Look Both Ways Read Free Page A

Barrett. Are you safe where you are now? Is there anyone else in the building?”
    I looked around the room. I hadn’t thought about that. Could anyone else be here? Was someone hiding behind the beaded curtains?
    â€œI . . . I don’t know, but I think I’ll get out of here.” As I moved quickly toward the entrance, I heard the wail of sirens. “The police are already here. Thank you.” I pushed the door open and stepped gratefully into the sunlight. In seconds there were three police cars, red, white, and blue lights flashing, in front of the building, along with an ambulance.
    Two uniformed officers, guns drawn, ran toward me, shouting, “Police!”
    I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, so I put my hands up.
    â€œDid you call 911?” asked one of the cops, while the other, gun still drawn, approached the shop. “Reporting a body?”
    I dropped my hands, stepped aside, and pointed wordlessly to the purple door. Three more uniforms, followed by two EMTs, crowded into the place. One officer remained beside me, eyes watchful.
    â€œJust wait right here, ma’am,” he said, his tone courteous but firm. I leaned against the rough clapboards of the shop. The gaily painted window boxes with their bright blossoms seemed out of place as the horror of what I’d just seen behind the counter crowded my senses.
    I need to call Pete. Can I just reach into my purse and pull out the phone? Uh-uh. Bad idea.
    I didn’t have to think about it for long. Pete’s unmarked Crown Vic pulled up right onto the sidewalk. Tall, broad shouldered, his dark hair curling just a little in Salem’s early summer humidity, his suit coat unbuttoned, Pete strode toward me.
    â€œYou okay, Lee?” he asked.
    I gave a weak smile and nodded. Then, with what I always called his “cop face” firmly in place, he proceeded to take control of the situation.
    â€œEscort Ms. Barrett to my car,” he told the officer. “The ME and the CSI team are right behind me.” The purple door stood open, and Pete went into the shop, barking orders as he entered. “Let’s get the crime-scene tape up while a couple of you search the building.”
    Once inside the cruiser, I couldn’t hear his voice anymore. The officer stood respectfully, watchfully, beside the vehicle. Soon the EMTs left, and the ambulance pulled away—empty, confirming my certainty that Shea was dead. By then yards of yellow plastic tape announced that Tolliver’s Antiques and Uniques was officially the scene of a crime. Before long two men carrying a folded stretcher went inside, followed by the medical examiner, with his ever-present black bag. I recognized him. We’d met less than a year ago, when I was the one who’d discovered a body floating in Salem Harbor. It was the same day I’d met Pete Mondello.
    More sirens. The CSI team arrived, strangely alien looking, masked and booted in shiny white jumpsuits. It seemed like hours before Pete emerged from the place, notebook and pen in hand, dismissed my vigilant guardian officer, and climbed into the backseat next to me.
    â€œYou discovered the body, Lee?” he asked, cop face still in place.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat time was that?”
    â€œI don’t know exactly. I called 911 as soon as I saw her.”
    â€œOkay. Was anyone else in the room?”
    â€œNo. But I saw a man leaving. He was in a hurry. Bumped into me before I opened the door.”
    â€œCan you describe him?”
    â€œI think so.” I searched my memory, trying to picture the man.
    â€œGood. Begin with when you arrived at the store, and tell me exactly what happened. Don’t leave anything out.”
    I closed my eyes. “I parked the Corvette in the driveway next to the shop,” I said. “I walked to the door. I’d just started to reach for the doorknob when a man came rushing out.” I frowned, remembering my