Dead Man Living Read Free Page B

how handsome he was. The fact that he’d been injured trying to rescue a victim of domestic violence had sparked her attention, but it was his good looks that had prompted her to actively search for more articles about him.
    She knew about his alleged abilities and his self-imposed exile from watching the news and had always felt a bit sad for him.
    There was something in his eyes though, those dark green windows to the soul. The few times the local and national news had caught him on video, his eyes had haunted her, and after seeing them in person, she knew he carried scars that had nothing to do with the one on his temple.
    He always appeared frightened when approached by the media. According to reports, Joe could see whether a person was good or bad and to what degree. Maybe that was the reason an onrush of reporters scared him. From her own dealings with the press, she knew a lot of them did what they had to in order to get ahead. What would that do to a person?
    Reaching over, Beth picked up the spare pillow and hugged it to her chest. She knew she had a soft spot for the underdog, but her attraction to Joe went beyond normal. Asking him to lunch had probably been a bad idea. Refusing to meet him for a drink had probably been a worse one. She grinned.
    There was just something in his demeanour earlier in the day that told her Lavette’s murder bothered him as much as it did her. Burying her face in the pillow, she groaned. Sleep. Maybe if she was lucky she’d dream of the tall cop with long black hair and eyes that drew her in.
     
    * * * *
     
    By eleven-thirty Wednesday morning, Beth was worn out. She’d fielded numerous calls from local media, giving them a brief prewritten statement and plea. Thankfully, she’d convinced the reporters to accept the statement over the phone and not in person. If the media aimed its cameras at A New Start as a backdrop to a domestic violence story, the women at the shelter ran the risk of being spotted. They all knew what had happened to Lavette could just as easily happen to them.
    Beth looked at the clock and felt a sense of peace fill her. She’d looked forward to her lunch with Joe since they’d made the date. Not that it was truly a date, but a girl could dream.
    Business first, she told herself. Although once business was out of the way, perhaps she could take Joe up on that offer of a drink. Feeling her cheeks flush with excitement, she pulled on her navy suit jacket. She’d decided to go with her normal attire of a dark suit but had added a playful scoop neck blouse in a pretty floral print.
    After running a brush through her shoulder-length blonde hair, Beth signed herself out. As always, she scanned the small parking lot before opening the front door. As far as she knew, the police still hadn’t caught Billy Osborn, Lavette’s ex-husband.
    With keys in hand, Beth dashed to her three-year-old sedan. As soon as she was inside, she quickly relocked the doors and started the car. Exhaling a sigh of relief, she pulled out of the lot towards Johnny’s.
    Several times on the drive over, she felt as though someone was watching her. Continually checking her rear-view mirror, Beth tried to shake off her paranoia.
    She was relieved when she pulled into Johnny’s parking lot. After giving herself a quick check in the mirror, she went inside. The noise assaulted her as soon as she opened the door.
    Why would Joe want to meet in such a busy place? She stepped up to the hostess and gave her name.
    The hostess nodded. “Joe’s already here. I’ll take you back.”
    Beth followed the petite redhead through the throng of customers to the rear of the restaurant. She couldn’t help but to wonder why the girl seemed to know him so well. She grinned at her own jealousy surfacing.
    The hostess walked past the regular tables towards the private dining area usually reserved for parties. Her confusion must have shown on her face because the girl smiled. “A favour for an old