Read Online Double Black Diamond (Mercy Watts Mysteries) by A.W. Hartoin - Free Book Online Page B

 
    “OMG,” I said, starting for him.  
    Rory walked off and tossed, “Have fun, Mrs. Nye,” over his shoulder.  
    When I got to Pete, he was dragging himself up the railing, his legs all cattywampus, like a young giraffe just learning to walk. His feet hit another ice patch, they went out, and he landed with a thump.  
    “Are you okay?” I squatted next to him.  
    “Sure.” Pete looked at me like he didn’t know why I was asking such a question and sitting on the ice was what he intended to do. Men are so weird. I glanced up to see a very athletic Rory take a left into the village.  
    “Look what I got you.” He held out a Chocolove dark chocolate bar with almonds and sea salt.  
    I kissed him so hard and fast that his head bonked against the railing, but he didn’t complain.  
    “What was that for?” he asked.  
    “For being practically perfect in every way,” I said, hauling him to his feet.  
    “Funny. That’s what I always say about you.”  
    We started for the steps and Pete winced.  
    “Ankle?”  
    “I think I sprained it.”
    I looped his arm around my shoulder and felt something heavy on my toe.  
    “Don’t look down,” said Pete. “Just walk.”  
    “That dog’s peeing on my suede boot, isn’t she?”  
    I didn’t look. I booted Wallace off my foot and half-dragged Pete back to the condo where I could unload that damn dog on her owner. If I’d known what was awaiting me, I wouldn’t have hurried.  

Chapter Six

    I smelled it the second we got off the elevator. I can only describe it as wrongness. My so-called partner, Aaron, was an incredible cook and he’d been improving my palate. That smell would’ve made Aaron gag. It also would’ve made him cook, which is a great thing as long as he isn’t making crab. I hate crab. We made it down the corridor with Wallace nipping at my boot fur and barking at me. I didn’t kick, not once. Mainly because I had a witness, but also because after she’s barked at you six thousand times you start to tune it out.  
    I was about to say, “What is that god-awful smell?” when the door flung open. Nancy stood there with a red-coated spoon and the ultimate smell of wrongness billowing out behind her.  
    “Where have you been?” she asked. “Dinner’s ready.”
    Oh my god!
    “I fell, Mom,” said Pete. “Don’t make a big—”
    Nancy screeched, snatched Pete away from me, and literally carried him into the condo. I watched with my mouth hanging open. She carried him like it was nothing and Pete weighs 160 pounds. I could barely take him leaning on me. This must be that hysterical strength that you hear about on the news. Of course this was a sprained ankle, not a screaming child trapped under a Buick.  
    Nancy was in the condo, yelling about ice, and Wallace made a gagging sound next to my foot. I totally expected her to barf on top of the pee, but she didn’t. Nancy had dropped her spoon and the stink dog had taken a lick. Wallace regretted it, by the looks of it. She sneezed and made horking noises. I picked up the spoon and sniffed. As I feared, Nancy’s dinner was the source of the smell, but I still couldn’t quite figure out what it was on that spoon. Some sort of tomato sauce with a hint of fishiness and something else, kind of chemically.  
    “Mercy!” yelled Nancy.  
    “Coming.” I trotted in with Wallace, who was now in a full-fledged sneezing fit.  
    I found Pete on the sofa, wrapped in three blankets. He blushed when he saw me. “I’m okay, Mom, really.”  
    Wallace broke away from me and ran to her water bowl. Calvin came up beside me. “You’ll just have to put up with it, son. You’re still your mother’s baby.”  
    “Don’t be so glib, Calvin,” said Nancy. “Look at this.” She lifted a towel filled with ice off of Pete’s ankle, and I have to say, it looked completely normal. Red from the cold, but that was it.  
    I took off my coat and boots and went over to inspect Pete’s