Read Online Foul Play by Janet Evanovich - Free Book Online

openmouthed at Amy in silent accusation.
    Jake saw the color drain from Amy’s face. Her lips compressed into a tight, thin line. He moved close to her, sliding his arm around her shoulder. “Something wrong?”
    â€œThis is Brian Turner,” Amy said. “The innovative station manager who purchases poultry.”
    Turner adjusted his glasses and glowered at Jake. “What’s this woman doing here?”
    Jake didn’t like Turner. He didn’t like the tone of his whiney voice, his shirt, or the part in his limp, dun-colored hair. Jake didn’t like him because he had fired Amy. And he sure didn’t like the way he had just referred to her as “this woman.” In fact, Jake disliked Turner so much, if there hadn’t been four police officers present, he’d have given him instant rhinoplasty.
    â€œThis woman works for me,” Jake said in a tone that implied a much longer sentence. The longer sentence would have gone something like: This woman works for me, you no-taste little twit, and if you say one more word I’m going to run you right out of here.
    Turner stepped backward and wheeled toward the brunette. “You’re kidding! You left that rooster in the hands of Lulu the Clown!”
    The brunette opened her eyes wide. “I didn’t know.”
    Another volley of flashes went off, this time directed at Amy.
    â€œAre you taking this down?” Turner asked the nearest cop. “Lulu the Clown had every reason to hate Rhode Island Red. She lost her job to him…”
    The man with the minicam switched on his battery pack. The reporter from the news grinned at Amy. “Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. You were replaced by a chicken?” He turned to Jake. “And you hired Lulu the Clown to take care of him?”
    A belligerent look came into Jake’s eyes. “No, she was replaced by a rooster.”
    Brian Turner elbowed his way through the crowd. “I think this looks very suspicious. I’m not usually one to point fingers, but I want that rooster back, and Ithink Lulu the Clown knows where he is. I think she should be interrogated or searched, or something.”
    Jake reached toward Turner, accidentally jostling Amy. The food basket slipped from her hand and landed with a loud thunk on the floor. Amy bent to retrieve it, removing the lid to make sure her pie plate hadn’t broken.
    Everyone in the room stared at the clear plastic container of soup nestled next to a tray of biscuits.
    Turner’s face turned white. “Wait a second…is that…That’s chicken soup!” he gasped. “I know chicken soup when I see it!”
    Amy narrowed her eyes. “That’s right. It’s chicken soup. So what?”
    â€œSo, it could be rooster soup,” Turner said.
    One of the reporters made a gagging sound. The police officers looked horrified.
    Amy glared at Turner. “Rooster soup? That does it! You bullied me off the set without even letting me say good-bye to my viewers, and I couldn’t do anything aboutit, but you’re not going to bully me here.” She poked her finger into his chest for emphasis.
    â€œListen up, mister, I’m a decent human being, and I don’t cook chickens that don’t belong to me. And what’s more—”
    Turner jumped away from her. “Look at this,” he shouted. “She’s out of control. She’s made soup out of my television star. She should be locked up. Arrested for…um—”
    â€œRustling?” someone offered with a snicker.
    â€œHow about beaking and entering?”
    Jake made a great pretense of looking at his watch. “Time to do veterinary business, gentlemen,” he said. “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave now.” Reporters and photographers made no attempt to stifle their chuckles as they packed up their equipment. The police smiled and mumbled polite good-byes. The