Read Online As Good as Dead by Beverly Barton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Beverly Barton
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feeling well."
"Do you need me to drive you home?" Farlan asked.
"No need for that," Dodd replied. "I'll just go to the men's room and throw a little cold water in my face, then I'll see if Cyrus can rustle me up a bite to eat. I skipped lunch. I'm sure that's the problem."
Poor Dodd. Brilliant man, but far too sensitive. People said that combination made him an excellent judge.
Once Dodd left the room, Farlan motioned for Wade and Brian to sit. "As much as y'all find the gruesome murders of several young women fascinating, let's set aside the gossip and get down to business."
Brian shrugged. "And that business would be?"
"Choosing a new Democratic candidate for mayor."
"Joe Duffy," Wade and Brian said practically simultaneously.
Chuckling, Farlan eyed Max, who nodded. It would seem this meeting was over before it began. By unanimous agreement, they had their candidate. All that remained was putting the idea into Duffy's head and promising him not only Farlan's full support, but the backing of MacKinnon Media.
Genny sensed Reve Sorrell's uneasiness and did all she could to make the woman feel comfortable. Although Reve had eventually drunk a cup of tea and eaten a slice of cake, she still seemed tense, as if she were afraid of something.
What was she so afraid of? The moment the question came to Genny's mind, the answer appeared seconds later. The wealthy and powerful Ms. Sorrell was afraid of being taken advantage of, afraid of being used. She believed that anyone professing to possess a sixth sense had to be a fake. Was that what vast wealth had done to her? Made her distrust everyone? How sad, Genny thought, and decided at that very moment to make this lonely woman her friend.
"I'd love for y'all to stay for supper," Genny said while the threesome sat around the kitchen table, their crumb-dappled plates and empty, tea-stained cups sitting in front of them. "And I will not take no for an answer." Not giving Reve a chance to refuse, she turned to Jazzy. "Call Caleb and tell him to grab a ride in from town with Dallas."
"That's a wonderful idea." Jazzy lifted her small red-leather shoulder bag from where she'd hung it on the back of her chair. "I'll call him right now. This supper will give Reve a chance to get better acquainted with the most important people in my life."
"I'm not sure-" Reve looked like an animal caught in a trap, her brown eyes wide open and filled with uncertainty.
"As I said I won't take no for an answer." Genny scooted back her chair. "Have you ever done any cooking, Reve?"
"No, not really," she replied. "When I was a child I occasionally watched our cook when she prepared dinner. And sometimes she allowed me to help her frost a cake or ba-ke cookies."
"Well, I intend to put you and Jazzy to work helping me fix tonight's supper. Nothing fancy. Just some fried chicken, fried potatoes, butter beans, cornbread and deviled eggs."
Genny eyed the glass-domed cake plate sitting atop an antique sideboard at the far end of the room. "We still have plenty of cake left for dessert. And I froze a half gallon of home-made vanilla ice cream the last time we made some, so there should be more than enough for a couple of scoops each."
Jazzy punched in Caleb's cell number and while the phone rang, she asked Genny, "Will we have time for you to give us a reading before we start supper?"
"I really don't want to participate in any kind of reading," Reve said.
Jazzy frowned, but quickly recovered from the disappointment. "Okay, then, just give me a reading. Reve can be an observer."
"If you're sure that's what you want." Genny didn't often give readings, only under special circumstances and for special people. She had learned mat most people only thought they wanted to delve into the supernatural realm, and when confronted by predications they didn't like, they wanted to shoot the messenger.
"I'm sure it's what I want." Jazzy slid back her chair, stood and gathered up their empty plates, stacked them and
"Do you need me to drive you home?" Farlan asked.
"No need for that," Dodd replied. "I'll just go to the men's room and throw a little cold water in my face, then I'll see if Cyrus can rustle me up a bite to eat. I skipped lunch. I'm sure that's the problem."
Poor Dodd. Brilliant man, but far too sensitive. People said that combination made him an excellent judge.
Once Dodd left the room, Farlan motioned for Wade and Brian to sit. "As much as y'all find the gruesome murders of several young women fascinating, let's set aside the gossip and get down to business."
Brian shrugged. "And that business would be?"
"Choosing a new Democratic candidate for mayor."
"Joe Duffy," Wade and Brian said practically simultaneously.
Chuckling, Farlan eyed Max, who nodded. It would seem this meeting was over before it began. By unanimous agreement, they had their candidate. All that remained was putting the idea into Duffy's head and promising him not only Farlan's full support, but the backing of MacKinnon Media.
Genny sensed Reve Sorrell's uneasiness and did all she could to make the woman feel comfortable. Although Reve had eventually drunk a cup of tea and eaten a slice of cake, she still seemed tense, as if she were afraid of something.
What was she so afraid of? The moment the question came to Genny's mind, the answer appeared seconds later. The wealthy and powerful Ms. Sorrell was afraid of being taken advantage of, afraid of being used. She believed that anyone professing to possess a sixth sense had to be a fake. Was that what vast wealth had done to her? Made her distrust everyone? How sad, Genny thought, and decided at that very moment to make this lonely woman her friend.
"I'd love for y'all to stay for supper," Genny said while the threesome sat around the kitchen table, their crumb-dappled plates and empty, tea-stained cups sitting in front of them. "And I will not take no for an answer." Not giving Reve a chance to refuse, she turned to Jazzy. "Call Caleb and tell him to grab a ride in from town with Dallas."
"That's a wonderful idea." Jazzy lifted her small red-leather shoulder bag from where she'd hung it on the back of her chair. "I'll call him right now. This supper will give Reve a chance to get better acquainted with the most important people in my life."
"I'm not sure-" Reve looked like an animal caught in a trap, her brown eyes wide open and filled with uncertainty.
"As I said I won't take no for an answer." Genny scooted back her chair. "Have you ever done any cooking, Reve?"
"No, not really," she replied. "When I was a child I occasionally watched our cook when she prepared dinner. And sometimes she allowed me to help her frost a cake or ba-ke cookies."
"Well, I intend to put you and Jazzy to work helping me fix tonight's supper. Nothing fancy. Just some fried chicken, fried potatoes, butter beans, cornbread and deviled eggs."
Genny eyed the glass-domed cake plate sitting atop an antique sideboard at the far end of the room. "We still have plenty of cake left for dessert. And I froze a half gallon of home-made vanilla ice cream the last time we made some, so there should be more than enough for a couple of scoops each."
Jazzy punched in Caleb's cell number and while the phone rang, she asked Genny, "Will we have time for you to give us a reading before we start supper?"
"I really don't want to participate in any kind of reading," Reve said.
Jazzy frowned, but quickly recovered from the disappointment. "Okay, then, just give me a reading. Reve can be an observer."
"If you're sure that's what you want." Genny didn't often give readings, only under special circumstances and for special people. She had learned mat most people only thought they wanted to delve into the supernatural realm, and when confronted by predications they didn't like, they wanted to shoot the messenger.
"I'm sure it's what I want." Jazzy slid back her chair, stood and gathered up their empty plates, stacked them and
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