Read Online Beneath the Silk by Wendy Rosnau - Free Book Online Page B

this morning.
    She served herself a mound of eggs. “You didn’t have to do it … bite me.”
    “I didn’t plan to.” He shrugged, dug his fork into his eggs. “Hi, Sis, long time no see. After a line like that, it seemed natural for a brother to kiss his sister.” He looked up. “You’re not going to hold it against me, are you? I didn’t enjoy it.”
    She knew damn well why his grin had grown, and exactly what she’d felt sandwiched against his hard body. Unless he owned a pet rock, he’d been more than a little amused by the time he had set her down inside her apartment.
    “Just another dirty job, right? But then you’re good with down-and-dirty, ah … Ace? Isn’t that what you said?”
    “See, you really are as smart as you look.”
    Sunni patiently waited for the food to chase away the common symptoms of a diabetic off her schedule.
    “Like my cooking, do you?”
    Sunni looked down at her empty plate, her mouth a little too full to answer without sharing her eggs. She nodded. Swallowed. “Tell me why my father didn’t call to tell me you were coming. You never did say.”
    “After Williams called, and you didn’t, he thought something might be wrong. Suddenly coming in waving a flag didn’t seem too smart. Not until we knew what we were up against.” He popped a piece of bacon into his mouth and chewed. “The other thing need to know, something your father didn’t want me to mention, is that he’s been hospitalized. One of his ulcers is acting up.”
    “He’s in the hospital?”
    “You knew he had ulcers, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then you know it’s happened before. It’s not too serious, just inconvenient right now. If you want to call him, go ahead. Only I wasn’t supposed to tell you he was in the hospital. But I figure you’re smart, Sis. Lying seems like a waste of time for both of us. And you’re a big girl, right? Dancing around the truth just wastes time.”
    “You’re sure he’s all right?”
    “In a week or two he’ll be back at it. I guarantee it.”
    Sunni knew her father’s ulcer condition was aggravated by stress. She had to ask. “Did his ulcer flare up after Detective Williams called him?”
    “I wish I could say no, but it happened a few hours later.”
    “How long have you worked with my father?”
    “Three years.”
    “But you grew up here?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Why did you leave?”
    “For a change of scenery.”
    Sunni didn’t know if he was telling the truth this time—he’d set his jaw—but asking too many personal questions could prompt him to do the same. Yes, she’d heard his little sermon about honesty, but she wasn’t the confessing type. Feeling stronger, no longer weak or dizzy, she stood and took her ditty plate to the sink.
    “It’s not a good idea to eat so fast. Bad for the digestive system. And if you’re ulcer material like your father, you should watch what you eat.”
    What was had was eating over an hour late when your body required a rigid schedule to function like a normal person’s. But Sunni wasn’t about to surrender her secret. “I’m in a hurry. I don’t want to be late for work,” she reasoned.
    “Does it matter? Mary opens up, anyway. The store runs whether you’re there or not.”
    That he knew her manager’s name or Mary’s capabilities didn’t surprise Sunni. This man had already proved he was resourceful.
    “Tell me why Williams is so sure you killed Milo Tandi. What’s supposed to be your motive?”
    Sunni began to put the kitchen back in order. “Lover’s quarrel.”
    “He thinks you got into an argument after you tied him up?”
    “He did present that theory.”
    “So you two were playing torture-me-please, got into a quarrel in the middle of your sex-fest, and you blew his head off.”
    His visual description was followed by dead silence. Sunni bent over and started to load the dishwasher. “Another idea Detective Williams came up with was that we quarreled in the elevator three days