Read Online Dead Giveaway by Brenda Novak - Free Book Online Page A

working on Barker’s disappearance.”
    After hitting a final key, he pushed away from his desk, and the printer whirred into action. As it pumped out the document he’d just created, Allie could see that it was a letter to the mayor; she hoped it explained the lack of evidence against Clay Montgomery. But she didn’t retrieve it for her father. “I don’t understand,” she said.
    He met her gaze. “What’s not to understand?”
    â€œYou used to be as interested in this as I am.”
    Scowling, he yanked on his coat. “I’ve put the past behind me. The rest of this town should do the same.”
    â€œDad, they’ve lost a friend, a family member, a neighbor. And they don’t know why.”
    â€œThey’re out to pin it on someone whether he’s guilty or not.”
    Allie felt her irritation increase. “If we solve the case, we solve the problem.”
    â€œMaybe some cases are better left unsolved,” he grumbled.
    â€œWhat?”
    He didn’t answer. “I’m beat. I’m heading home.”
    Allie watched him sign the mayor’s letter, put it in the out-box and cross to the door. For a moment, she thought he was going to leave without saying goodbye. But then he turned back. “How about keeping things quiet tonight?” he said and tossed her a tired grin.
    Allie forced a smile. “Be careful, Dad. It’s ugly outside.”
    He paused to shake out his umbrella. “Where’s that damn Hendricks?” he asked, consulting his watch.
    Allie shrugged. “Late, as usual.”
    â€œWorthless,” he muttered. Then he opened the door and the wind blew into the room, smelling of rain.
    Allie used the coffee cup he’d been drinking from to keep his papers from scattering to the floor. At first she was so preoccupied with trying to make sense of her father’s uncharacteristic responses— some cases are better left unsolved? —that she wasn’t really seeing what was in front of her. But a moment later, her eyes focused on the cup she’d just moved. It had a teddy bear on it and said, “Life would be un-bear-able without you.”
    Life would be un-bear-able without you? Frowning, shepicked it up to take a closer look. Where had her father gotten this? Her mother always chose plain, masculine items for Dale, and elegant, classy things for herself. Allie couldn’t remember ever seeing cutesy objects like this in her parents’ house. And it wasn’t the type of cup a man, especially Dale, would purchase for himself….
    She glanced over at the coffeemaker and the odd assortment of cups that accumulated there. Who knew where any of them came from? she thought, and carried the cup to the sink.

4
    â€œT here you are.”
    Allie twisted to see Officer Hendricks standing in the doorway of the storage closet, rubbing his giant belly as if he had indigestion. It wouldn’t have surprised Allie if he did. He ate more than anyone she’d ever known; he had a grease stain on his collar right now.
    â€œWhat ya workin’ on?” he asked, hooking his thumbs into his belt and leaning against the doorjamb.
    That was rather obvious since she was sitting on the floor with the Barker files spread out in front of her. But, contrary to what a police uniform generally signified, Hendricks wasn’t known for his deductive reasoning. “I’m searching for leads on the Barker case,” she replied.
    â€œLeads?” He scowled. “Why? We already know the devil who did it.”
    â€œWe do?” She arched a sardonic eyebrow at him.
    He reacted by scratching the top of his head, where his thinning blond hair had been reduced to a mere three or four strands. “Shoot, you’re the one who took Beth Ann’s statement.”
    â€œAnd you can prove what she’s saying is true?”
    â€œJust because we can’t prove Clay’s the one, doesn’t