Read Online Death of a Chorus Girl (The Delacroix Series Book 1) by P. M. Briede - Free Book Online
Authors: P. M. Briede
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my chest. She feels so fragile in my arms. I shift to push her away when I recognize the liberty that I’ve taken, but her arms slide around me in return. I freeze, unsure what to do, leaving it to her to set the stage for the rest of our time together. “How long has it been?” I whisper in a weak voice.
“Almost ten years.” My chest muffles her broken voice, and the sad sound breaks my heart.
“You know it wasn’t your fault, right?”
Her head turns to the side but remains pressed against me. “I know that now, but when you’re eighteen it’s a hard pill to swallow. If they hadn’t been visiting me, they wouldn’t have been on the road and they wouldn’t have been behind the semi. I’m sure you know how your mind runs away with you and convinces you you’re to blame.”
I do. I was the patrol officer my father shoved out of the way when the gunman ran out of a room I hadn’t cleared as thoroughly as required. I don’t admit that to her, though. I am culpable in my own father’s demise. It’s a demon I live with every day.
I don’t realize my fingers are combing through her hair until her body shivers against mine. Her scent wafts into my nostrils and I breathe her in deeply. “Thank you for sharing your tragedy with me,” she says. “It’s nice to know someone who actually does understand the pain of losing a loving parent.” In an instant, she is out of my reach and looking poignantly at me. “But you came here with questions.”
We move to the loveseat on the opposing wall and sit on opposite ends. I compare myself to her and feel like a slob. She sits perfectly straight, with her legs crossed at the ankles as she slightly leans in towards me. It is obvious that she does so without thinking. I, on the other hand, slouch over my own legs, elbows resting on my knees with my hands clasped between them, shoulders sagging. She is poise and refinement. I am not. You’re never going to be enough for her.
“Is there anything more you can tell me about Annie’s romantic life?” I start. “Some of the other chorus members mentioned she was dating some guy.”
Em pauses as her long neck tilts her head into that thoughtful posture I am beginning to adore. “You already know I don’t know who Annie was seeing. But it wouldn’t surprise me if it were one of our investors.”
This is a new lead. “How so?”
Em frowns. I can see her mind trying to structure her response. “A lot of our chorus girls end up getting involved with our investors, most of whom are not single. I guess it would be true of any workplace though. When fishing gets too expensive or time-consuming to get something fresh, you just pick up whatever is available at the store closest to you. For that reason, I wouldn’t be surprised if she got involved with a married investor who didn’t want his name tied to gossip fodder about their affair.”
“Any particular fishermen come to mind?”
A pinch of her lips and a crinkle in her brow voice that we are reaching an area she isn’t comfortable discussing. “What happens if I name names?”
I understand what she’s getting at. It isn’t a secret how helpful and open she’s been with both my partner and myself. If we end up arresting someone off information she gives me, it could be the end of her career. “You don’t have to give them to me if you don’t want to.” I carefully place a hand on the silk of her dress that is resting on her knee. Her eyes dart to my hand and a slight smile curls the corners of her mouth.
Em shakes her head and places her hand on top of mine. My heart skips a beat. “It’s not that I don’t want too. I just don’t want to shine suspicion on anyone who doesn’t deserve it. It’s not fair, especially since I don’t even know for certain who Annie was seeing.” It makes perfect sense and more than that, I respect her for it. “But I can offer
“Almost ten years.” My chest muffles her broken voice, and the sad sound breaks my heart.
“You know it wasn’t your fault, right?”
Her head turns to the side but remains pressed against me. “I know that now, but when you’re eighteen it’s a hard pill to swallow. If they hadn’t been visiting me, they wouldn’t have been on the road and they wouldn’t have been behind the semi. I’m sure you know how your mind runs away with you and convinces you you’re to blame.”
I do. I was the patrol officer my father shoved out of the way when the gunman ran out of a room I hadn’t cleared as thoroughly as required. I don’t admit that to her, though. I am culpable in my own father’s demise. It’s a demon I live with every day.
I don’t realize my fingers are combing through her hair until her body shivers against mine. Her scent wafts into my nostrils and I breathe her in deeply. “Thank you for sharing your tragedy with me,” she says. “It’s nice to know someone who actually does understand the pain of losing a loving parent.” In an instant, she is out of my reach and looking poignantly at me. “But you came here with questions.”
We move to the loveseat on the opposing wall and sit on opposite ends. I compare myself to her and feel like a slob. She sits perfectly straight, with her legs crossed at the ankles as she slightly leans in towards me. It is obvious that she does so without thinking. I, on the other hand, slouch over my own legs, elbows resting on my knees with my hands clasped between them, shoulders sagging. She is poise and refinement. I am not. You’re never going to be enough for her.
“Is there anything more you can tell me about Annie’s romantic life?” I start. “Some of the other chorus members mentioned she was dating some guy.”
Em pauses as her long neck tilts her head into that thoughtful posture I am beginning to adore. “You already know I don’t know who Annie was seeing. But it wouldn’t surprise me if it were one of our investors.”
This is a new lead. “How so?”
Em frowns. I can see her mind trying to structure her response. “A lot of our chorus girls end up getting involved with our investors, most of whom are not single. I guess it would be true of any workplace though. When fishing gets too expensive or time-consuming to get something fresh, you just pick up whatever is available at the store closest to you. For that reason, I wouldn’t be surprised if she got involved with a married investor who didn’t want his name tied to gossip fodder about their affair.”
“Any particular fishermen come to mind?”
A pinch of her lips and a crinkle in her brow voice that we are reaching an area she isn’t comfortable discussing. “What happens if I name names?”
I understand what she’s getting at. It isn’t a secret how helpful and open she’s been with both my partner and myself. If we end up arresting someone off information she gives me, it could be the end of her career. “You don’t have to give them to me if you don’t want to.” I carefully place a hand on the silk of her dress that is resting on her knee. Her eyes dart to my hand and a slight smile curls the corners of her mouth.
Em shakes her head and places her hand on top of mine. My heart skips a beat. “It’s not that I don’t want too. I just don’t want to shine suspicion on anyone who doesn’t deserve it. It’s not fair, especially since I don’t even know for certain who Annie was seeing.” It makes perfect sense and more than that, I respect her for it. “But I can offer
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