in the breeze.
    “Cops don’t charge people with crimes for no reason,” he argued.
    “But sometimes innocent people get charged. You know that.”
    You’d think she’d be more jaded having been married to him for so long. He rubbed a hand down his face. Maybe his cynicism blocked him from seeing the good in everyone. “They may be innocent of that crime, but not of others.”
    “We’ve had this argument before. Let’s not go there,” she said.
    “You’re right, but when is she moving in?”
“Later this morning. I’m taking an early lunch and giving her the key.”
    “What time?”
    He had to be somewhere in an hour, but he’d fit it in no matter what the consequences. He needed to confront this woman before she moved in and couldn’t be moved out.
    “Eleven. She’s eager to get in.”
    “Can you stall until I get there?”
    “Why?”
    “I need to see her for myself.”
    She sighed. “You don’t trust me.”
    “That’s not true. I just trust my own instincts more.”
    And his were better, unless they involved love. For sex, he could pick them, differentiate the losers from the winners, but when any emotion entered into the bargain, what a mess.
    “Jerk,” she said, but no venom colored her words.
    He’d always been honest with her. “Yes, but you like me anyway.”
    “You have a charm about you. A very, raw, rugged one at that.”
    Just like his desk.
    He chuckled. Her flirting on another day would have put him at ease. Today he had a bad feeling. “Will you stall?”
    “Okay, but not too long. You know I’m not good at that.”
    “Thanks, dear,” he said.
    He hung up before he realized what he called her.
    ***
    For a woman on her lunch hour, Dolores was chatty to Grace. They stood on the driveway in front of Grace’s car, loaded to beyond full.
    The day had dawned overcast with a forecast for possible showers. Grace wished it held off until she finished. Listening to Dolores, she shifted from foot to foot.
    “I cleaned the furniture last week, right after I put the ad in the paper.”
    Dolores looked around as she spoke as if waiting for someone. The next moment a battered compact came into view. The driver parked the vehicle on the street behind Dolores’ car.
    Maybe an inspector, but Grace’s cop radar pinged when he stepped out of his vehicle. He reeked of the self-assurance borne of fighting bad guys.
    Not a bad sight to look at either. Too bad. Relationships didn’t last when you time slipped. You didn’t forget, but your lovers did.
    Damn.
    He surveyed the area before walking to the women. Confidence colored his steps. Shoulders a mile wide sat atop a fit body. His slicked back, black hair crowded at the base of his neck in a mob of curls.
    His movements reminded her of a cat, despite his bulk. Was he just as predatory? She swallowed hard and clenched her fists