Read Online E is for Evidence by Sue Grafton - Free Book Online

half on a triangle of whole-wheat toast. “Got any ideas about who set me up?”
    Claudine returned with a cup and saucer and the coffeepot. Darcy judiciously elected to refrain from comment until her cup was filled and mine had been topped off. When Claudine departed, Darcy’s expression turned prim and her coloring altered like a mood ring, shifting down a grade from woeful to glum. Actually, the change was not unappealing. She’s big onpastel shades, imagining, I suppose, that washed-out colors are somehow more flattering to her than bold ones. She wore a pale-yellow sweater about the hue of certain urine samples I’ve seen where the prognosis isn’t keen. The pink in her cheeks gave her back an air of health.
    She leaned forward. “I didn’t do anything to you,” she said.
    â€œGreat. Then maybe you can help.”
    â€œMac told us specifically not to talk to you.”
    â€œHow come?”
    â€œWell, obviously, he doesn’t want you to get information you’re not supposed to have.”
    â€œSuch as?”
    â€œI’m not going to discuss it with you.”
    â€œWhy don’t I tell you my theory,” I said sociably. I half expected her to stick her fingers in her ears and start singing aloud to drown me out, but I noticed that she was not completely uninterested and I took heart from that. “I suspect maybe Andy’s at the bottom of this. I don’t know what he’s getting out of it, but it’s probably some form of financial gain. Maybe somebody’s throwing business his way, or giving him a kickback. Of course, it crossed my mind that it might be you, but I don’t really think so at this point. I think if you’d done it you’d be friendly, to convince me of your goodwill, if nothing else.”
    Darcy opened a paper sugar packet and measuredout half a teaspoon, which she stirred into her coffee. I went right on, talking aloud as if she were a pal of mine and meant to help.
    â€œCFI hires other outside investigators so I’m imagining that any one of us could have been implicated. It was just my dumb luck that I was up at bat. Not that Andy wouldn’t take a certain satisfaction from the fact. He’s never been fond of me and he always hated it that Mac let me have office space. Andy wanted to knock the wall out and take that corner for himself. At any rate, I have to assume Lance Wood is the real focus of the frame, though I don’t know why yet. What I’ll probably do is try working both sides of the street here and just see where all the paths intersect. Should be fun. I’ve never worked for me before and I’m looking forward to it. Cuts down on the paperwork.”
    I checked her reaction. Those pale eyes were focused on mine and I could see that her mental gears were engaged.
    â€œCome on, Darcy. Help me out,” I coaxed. “What do you have to lose?”
    â€œYou don’t even like me.”
    â€œYou don’t like me either. What’s that got to do with it? We both hate Andy.
That’s
the point. The guy’s a shit-heel.”
    â€œActually he is,” she said.
    â€œYou don’t think Mac had anything to do with it, do you?”
    â€œWell, no.”
    â€œSo who else could it be?”
    She cleared her throat. “Andy has been hanging around my desk a lot.”
    Her voice was so low I had to lean forward. “Go on.”
    â€œIt started the day Jewel left on vacation and Mac told him to farm out her work. Andy was the one who suggested you for the Wood/Warren fire claim.”
    â€œHe probably thought it’d be easier to pressure me.”
    Claudine brought Darcy’s OJ and the cherry Danish. Darcy broke the Danish into small pieces, buttering each with care before she popped it in her mouth. Jesus, maybe I’d have one.
    She was just warming up on the subject of Andy Motycka, who was apparently no fonder of her than he was of me. “What