Read Online Born to Be Wild by Catherine Coulter - Free Book Online Page A

time. An eighteen-year-old boy, wasted on crack, had shot him in the side after missing him twice. Jack finally returned fire, killing him. Two months later, he was the newly elected chief of police in Goddard Bay. To his surprise, but not to John’s, he really liked the job.
    Jack said, “Okay, you got an hour to save your ass before I come and haul it out. I’ll let you know what I find out from Marci Maynard. Wives, I’ve discovered over the years, always know something, if not everything.”

NINE
    Jack didn’t drive back to the Maynard house on Westview but directly to Marci’s parents’ house. Milo and Olivia Hildebrand had come to get her not ten minutes after Jack had arrived at the crime scene that morning. Jason Maynard’s parents lived across the country in Hartford, Connecticut, and Jack had hated to make that call. They’d be arriving tomorrow.
    Milo Hildebrand, the owner of a local insurance company, savvy and well-off, seemingly sane and balanced, answered the door. “Hi, Jack, come on in. I think Marci’s sleeping; our doctor gave her a sedative. Let me check.”
    â€œNo problem, Milo. I need to speak to you and Mrs. Hildebrand in any case. Now is fine.”
    Olivia Hildebrand, looking thin and pale, sat on a high-backed chair in the antique-filled living room, her knees pressed together, her hands locked around them, wearing some sort of designer knit thing. She looked up when he came into the living room, then immediately back down again. He didn’t know her well, only by sight, really. He knew Milo because he bought insurance from him.
    â€œMrs. Hildebrand,” he said and walked to her, stretching out his hand to her. She was forced to let go of her knees. She shook his hand, her own hand limp, and said in a thread of a voice, “Please sit down, Chief. Would you like some coffee?”
    Jack would very much have liked some coffee, but looking at those dull eyes and paper-white skin, he shook his head. “No, thank you, Mrs. Hildebrand, I’m fine. I’m very sorry to bother you but I need your help.”
    â€œHello, Chief Wolf.”
    Jack looked up to see Patricia Bigelow walk into the living room.
    â€œPatricia,” he said, nodding. “What are you doing here?”
    â€œShe’s our lawyer, Jack,” Milo said. “I called her right after we brought Marci here. She will see to it that we’re all legally protected.”
    â€œYour choice,” Jack said, nodding to her, but he wasn’t happy about this. He could only hope she wouldn’t interfere with his questioning to impress her clients. Pat Bigelow had been in Goddard Bay a bit longer than he. She was a good criminal attorney, and according to John, a thorn in his side more than once. She was known to take no prisoners. She charged the moon, but her clients seemed to think she was worth it. She was able to hide all her toughness and her hard edges well. She was nice looking really, actually appeared more suited to hosting garden parties than defending crooks. She had soft blond hair, cut short, lovely sharp features, and long legs that she showed off, particularly in front of male-heavy juries.
    â€œDon’t worry, Chief, I have no intention of trying to hinder any legitimate fact-finding. I just don’t want to see any sort of intimidation. Are we clear?”
    Milo waved him to a chair, and said to his wife, his voice soft and easy, “He’s here to speak to us, and to Marci, Livie. It’s his job. He’s got to find out who killed Jason.”
    â€œWell, he can’t see Marci! She’s ill, in shock, really—”
    There was a flash of impatience in Milo’s dark eyes, just as quickly gone, and he kept his voice soft. “Jack knows she’s asleep. He also knows she’s torn up about this mess. The chief isn’t going to do anything to hurt her.”
    Olivia Hildebrand didn’t move, nodded