Read Online Can't Keep a Brunette Down by Diane Bator - Free Book Online
Authors: Diane Bator
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he was dead?"
He raised a thick, white eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"Sorry. That was rude." Gilda's face warmed. "Just a dumb thought that got away."
"You've always been a perceptive young lady." He patted her hand. "I can always count on you to notice things others can't."
"What did you think after the preliminary exam? I mean, I saw the katana and the awful state of the changing room, butâ¦"
Doc met her gaze. "Do you think there's more to the story?"
"Yes. Do you think I'm crazy?"
"I think you have boundless potential as a writer." He took a drag from his pipe. "The actual cause of death is blatant, but I can't tell you more than what you already know. Confidentiality issues, that sort of thing."
"I know. Sorry for prying. I just feel awful about everything. Jade seems so sweet. She has to be devastated⦠Do you think Walter might have been poisoned first so someone could take him down easier?"
"You know I can't talk about that, Gilda. What do you think happened?"
"I think either his attacker was bigger, stronger, and faster, or they drugged him." She scanned the horizon. "If he was drugged and semiconscious, anyone could have killed him."
Doc took one last drag on his pipe then knocked it against the boulder. "My job is to determine how he died. Thayer and Fabio have to worry about the rest." He looked Gilda in the eye. "You need to keep out of the way and let the rest of us do the detecting."
Her lower jaw dropped. "What makes you think I'dâ?"
Doc smiled. "History has a habit of repeating."
Indignant, she slid off the rock, lightly scraping the backs of her legs. She would never live the incident down for as long as Doc lived. "Honestly, I really did see Mrs. Watson steal drugs from your office. She even admitted to it."
"Honey, you were ten and delirious," he said. "You'd just woken up from surgery for a ruptured appendix. Mrs. Watson was my nurse who was merely getting you painkillers."
She snorted. "So you say. But I know what I saw and heard."
"Yeah? You also said she sprouted shiny wings that looked like bubbles and flew out the window to her car." He hugged her. "I have to admit, you almost had me convinced, until then. Do us both a favor and make sure you have more evidence this time."
Head bowed, Gilda picked her way over the rocks toward the sidewalk. Across the street sat a dark sedan she swore belonged to Gary. Why was he following her?
CHAPTER SIX
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As Doc sauntered over the rocks, leaving the scent of tobacco in his wake, Gilda made a snap decision to visit Walter's widow, Jade Levy. Anything to keep from being alone and having Gary approach her again. After a stop at the corner store to grab a bouquet of bright Gerbera daisies, she walked across town to Darlington Court, the newest subdivision. She'd order a fancier bouquet from the karate school later.
While she had seen Walter every day and had known him fairly well, Gilda sensed Jade seemed to avoid her as much as possible. If nothing else, Walter had left his wife comfortable in a large, new house, complete with a swimming pool, three-car garage, and luxury cars to fill each slot.
Gilda, in her shorts and snug yoga top, felt sorely underdressed to even stand on the front step. She hesitated, taking three deep breaths before she rang the doorbell. Rather than a normal dingdong, the chimes had an airy, Zen-like tone far less jarring than other doorbells.
Jade, drawn and pale, appeared wearing a pink silk kimono. Her delicate features tensed, and she gave a slight bow. "Miss Wright. What can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry for your loss." Gilda handed her the bouquet, gaudy next to Jade's elegance. "Walter was a good teacher and friend."
Her lips drew into a small, tight bow, making her look even more like a geisha. "That is very sweet. Walter thought very highly of you. He always said you were the one person he could count on at the school. Please come in."
"He did?" Gilda followed Jade across the bamboo floor into a sunroom
He raised a thick, white eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"Sorry. That was rude." Gilda's face warmed. "Just a dumb thought that got away."
"You've always been a perceptive young lady." He patted her hand. "I can always count on you to notice things others can't."
"What did you think after the preliminary exam? I mean, I saw the katana and the awful state of the changing room, butâ¦"
Doc met her gaze. "Do you think there's more to the story?"
"Yes. Do you think I'm crazy?"
"I think you have boundless potential as a writer." He took a drag from his pipe. "The actual cause of death is blatant, but I can't tell you more than what you already know. Confidentiality issues, that sort of thing."
"I know. Sorry for prying. I just feel awful about everything. Jade seems so sweet. She has to be devastated⦠Do you think Walter might have been poisoned first so someone could take him down easier?"
"You know I can't talk about that, Gilda. What do you think happened?"
"I think either his attacker was bigger, stronger, and faster, or they drugged him." She scanned the horizon. "If he was drugged and semiconscious, anyone could have killed him."
Doc took one last drag on his pipe then knocked it against the boulder. "My job is to determine how he died. Thayer and Fabio have to worry about the rest." He looked Gilda in the eye. "You need to keep out of the way and let the rest of us do the detecting."
Her lower jaw dropped. "What makes you think I'dâ?"
Doc smiled. "History has a habit of repeating."
Indignant, she slid off the rock, lightly scraping the backs of her legs. She would never live the incident down for as long as Doc lived. "Honestly, I really did see Mrs. Watson steal drugs from your office. She even admitted to it."
"Honey, you were ten and delirious," he said. "You'd just woken up from surgery for a ruptured appendix. Mrs. Watson was my nurse who was merely getting you painkillers."
She snorted. "So you say. But I know what I saw and heard."
"Yeah? You also said she sprouted shiny wings that looked like bubbles and flew out the window to her car." He hugged her. "I have to admit, you almost had me convinced, until then. Do us both a favor and make sure you have more evidence this time."
Head bowed, Gilda picked her way over the rocks toward the sidewalk. Across the street sat a dark sedan she swore belonged to Gary. Why was he following her?
CHAPTER SIX
Â
As Doc sauntered over the rocks, leaving the scent of tobacco in his wake, Gilda made a snap decision to visit Walter's widow, Jade Levy. Anything to keep from being alone and having Gary approach her again. After a stop at the corner store to grab a bouquet of bright Gerbera daisies, she walked across town to Darlington Court, the newest subdivision. She'd order a fancier bouquet from the karate school later.
While she had seen Walter every day and had known him fairly well, Gilda sensed Jade seemed to avoid her as much as possible. If nothing else, Walter had left his wife comfortable in a large, new house, complete with a swimming pool, three-car garage, and luxury cars to fill each slot.
Gilda, in her shorts and snug yoga top, felt sorely underdressed to even stand on the front step. She hesitated, taking three deep breaths before she rang the doorbell. Rather than a normal dingdong, the chimes had an airy, Zen-like tone far less jarring than other doorbells.
Jade, drawn and pale, appeared wearing a pink silk kimono. Her delicate features tensed, and she gave a slight bow. "Miss Wright. What can I do for you?"
"I'm sorry for your loss." Gilda handed her the bouquet, gaudy next to Jade's elegance. "Walter was a good teacher and friend."
Her lips drew into a small, tight bow, making her look even more like a geisha. "That is very sweet. Walter thought very highly of you. He always said you were the one person he could count on at the school. Please come in."
"He did?" Gilda followed Jade across the bamboo floor into a sunroom
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