Read Online Claws for Alarm by T.C. LoTempio - Free Book Online

hearing?”
    â€œTry and stop me. Even if bail’s denied I want Lacey to know I’m there every step of the way for her.” I smiled at him. “I think she’s lucky to have you in her corner, too. Thank you for everything, Peter.”
    â€œSave your thanks, Nora. I haven’t done anything yet.”
    â€œYou took a case where the cards look stacked against her, and that’s something. This gathering was very helpful. I think I’ve figured out the key to proving her innocence.”
    His eyes widened. “You have? What?”
    â€œI’m convinced the real murderer is someone connected to the art school. It’s such a perfect setup, it just has to be. And now that we have some other possible suspects, we just have to narrow them down. The key to Lacey’s freedom is finding out which of them is the real murderer.” I paused. “And to find out fast. Really, really fast.”

FIVE

    â€œS o, no bail, huh?”
    I’d arrived back at Prudence’s about twenty minutes ago, to find that she and Irene had gone to the local Pathmark to get some groceries. She’d left me a note, inviting me to stay for dinner. I’d gone up to my room, kicked off my shoes, and, since Nick was snoring peacefully in the corner, dug out my cell and called Chantal. Her psychic senses must have been on overdrive, because
no bail
were the first words she uttered, even before hello.
    â€œNo. Peter put up a pretty persuasive argument, but the ADA was more persuasive. She managed to convince the judge otherwise, which, considering the circumstances, wasn’t all that hard to do.” I flopped down on the edge of the bed and let my leg dangle over the side. “The ADA was determined to get a quick court date, and Peter didn’t object. If the case is brought to trial quickly, they can keep her injail locally; otherwise she’d have been remanded to the women’s prison in Chowchilla.”
    â€œOuch,” Chantal said. “That does not sound good.”
    â€œIt’s not. The prosecution must feel they’ve got a strong case for conviction, so unless we can unearth the real murderer, she still may end up there. The police aren’t exactly looking elsewhere right now, thanks in part to my sister and her temper.”
    I kicked off my heels and pulled the list of names out of my jacket pocket. “According to Lacey, there were quite a few people who weren’t exactly charter members of the Thaddeus Pitt fan club. I’m betting one of them set her up.”
    Chantal was very quiet for a moment, then said, “I did a reading,
chérie
. The High Priestess appeared, the guardian of secrets, right next to the Empress, who is known to represent all things traditionally feminine. Tell me, is one of the people you suspect his wife?”
    â€œFunny you should say that. She does seem a good prospect, but there are others that fill that bill as well.” I paused. “So—the cards said
cherchez la femme
? Look for the woman?”
    â€œThey could be interpreted that way, yes.” She hesitated, then added, “There is a bit more. The Lovers card also appeared, in the past position. It usually indicates a past relationship that might have ended badly, or that the person might be of some help in the present.”
    â€œHm,” I said. “Lacey thought Pitt might have had someone on the side that could be a possibility.”
    â€œWell, that reading was not one of my better ones,” Chantal admitted. “My concentration was not the best. I will do a cleanse and attempt another one later. You are coming back tonight?”
    â€œI was, but my aunt wants me to stay for dinner, and under the circumstances, I think I should. So, would you mind doing the breakfast and lunch crowd tomorrow? I probably won’t be able to get back to Hot Bread until late Saturday.”
    â€œTake your time. Everything is fine here. And give