It Should Be a Crime Read Free Page A

taken a move clear across the country to prove what they had known all along. Their relationship was beyond repair. Neither cared enough to heal the hurt between them, and Morgan knew it was time for her to move on, and the sooner she did so, the better off she would be.
    “I’m going to go check into the Palomar until I find a place. The movers should be here tomorrow. I doubt I’ll be ready to have them divert what I need, so we’ll have to work out arrangements. I trust you’ll help make this go as smoothly as possible?” Morgan knew Tina was clear about what “this” was. The two had grown emotionally distant over the last few years, but they still had the capacity to read one another’s thoughts and feelings.
    “So, this is it for us? We move all the way across the fucking country and after one day you’re leaving me?” The anger in her voice was clear as Tina pushed her to announce her desire.
    “Yes, Tina, I’m leaving. We’ve both moved on. I’m sorry I ever agreed to come out here with you. I was stupid enough to think we could make a fresh start, but last night proved nothing has changed between us and it never will. We loved each other once, but we don’t anymore. It’s as simple as that.”
    “Fucking lawyers. Everything is black or white, right or wrong. Maybe I got so sick of your logical approach to everything I decided to take a walk on the wild side. Can you blame me?”
    “I guess not.” Morgan’s tone was flat. Continuing the argument with Tina would convey she cared and would only prolong her departure. She didn’t care anymore and she wanted out, now. Focusing on her goals, she strode to the guest room and retrieved her luggage. Without another word, she left the house and got into the still waiting cab. An extra twenty allowed the cabbie to overcome his frustration at being asked to head back uptown.

Chapter Two

    Rays of sunlight poked her in the eye. Parker flinched against the pain like a vampire whose coffin had been unceremoniously invaded during non-working hours. She didn’t want to get up, but she knew she would have to crawl out of bed and shut the blinds if she wanted to get any more sleep. Idly wondering if the sunlight was having the same effect on her overnight guest, Parker glanced across the bed. The pillow was askew and the covers in disarray, circumstantial evidence of the passion of the previous evening. However, the direct evidence was nowhere to be found. Parker opened both eyes wide and searched the room for Morgan. She wasn’t there.
    Parker slung her body out of bed and padded, naked, to the bathroom door. It wasn’t locked and she eased it open. No sign of Morgan. She pulled on a pair of boxers and a well-worn T-shirt and trotted down the stairs to the kitchen. The roomy kitchen was silent and unoccupied. Parker decided to put together a pot of coffee to fuel the start of her day. While the java brewed she reflected on the previous evening. She was surprised to find her guest gone and wondered when she made her exit. Parker Casey was usually the one who slunk out in the wee hours, long before morning snuggling became an option. As she sipped her morning dose of caffeine, Parker decided she had met her match. The realization carried a bit of a sting. From the moment she laid eyes on Morgan trapped in the alley, she’d felt attraction, strong attraction, coupled with a vague sense of recognition she couldn’t place. She hadn’t grouped Morgan into the category of usual conquests she met at the bar. Though their interaction had been primarily physical, Morgan came across as more sophisticated and worldly than her usual Friday night bar fare
    “Casey, you better have made enough to share!”
    Parker started at the yelling from across the room. “For crying out loud, Erin, keep it down. Some of us are still sleeping.”
    “I’m sure you wish you were,” Erin replied, moving to fill a large cup with the steamy brew. “No one in this house got any sleep