Read Online a Touch of Ice by L. j. Charles - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: L. j. Charles
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top shelf in the back—black leggings, black turtleneck, and black ball cap complete with pointy ears. I’d used the outfit a few years back when Violet dared me to dress up as Catwoman for Halloween. Even went to the trouble of locating Catwoman candy and trading cards to pass out. Now all I needed were black socks and sneakers, both readily available. Had to love my closet organizer at times like this.
The outfit wasn’t exactly regulation spy wear, but it felt right. Perfect for my debut as a career felon, pointy ears and all. I checked myself out in the full-length mirror, head to toe and back again. More adorable than dangerous, and maybe a little bit naughty, except I could see my knees shaking. A confidence builder it was not. Whatever, it was past time to get my knees under control and continue on my path of crime.
When I rapped on Violet’s door she didn’t answer. No surprise there. I turned over the gnome that guards her entrance, and two keys tumbled out—mine and hers. We’ve always kept our spare keys in the same gnome, more confusing for burglars. My theory, not Violet’s. I figured the extra thirty seconds would give me time to hit nine-one-one, or run, or both.
I bounced the keys in my palm. No time like the present to begin a new career in illegal entry. Selecting her key, I let myself in, then replaced it in the gnome and closed the door behind me. On my way to find Violet, I detoured through the kitchen to grab a peach from the bowl on the counter and a napkin from the table. Another new rule: never enter a life of crime on an empty stomach. I followed the sound of the shower to Violet’s master bathroom, sat on her bed and waited.
Personally, I would have screamed loud and long if I found an intruder sitting on my bed. Not that it was my plan to scare her, it’s just that there was this itty bitty part of me that needed to have the upper hand—to build my confidence.
When she stepped out of the shower her eyes dilated and she swore at me with the full vehemence of her five-foot-four body. It wasn’t pretty, but then I’d pushed her well beyond her limit. She wrapped herself in a towel, took the half-eaten peach out of my hand, and finished it in two bites. “Go away. I’ll be down in a minute.” The woman had nerves of steel. Good to know considering what we were about to do.
Eight
“Break into the vic’s house? Surely I didn’t hear you say that?” The air around us shimmered with Violet’s agitation. Her eyes held the look of jagged beach glass, capable of cutting deeply and leaving a bloody trail. She rounded on me. “What the hell is the matter with you?”
This was impressive. Who knew Violet could do angry with so much enthusiasm?
Her eyes narrowed down to threatening slits. “Are you on something? Fall down the stairs and hit your head?”
She thrashed around, pacing, waving her arms, as complex series of expressions wrinkled her face and tightened her lips. Probably trying to find a way out of the alternate universe I’d dropped her in.
I hated watching her struggle, so I kept talking. “I did some thinking after you left. Couldn’t seem to get my mind off Mitch’s situation. You know the abduct—”
“I know. Get on with it.” There wasn’t a smidgeon of patience in her voice.
“We, make that I , don’t have a choice. I have to touch the space Tony lived in, and believe me when I say I’m not thrilled with that plan.”
The silence was deafening. I backpedaled. “It’s all right. You don’t have to do anything. I can do it by myself and if you’ll give me Tony’s address—” I held up my hand when she opened her mouth— “don’t bother pretending you didn’t get it from Jayne. I can handle this on my own since it’s my idea. I have to do this, Violet. Have. To.”
She sat and dropped her head in her hands. It took a minute, but she looked up at me with calm, clear eyes. Pretty amazing that she could move from the mother of all mads into
The outfit wasn’t exactly regulation spy wear, but it felt right. Perfect for my debut as a career felon, pointy ears and all. I checked myself out in the full-length mirror, head to toe and back again. More adorable than dangerous, and maybe a little bit naughty, except I could see my knees shaking. A confidence builder it was not. Whatever, it was past time to get my knees under control and continue on my path of crime.
When I rapped on Violet’s door she didn’t answer. No surprise there. I turned over the gnome that guards her entrance, and two keys tumbled out—mine and hers. We’ve always kept our spare keys in the same gnome, more confusing for burglars. My theory, not Violet’s. I figured the extra thirty seconds would give me time to hit nine-one-one, or run, or both.
I bounced the keys in my palm. No time like the present to begin a new career in illegal entry. Selecting her key, I let myself in, then replaced it in the gnome and closed the door behind me. On my way to find Violet, I detoured through the kitchen to grab a peach from the bowl on the counter and a napkin from the table. Another new rule: never enter a life of crime on an empty stomach. I followed the sound of the shower to Violet’s master bathroom, sat on her bed and waited.
Personally, I would have screamed loud and long if I found an intruder sitting on my bed. Not that it was my plan to scare her, it’s just that there was this itty bitty part of me that needed to have the upper hand—to build my confidence.
When she stepped out of the shower her eyes dilated and she swore at me with the full vehemence of her five-foot-four body. It wasn’t pretty, but then I’d pushed her well beyond her limit. She wrapped herself in a towel, took the half-eaten peach out of my hand, and finished it in two bites. “Go away. I’ll be down in a minute.” The woman had nerves of steel. Good to know considering what we were about to do.
Eight
“Break into the vic’s house? Surely I didn’t hear you say that?” The air around us shimmered with Violet’s agitation. Her eyes held the look of jagged beach glass, capable of cutting deeply and leaving a bloody trail. She rounded on me. “What the hell is the matter with you?”
This was impressive. Who knew Violet could do angry with so much enthusiasm?
Her eyes narrowed down to threatening slits. “Are you on something? Fall down the stairs and hit your head?”
She thrashed around, pacing, waving her arms, as complex series of expressions wrinkled her face and tightened her lips. Probably trying to find a way out of the alternate universe I’d dropped her in.
I hated watching her struggle, so I kept talking. “I did some thinking after you left. Couldn’t seem to get my mind off Mitch’s situation. You know the abduct—”
“I know. Get on with it.” There wasn’t a smidgeon of patience in her voice.
“We, make that I , don’t have a choice. I have to touch the space Tony lived in, and believe me when I say I’m not thrilled with that plan.”
The silence was deafening. I backpedaled. “It’s all right. You don’t have to do anything. I can do it by myself and if you’ll give me Tony’s address—” I held up my hand when she opened her mouth— “don’t bother pretending you didn’t get it from Jayne. I can handle this on my own since it’s my idea. I have to do this, Violet. Have. To.”
She sat and dropped her head in her hands. It took a minute, but she looked up at me with calm, clear eyes. Pretty amazing that she could move from the mother of all mads into
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