Intrusion Read Free Page A

Tommy for anything. My husband was a daredevil. He thrived on it. Tommy just went along for the ride.”
    He didn’t believe me, the rigid set of his shoulders told me that, but he had a job to do. Plenty of questions to ask. Francie Cohen stole a glance at me and quickly receded to the background. Andrews stood, angling his body away from Candy.
    “If your offer still stands, I’d like some of that Pellegrino.” He seemed proud of himself for remembering the name. Candy flashed her party smile and quickly filled another goblet. “How about you, Officer?” she said to Francie . “Taking notes is thirsty work.”
    A fleeting smile and half nod were her answer. I steeled myself for the next onslaught, taking care not to underestimate my adversary.
    “What did Tommy tell you about his new job?” Andrews asked, an open-ended question for either one of us. Candy galloped to the rescue.
    “He was excited. Tommy said that a start-up like CYBER-MED was right up his alley.” She shrugged. “With his MBA and all, they really wanted him. He could be his own man there, not standing in someone’s shadow.” She lowered her eyes, knowing that we’d all stood in Kai’s shadow.
    “I’m still unclear about something. What exactly does this company do, this CYBER-MED?” Andrews must have boned up on old Colombo episodes. His simple flatfoot schtick needed some serious work. I’d bet our third quarter profits that he’d already devoured the corporate prospectus. Probably inhaled the profit and loss while he was at it.
    Candy wasn’t the only charmer around. I polished my Ivy League gloss and answered the man. “Think of CYBER-MED as a security company, you know, like ADT or Brinks but for health use. They monitor wireless medical devices, the implantable kind.”
    This time his reaction seemed genuine. “I didn’t know there’s any demand for stuff like this. Real science fiction, isn’t it?”
    “Well, it’s in its infancy now, but hey, technology is the wave of the future.” I smiled, recalling Tommy’s glowing face as he described his new duties. “Boston is a hub for high-tech gizmos.” I shrugged. “All those medical facilities, you know.”
    Candy leaned forward and asked what I’d been wondering myself. “Why come to us with all this stuff? Shouldn’t you be badgering Tommy’s business partners or following clues? They’d know the right things to tell you. Unless you want the low down on wrinkle creams?”
    Something like a low growl escaped Andrews’ throat. “The victim, Mr. Yancey, listed you two as his next of kin. His heirs, too. You’re the executrix of his estate, Mrs. Buckley. In most cases, that means something.” He motioned to Francie Cohen and collected his things. “If you think of anything, call me.”
    A thought popped into my mind. “Sergeant, wait. Couldn’t this be a regular hit and run? You know, some drunk panics and flees the scene. Lots of bars in that area, aren’t there? I just can’t believe it was murder.”
    Andrews whirled around, pointing a bony finger my way. “Maybe you can’t face the truth. I get it. You’ve had a tough year, but your friend had an even worse one. That car threw him twenty feet.” He shoved his hands into his pocket. “One more thing. Mr. Yancey was on the sidewalk. Someone went over the curb after him.”
    My hand shook with a kind of palsy that was foreign to me. I pictured Tommy’s last moments as adrenalin surged and he ran for his life. He was an athlete, fast and agile. Maybe it was instantaneous. They’d said that about Kai. No pain, Mrs. Buckley. Naturally, they’d tell his wife that.
    Candy escorted them to the door, engaging Francie Cohen in a lively discussion of lip gloss while I tidied up. Andrews was slicker than I thought. He’d wedged two business cards under the goblet of Pellegrino.

 
     
     
     
    Three
     
    I loathe shrinks. They strip you bare, load you up with drugs and charge a fortune. Next day, you’re