Read Online Dust to Dust by Heather Graham - Free Book Online Page B

“But if you see him again, I want to talk to him,” Blake said. “Before he gets himself dead, too.”
    Dead, too.
    Melanie froze for a moment, but Blake didn’t notice. He shook his head and went on, “And suppose you killed someone, saving someone else? People have gone up on murder charges for that, you know.”
    He hadn’t meant anything by that turn of phrase, she told herself, then let out a breath. “I still say we can’t turn a blind eye to violence.”
    â€œMissy—” Blake began, but the door opened then, the little bells above it jingling.
    Against the falling afternoon sun, she could see the silhouette of a tall man in a leather motorcycle jacket. He stepped inside, but she already knew that Lucien DeVeau had arrived. She had known him forever, andit was easy to recognize his silhouette. Strange, she thought. She would know the silhouette of the man she had met the night before just as certainly. His height, his lean build, the way he had of standing…she would recognize him a mile away.
    â€œHello there, my friend,” Lucien said, smiling at Melanie and nodding an acknowledgment to Blake.
    â€œLucien!” She hurried around the counter to give him a hug, then turned quickly to make introductions. “Blake, this is my old friend Lucien DeVeau, from New Orleans.”
    â€œHello,” Blake said. She could hear the curious pleasure in the tone of his voice. Blake was always trying to set her up with someone.
    He suddenly arched a suspicious brow that silently asked, Tall and dark—is this the guy from last night?
    She shook her head at Blake, then said aloud, “Lucien is married to my good friend Jade.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Blake,” Lucien said.
    Blake cocked his head to the side. “So what are you? Old college friends?”
    Melanie laughed. “Something like that.”
    â€œWell, friendship is good,” Blake said.
    Melanie thought he sounded disappointed that Lucien wasn’t a romantic prospect, not to mention that he wasn’t the mysterious stranger from the night before.
    â€œAlways good to know a cop,” Lucien said. “And be friends with one. Have you met Mel’s friend Maggie? Her husband, Sean, flew out here with me, and he’s a cop back home,” Lucien said.
    â€œCool, I’ll have to meet him,” Blake said.
    â€œYes, you will,” Melanie agreed, then pointed to the dog, “And that’s Bruno,” she told Lucien.
    â€œHello, Bruno,” Lucien said.
    â€œHave you seen Maggie yet?” Melanie asked him.
    â€œShe and Sean…are off somewhere together. She sent me here. She said you’d probably close up early.”
    â€œYeah. I have a couple of college kids who usually run the shop on Saturdays, but after the earthquake, I called them this morning and told them to tend to their own problems,” Melanie said.
    â€œAnd since there was an earthquake, I think it’s okay if you close now. What do you think?” Lucien asked.
    Lucien wasn’t being rude, but Blake Reynaldo could take a hint before it was a hint. “Nice to meet you, Lucien. See ya, Melanie.” Bruno let out a deep, soulful wolf as if echoing his master’s words. “Melanie, don’t forget what I was saying to you, you hear?”
    â€œI won’t forget, Blake,” Melanie assured him.
    He left, and she turned to see Lucien staring at her firmly. “So?”
    â€œCome on,” she protested. “You just got to California. What’s the so? Maggie’s more concerned than I am.”
    â€œI understand you’re suddenly drawing like a pro.”
    â€œI can’t believe Maggie encouraged you to come out here because of that,” Melanie said.
    â€œAfter I dreamed that earthquake, I planned on coming before I ever talked to Maggie. Let’s go someplace where we can talk. Maggie and Sean can meet up with