Read Online Don't Close Your Eyes (Stephanie Chalice Thrillers Book 1) by Lawrence Kelter - Free Book Online Page A

waves with her hand. “Bah.” She really seems to like that expression. In any case, it ended the conversation. She got up and pinned the safe deposit key back on her housecoat. “Remember, Stephanie, the green one. Green for money.”
    “I’ll remember.” I couldn’t believe she thought I’d need a color association to remember where the key was pinned. I wonder if she went out and bought the green housecoat specifically for that reason.
    Ma pinched my cheek. “Your father, God rest his soul, worked hard for that money. You start looking for a place for yourself.”
    Okay, and now you can let go of my cheek, please.
    “Men like that sort of thing.”
    “Exactly what sort of thing are you referring to?”
    “Men like women who own their own homes, silly—it shows stability.”
    Really? Men like stable women. I thought the fast and loose type was more popular. “I’d still rather have a boat.”
    “Stephanie!”
    “One of those Sea Rays,” I continued, “with a flying bridge and a sun deck.”
    Ma threw her hands up in disgust and walked back to the dinner table. She muttered, “Wise ass,” as she walked away.
    The spaghetti I had twirled on my fork had hardened into a lump. I bit into it like it was some kind of wheat-source lamb chop. “While we’re giving advice, I’d like to know if I have to toss the place to find your stash of chocolate bars or are you going to turn them over voluntarily?”
    She averted her eyes. “I’ve got one bar.” She almost choked on the London broil. “For emergencies. That’s it.”
    “Come on, Ma. I looked in the medicine cabinet. You’re popping tolbutamide as if they’re Tic-Tacs.”
    Ma put her hands together and raised them toward the ceiling. “Heaven help me,” she prayed, “I’m surrounded by cops. I know the law. You want my Hershey bars? Go get a friggin’ warrant.” It’s funny how parents develop a sense of humor after their children have busted them.
    “You know I’m still having those nightmares. Maybe that emergency room scenario is a result of me worrying about—” I walked up to her and put my hands on her arms. “The world is dangerously low on Chalices. I hope you plan on sticking around a while.”
    “You’re still having those dreams? Go see a doctor. What’s the matter with you?”
    I don’t know. I was hoping the shrink could tell me. “I will.” I meant that I had, but I didn’t want to get into it.
    Ma gave me a playful slap on the cheek. “I’ll be good. Now stop worrying and go finish your dinner. Promise me you’ll see someone about the dreams you’ve been having. My sister Connie used to dream that our mother came down from heaven to visit her. Think there’s anything to that?”
    “No I don’t.”
    “Me neither.”
    “Promise you’ll stop with the chocolate.”
    “Yes, yes, I promise, now go sit down before everything gets cold. And you promise to talk to someone about those crazy dreams. Promise?”
    “Yes, yes, I promise.” It’s easy to keep a promise that you’ve already kept. I’m such a good daughter.
    I had almost made that beef disappear when my phone buzzed. I checked the number. It was Lido. “Excuse me, Ma. It’s my partner.”
    “Ah fannable! ” she swore. “The curse of the police department.”
    “Stephanie, we’ve got another homicide,” Lido said. “I’m on my way now. How long will it take you to get down to Second and Sixty-third? Our perp may be at it again.”
    “There’s a connection? Why? What have you got?”
    “Female Caucasian, found in an elevator, more vague clues.”
    “Sounds like a pattern developing. I’ll be there in twenty minutes. I’ll leave right now.” I wrote down the address and hung up. I looked up. Ma was right in my face.
    “Remember, I told you so. You’ll never have a life. For God’s sake, you can’t even finish your dinner.”
    I was now officially back on the clock and my patience was wearing thin. “I don’t know how to break this