Read Online Brenda Joyce - [Francesca Cahill 04] by Deadly Desire - Free Book Online Page A

destroyed, and in general, the studio is quite unusable now.”
    His gaze remained on hers. “Is she all right? Was anyone hurt? Has it been reported to the police?”
    “Sarah is extremely upset, as is Mrs. Channing. No one was hurt, and Mrs. Channing did report the crime.” She hesitated. “An Inspector O’Connor is in charge. Actually, it happened between midnight Thursday and yesterday morning at five-fifteen.”
    He absorbed that. “So that is why you came by yesterday?”
    She nodded.
    Then, “Dare I ask how it is that you are involved when you have been told to remain at home and preferably in bed for an entire week?”
    “She is my friend! My brother’s fiancee!” she exclaimed. “Of course I am involved!”
    “Francesca,” he began firmly.
    “Bragg, stop. You know Sarah. Her life is her work. She is the victim of a strange crime—a strange and angry attack! I cannot sit by and do nothing! The real question is, Why? Why would anyone harbor a grudge or be angry with Sarah Channing?”
    Bragg sighed. “It seems very odd, I agree.”
    “I do have one theory,” Francesca added.
    He smiled, briefly and reluctantly. “Please.”
    She told him about the fact that Sarah had become engaged to her brother and that perhaps a jealous young woman had struck out at her.
    He gave her an interested and thoughtful look, started to pace toward his desk, and then whirled.
    Francesca turned to see what had so captured his interest.
The door was now open and Lucy Savage stood there, wide-eyed and intent.
    She smiled quickly, but she was looking from the one to the other. “I knocked, but no one heard me, so I came in.” Her glance moved between them again.
    Which brother do you love?
    That was not a question Francesca wished to recall, not ever and especially not now. But surely Lucy had not been outside that door when Bragg had been kissing her as if it were the end of the world. How much had she seen? How much had she heard?
    “Do knock and come in,” Bragg remarked calmly.
    Lucy flushed and entered. “I did knock, Rick. Aren’t you happy to see me?” She moved to him and tugged his arm into hers and kissed his cheek. “I miss you and I thought to drag you to lunch.” She smiled at Francesca. “Hello, Fran. So, the two of you are on a new case?” she asked with open eagerness.
    Bragg said flatly, “Francesca is not on a case.”
    Francesca turned to him. “Actually, Mrs. Channing has hired me to find the ruffian who did this, Bragg.”
    “Do not tell me you are taking this case! You do not even have the use of both hands!”
    “I already have, Bragg,” Francesca said calmly. “How could I not? Sarah is miserably upset. This is her life and she is a friend of mine! Besides”—she softened and touched his sleeve—“how dangerous could this be? Someone attacked her studio, not her. For all we know, other artists have suffered the same violation. In fact, I think we should find out if there have been any other similar attacks in the city.”
    “I do not want you on any case, especially not now,” Bragg said dangerously.
    “I could not refuse. I know I can help. I promise to stay out of harm’s way!” Francesca cried.
    He stared at her; she stared back.
    “I want to help,” Lucy said, apparently fascinated.
    “Absolutely not.” Bragg whirled. Then he glared at Francesca. “She is worse than you. Trouble is her middle name.
Besides, her husband would kill me—Apache style—should anything happen to her.”
    Lucy grinned. “That means a very slow death with lots of torture,” she said happily.
    Francesca smiled back at Lucy, although secretly she was intrigued with the notion of having her as a sidekick. “I actually have an assistant. He is a cutpurse who is eleven years old and he has been invaluable to me thus far, as he knows every inch of the city. His name is Joel.”
    Lucy was wide-eyed. “So you have really made this your work?”
    Francesca smiled and opened her purse. Her smile