Read Online A Dose of Murder by Lori Avocato - Free Book Online

taken on a new job. Goldie asked about Miles, and I sensed he still missed him. I tucked that tidbit into the back of my brain. Then I mentioned my “visit” to Tina Macaluso’s house.
    He gave me a high five. “You go, girl. But, suga, you gotta have better equipment. For the surveillance.” He looked at me and smiled. “You got the right stuff for your date though.”
    First I laughed about that date stuff, then I sighed. “I know. I was hoping to borrow yours until mine gets delivered.”
    He got up and opened the college-type refrigerator that was camouflaged in black to match the countertop. “About that, suga. Can’t today. My case is running longer than I’d expected. Fuckers.”
    My heart sank as I took one of the cannoli off the tray he held out toward me. But, liking Goldie as I did, I smiled and lied, “No problem.” Lying was starting to get disturbingly easy for me since changing professions.
    Goldie licked ricotta cheese from his finger. Today his nails, longer than my pinky finger, were a brilliant black with tiny stripes across them. Damn it. Matching zebra nails. Only Goldie. With one finger in his mouth, he mumbled, “I’m hooking you up with Nick.”
    I swallowed the last of my cannoli and eyed a second one until this little voice in my head said Goldie must wear a size
one
. “Nick?”
    â€œUm. Nick Caruso. Freelances for Fabio. Been doing it for years. Actually taught me all I know. You’ll like Nick. Fabio has a list of freelancers he uses. Most you’ll never meet. Calls them in when he needs extra help or one of us full-timers is tied up on a case.” He took another cannoli.
    I cursed estrogen. How come he could eat two cannoli and probably
lose
weight, and if I took another one, it’d be added to my hips by nightfall?
    Goldie got up. “Come with me, and I’ll introduce you to Marilyn and Tommy while we wait for Nick. They’re office staff. Work the sales end. Nothing to do with investigating.”
    I walked taller knowing I was an “investigator.”
    Marilyn Bleaker was a rather frumpy woman with glasses that perched on the bridge of her nose. Tommy Nelson, balding and near fifty, I assumed, appeared rather shy. After a cordial introduction, greeting and goodbye, I followed Goldie back to his office. He said Tommy had a wife and five children. I said a silent novena for all of them and declined a second cup of Goldie’s miracle coffee.
    We chatted until a knock sounded. Goldie yelled to enter.
    Good thing I’d finished my coffee. If I’d had a mouthful when Nick came in, I’d have spewed it all over the faux fur couch.
    Nick Caruso wasn’t exactly as handsome as Goldie was gorgeous, but Nick was, in my opinion, attractive. Of course this was from a woman who hadn’t exactly been zooming around the dating circuit lately. Okay, ever.
    I looked at him and smiled. Where Goldie’s hair, today, was blonde, Nick’s was gray. Prematurely gray by the look of him. Couldn’t have been past forty. His voice came out a deep, mellow tone, and I told myself I’d have to call Doc Taylor yet again. And yes, I realized how sad that was.
    Nick shook my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
    â€œYes . . . I mean, you too.”
Get a grip, Pauline. It’s not as if you’ve never seen a nice-looking guy. Vance is no tuna
.
    Nick wore a pin-striped navy suit and looked ever the successful businessman. The outfit really added to his appearance. I couldn’t help but think he was on his way to some office, and I asked Saint Theresa to make sure he was straight. How pathetic was that? “Am I keeping you from something?” I said.
    He gave me an odd look.
    Goldie’s eyebrow rose, but not as fast at the heat up my cheeks.
    â€œI mean, you look as if you are going to work.”
    â€œHe is, suga. With you.” Goldie laughed. “Nick likes to