Read Online Cold Comfort by Ellis Vidler - Free Book Online
Authors: Ellis Vidler
Tags: Romantic Ssuspense
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Act. Nothing else related to Claire. He scrolled through the list of search results and opened a small story reprinted from a 1969 feature on Burley's wedding to Gina, the youngest of the "beautiful Bellante sisters."
"Which makes his father-in-law Carmine Bellante." The article included a photo of the old mobster leaving the courthouse with a phalanx of lawyers. "That ought to keep Burley awake nights, and it gives him a definite link to maggots and scum like the ones after Claire, eh, Spike?" Riley scratched the cat's chin and swallowed cold coffee. "Ugh." He turned back to the computer screen.
Although years ago Carmine Bellante held a major position in the Geminelli crime organization, the only connection Riley could find between Burley and Bellante was the daughter. If Burley's business bent the law, he'd been careful to cover his tracks. Riley searched for another half hour but found no allegations of illegal activities. One piece even mentioned him as a possible running mate in the next presidential election. Riley printed the article for Claire.
Another search into Claire's background produced nothing new. Why would anyone want her dead?
Nearly time for lunch. He might check on Claire and stop by the café before he installed the alarm.
* * *
A silver BMW stopped at the curb, drawing Claire's attention from the display in the front window. A man in a three-piece suit got out, carrying a briefcase. Lloyd Littlejohn, her lawyer's son. Amused, she crossed to the door and held it open for him. He took himself so seriously. "Hi, Lloyd. It's been awhile."
"Too long. Dad asked me to bring these papers by for your signature. He figured you'd be pretty busy with Christmas." After a brief appreciative glance that made her glad she'd worn the dress—at least someone noticed—he focused on her face.
"Thanks. It's nice of you. Come on back to my office and let me look at them." The perfect man, she thought, handsome, intelligent, ambitious. He'd asked her out several times since her fiancé's hasty departure. At first, she'd been too absorbed in Walt's betrayal to accept, but she really ought to. She remembered her new resolve. Get a life. Maybe after the Christmas season, when she wasn't so busy, and when this other business ended. Riley's rugged face rose in her mind. A mental pinch brought her back to the present. She leaned over to pick up a fallen ornament.
Behind her, Lloyd stumbled and cleared his throat. "What are you doing Saturday night? Why don't we have dinner and maybe take in a movie?"
Surprised by the sudden invitation, she considered, wondered if Riley would be gone from her life by then. If she hadn't invested in the store expansion and been so focused on the shop, she'd have accepted Lloyd's invitations in the fall. Maybe when all this ended.... "I'd love to some other time, but I can't this week."
"Another time. I'll hold you to it." Following her into the office, Lloyd spread the papers on her desk. "This settles the last of the bills. You still have the house."
Claire read through the documents, finding what she expected. The money was gone. She signed where Lloyd indicated and straightened, handed the papers back to him. "How's your mother doing?"
"I think she's getting worse. She gets terribly depressed, and there are more bad days than good. She'll never get over losing Jill. It makes things hard on Dad, but he's learned to live with it after all these years." Lloyd replaced the papers in his briefcase and reached for her hand. "We'll take care of this for you."
She winced and withdrew, then turned away.
"What's wrong? Have you hurt your arm?"
"No, it's my shoulder. Someone mugged me the other night, but I'm fine — just a little sore."
"Mugged? Geez, Claire! I'm sorry. Anything I can do? Did they catch the guy? Could you identify him?" He covered her hand with his.
"No. I didn't see his face. He got away."
"That's terrible. Dad will be upset to hear this. You be careful. You never know
"Which makes his father-in-law Carmine Bellante." The article included a photo of the old mobster leaving the courthouse with a phalanx of lawyers. "That ought to keep Burley awake nights, and it gives him a definite link to maggots and scum like the ones after Claire, eh, Spike?" Riley scratched the cat's chin and swallowed cold coffee. "Ugh." He turned back to the computer screen.
Although years ago Carmine Bellante held a major position in the Geminelli crime organization, the only connection Riley could find between Burley and Bellante was the daughter. If Burley's business bent the law, he'd been careful to cover his tracks. Riley searched for another half hour but found no allegations of illegal activities. One piece even mentioned him as a possible running mate in the next presidential election. Riley printed the article for Claire.
Another search into Claire's background produced nothing new. Why would anyone want her dead?
Nearly time for lunch. He might check on Claire and stop by the café before he installed the alarm.
* * *
A silver BMW stopped at the curb, drawing Claire's attention from the display in the front window. A man in a three-piece suit got out, carrying a briefcase. Lloyd Littlejohn, her lawyer's son. Amused, she crossed to the door and held it open for him. He took himself so seriously. "Hi, Lloyd. It's been awhile."
"Too long. Dad asked me to bring these papers by for your signature. He figured you'd be pretty busy with Christmas." After a brief appreciative glance that made her glad she'd worn the dress—at least someone noticed—he focused on her face.
"Thanks. It's nice of you. Come on back to my office and let me look at them." The perfect man, she thought, handsome, intelligent, ambitious. He'd asked her out several times since her fiancé's hasty departure. At first, she'd been too absorbed in Walt's betrayal to accept, but she really ought to. She remembered her new resolve. Get a life. Maybe after the Christmas season, when she wasn't so busy, and when this other business ended. Riley's rugged face rose in her mind. A mental pinch brought her back to the present. She leaned over to pick up a fallen ornament.
Behind her, Lloyd stumbled and cleared his throat. "What are you doing Saturday night? Why don't we have dinner and maybe take in a movie?"
Surprised by the sudden invitation, she considered, wondered if Riley would be gone from her life by then. If she hadn't invested in the store expansion and been so focused on the shop, she'd have accepted Lloyd's invitations in the fall. Maybe when all this ended.... "I'd love to some other time, but I can't this week."
"Another time. I'll hold you to it." Following her into the office, Lloyd spread the papers on her desk. "This settles the last of the bills. You still have the house."
Claire read through the documents, finding what she expected. The money was gone. She signed where Lloyd indicated and straightened, handed the papers back to him. "How's your mother doing?"
"I think she's getting worse. She gets terribly depressed, and there are more bad days than good. She'll never get over losing Jill. It makes things hard on Dad, but he's learned to live with it after all these years." Lloyd replaced the papers in his briefcase and reached for her hand. "We'll take care of this for you."
She winced and withdrew, then turned away.
"What's wrong? Have you hurt your arm?"
"No, it's my shoulder. Someone mugged me the other night, but I'm fine — just a little sore."
"Mugged? Geez, Claire! I'm sorry. Anything I can do? Did they catch the guy? Could you identify him?" He covered her hand with his.
"No. I didn't see his face. He got away."
"That's terrible. Dad will be upset to hear this. You be careful. You never know
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