Read Online Designed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn - Free Book Online

ignored my movements and looked away to give me the independence I demanded at pretty much all times.
    Why had Belinda decided to show up at the store so late at night? I didn’t know what was so important she couldn’t wait until Monday morning when we reopened, or ask us today at church if we could let her into the store.
    An evil thought slithered into my mind and I tried to stop it. I really did. What if Belinda had snuck over to do something that would hurt the store or my family? What if the cousins had decided to open up their own store?
    Then why ruin their reputation by having the truth known about Belinda’s cheating in such a dramatic fashion?
    Cold air rushed through the waiting room. Karen England pranced through the emergency room door. Her boots clicked across the linoleum as she made a beeline to the nurse’s station. She licked her lips, eyes growing wide as she craned her neck to catch a glimpse of whoever sobbed.
    Karen pointed to the examination rooms. “I’m here to see a friend.”
    The nurse glared at Karen. “Your friend’s name.”
    “I hear her.” Karen dabbed at her cheeks with the ends of her silk scarf. “Please, she needs me.”
    So, Karen knew something happened tonight but not the actual what. Steve had only said there was an injured person behind Scrap This. He deliberately gave sketchy details knowing too many people found a way to monitor the dispatcher’s calls.
    “Her name and yours.” The nurse rose and pressed her hands on the counter. The nurse stood at almost six-feet, lithe, and had well-defined muscles.
    Karen drew back and flicked a glance in my direction. Her eyes narrowed.
    I hope she didn’t think I was honing in on her territory and trying to get into the news business. She hadn’t realized yet I wasn’t the story kind of gal. Once you had been “a story” you weren’t so keen on creating any for someone else.
    At least not deliberately.
    “I’m Karen England. I demand you let me go and comfort my friend.” She prepared to charge forward.
    “And I’m telling you to sit in the waiting room.”
    Karen swept her hair over her shoulder and tilted up her chin. “Or you’ll call security to throw me out?”
    The nurse looked Karen up and down, an I’ll-love-doing-this smile stretching her model perfect lips. “I don’t need security.”
    “I should go offer some help.” Steve slapped his hands onto his thighs then stood.
    Drat. I’d rather he let the women work it out. I was rooting for the nurse.
    “May I be of some assistance, ladies?” Steve walked smoothly between the two women and offered both a smile.
    The nurse narrowed her eyes on Steve. “I don’t need a man to handle this problem for me.”
    I liked her. I wondered if she’d think it was weird if I asked for her name and phone number. My grandmothers didn’t think I hung out with friends often enough and this woman sounded like someone I’d get along with really well.
    “I’d love your help Assistant Prosecutor Steve Davis. This nurse doesn’t understand how important it is I go back there.” With each word, Karen walked her fingers up from Steve’s stomach to his nose. She ended the sentence by bopping her finger on his nose.
    I gripped the armrests on the chair to stop myself from walking over and bopping Karen on her own nose. I watched Steve’s reaction carefully. Was he as offended as I was by Karen?
    He had his “courtroom” face on. My stomach clenched a little. I didn’t know if that was good or bad. Was Steve hiding his reaction from me or Karen? Which one of us was he afraid of ticking off?
    The nurse rolled her eyes. “I don’t care if he’s the governor of West Virginia. Only family and friends who the patients have requested will be permitted in the back.”
    “Steve?” Karen batted her eyelashes up at him.
    “Those are the hospital’s rules. They must be followed.” Steve said. “If you must speak to someone, you can either wait...”
    I cleared my