MULTIPLE MOTIVES (The Kate Huntington mystery series Book 1) Read Free

the smell of coffee floating down the hall from the kitchen. She took a deep breath. Her smile faded as she realized the fragrance was faint. Eddie was long gone. One of the many things she disliked about tax season was eating breakfast alone, and all too often dinner as well.
    Wednesdays were half days, in exchange for working until noon on Saturdays. But in Kate’s mind, a weekday afternoon off didn’t compensate for losing a quarter of her weekend with Eddie. The only time she really didn’t mind was this time of year, when he worked seven days a week.
    It turned out to be a hectic morning. Two clients called with mid-week crises while she was in her first session. Sandwiching return calls between her other sessions was challenging.
    Finally, she was gathering her things to leave at twelve-twenty when the counseling center’s receptionist stuck her head in the open doorway. “Hey, Kate,” Pauline said. “Rob’s wife’s accident is on the news.”
    Kate hurried out to the reception area. On the television, a toothy anchorwoman was describing Liz’s accident as the lead-in to a story about the rising number of hit-and-runs in the area. “Mrs. Franklin is one of the lucky ones,” the woman concluded. “She’s in stable condition at St. Joseph’s Hospital.”
    On the off chance that Rob was in his office, Kate walked down the hall to the law firm of Stockton, Bennett and Franklin. He was there, stuffing papers into his briefcase.
    “Hey, they just reported about Liz’s hit-and-run on the noon news,” she told him. “How’s she doing?”
    Rob glanced up. “Not too bad, all things considered. She’s been conscious but woozy most of the morning. She even cracked a feeble joke about vampires when the nurse took some blood for tests. I’m gathering up some things so I can work at the hospital when she’s napping. Then I’ve got to swing out to the airport and pick Shelley up.”
    “Do you think Liz is up for more company? I thought I’d stop by on my way home. But I don’t want to tire her.”
    “She’d love to see you, but you probably do need to keep it brief. She fades in and out. And I should warn you. She looks like a woman who’s had an argument with a truck. She’s pretty scraped up and bruised.”
    Kate’s mouth fell open. “She was hit by a truck? ”
    Rob had finished packing his briefcase. He flopped down in his desk chair with a sigh. “Maybe. There were several witnesses, but their stories conflict.”
    “Ah, the foibles of human memory.”
    “One witness was sure it was a red van. Another thought it was a brown truck. The third agreed it was a larger vehicle but wasn’t at all sure what color it was. None of them got the license number, unfortunately. One lady said she tried to, but the license plate was so dirty she had a hard time reading it. She was only able to make out an R before the jackass took off!”
    Anger at the guy who’d almost killed his wife wasn’t far beneath the surface. Kate couldn’t blame him one bit.
    “It all happened fast. Liz stepped off the curb at the same time this clown sped up to beat the light. Then he kept on going after he hit her.”
    Her own anger surged in her chest. “There are way too many crazies out there on the road.”
    The corner of Rob’s mouth quirked up. “You’re falling down on the job, lady. You’re supposed to be making them all sane.”
    She snorted. “Yeah, right. Ever heard of the proverbial drop in the bucket?”
    His expression sobered. “Actually this guy may be crazier than most. One witness swore he did it on purpose. She said the guy seemed to aim right for Liz.”
    “Oh, no! We’re in big trouble if drivers are starting to intentionally aim for pedestrians.”
    “Yeah, makes me want to pack up the family and move to, I don’t know… maybe a forty-acre farm, with an electrified fence around it.”
    Kate snorted again. “Somehow I don’t see you in denim overalls and a John Deere cap.” Crisply pressed