Read Online Dial Emmy for Murder by Eileen Davidson - Free Book Online Page B

okay.”
    “I’m fine, Jakes,” I said. “I’m fine.”
    “You don’t sound fine. What’s going on?”
    “Nothing, just tired . . .”
    “Look, I know something’s been eating at you for quite a while . . . besides murder. I’m trying to give you your space, but I can tell from the tone of your voice something is going on and it’s not good!”
    I was quiet and then I relented. “You’re right. Something is going on but I don’t want to get into right now. Maybe another time?”
    “Yeah, of course. But are you okay for the night?”
    “Yeah, definitely. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bright and early on my way to work.”
    “Good,” he said. “Bring coffee. The stuff we make here is awful.”
    He hung up before I could ask him how he liked his.
     
    I was ready for bed later when I picked up the phone and dialed on a whim.
    “Hello?”
    “George, it’s Alex.”
    “Alex, sweetie,” he said. “Are you all right?”
    “Yeah, I’m good.” I was, in fact, not good at all, but I needed to hear a friendly voice. “I just wanted to thank you for that snappy ring tone. Very funny. And tasteful.”
    “I thought it was appropriate for you under the circumstances.” He laughed. “By the way, how’s that going for you?”
    “I don’t know, George,” I said. “I think I might be in trouble.”
    “What kind of trouble, hon?”
    I told him about my afternoon with Detective Frank Jakes.
    “And?” he said when I finished.
    “What do you mean, and?”
    “Well, did he kiss you?”
    “No, he didn’t kiss me.”
    “Honey, how can you be in trouble if he didn’t kiss you?” he asked. “It sounds like the two of you spent the afternoon around a dead body, talking about other dead bodies. When are you going to get to the good stuff?”
    “I don’t want to rush anything!”
    “Rush anything? This has been simmering for over a year! Would you just kiss him already?”
    “Maybe I should wait for him to kiss me . . . ?”
    “He kissed you first last year! It’s your turn! Or whatever! Someone kiss someone already! Call me back when you’re really in trouble!”
    “All right! I get it. Good night!” I hung up and just lay there for a minute. Had I always been so inept with men? Yes, I believe so. I snapped off the light and hugged my pillow.
     
    When I was shown into the squad room the next morning, Jakes was sitting in his shirtsleeves at his desk, a grim look on his face.
    “Don’t tell me,” I said, putting the bag down on his desk and fishing out a container. “You thought I’d forget the coffee.”
    He leaned forward, snagged it and pried the lid off.
    “Good,” he said. “Black, the way I like it.”
    I took the second container out for me and sat down opposite him. “So, why the long face?”
    “New developments.”
    “Like what?”
    He touched the computer on the stand next to his desk and said, “Stupid fucking machine. We put the MOs of these two killings in here, and what do you think popped out?”
    I felt oddly privileged to be on the inside, sitting in Parker Center, across from Jakes, being let in on new developments in the case. I looked around but didn’t see Jakes’s partner anywhere. I did see several other men watching us, though.
    “Don’t mind them,” Jakes said, as if reading my mind. “They’ve never seen a real live diva this close up before. They’re jealous.”
    “Diva? Why diva? I’m an actress , for Christ’s sake. Just when I was starting to like you!” I had a thing about being called a diva . . . obviously.
    “Sorry. Jeez. Actress. They’ve never seen a real live actress!” He leaned forward. “Anyway, the computer kicked out four other cases where the MO is similar. Now I’ve got to follow up and see just how similar they really are.”
    “Sounds like a lot of work.”
    “Lots of footwork,” he said. “That’s why I get the big bucks, though.”
    “What about the women?” I asked. “The names I gave you? And Shayne Weaver?”
    “The