Read Online In Harm's Way by Lyn Stone - Free Book Online Page B

asked.
    She lowered herself to the sofa and leaned back. He sat near her, turned sideways, facing her, intent on her answer.
    Robin thought back. “No, that didn’t even occur to me. At first I didn’t realize what had happened. He was lying thereand I saw the blood. So much of it.” She shuddered. “I thought he had fallen and hit his head.”
    â€œGo on,” he encouraged her. “I know this seems repetitive, but it’s very important, Robin. This time I want to hear not only what actually happened, but tell me your feelings. What ran through your mind?”
    She nodded. “I cried out his name as I ran over to him, then knelt down and felt for his pulse. I knew, though. I knew he was dead before I touched him. That…that round hole in his…head. That’s when I saw the gun lying there on the floor and thought he had shot himself. I reached for it without thinking. Then I put it down, horrified. When I glanced up at the room and noticed the wreck someone had made of it, I thought, Not suicide.”
    â€œAnd then?”
    â€œOn hands and knees I scrambled over to the phone, the one on the end table, and dialed 911. My hands were shaking so I could hardly hold on to it. The woman who answered told me to stay on the line, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t just sit there so close to James and see him…I felt sick, but knew I couldn’t leave. I had to wait for the police. So I got up and ran into the bedroom. That’s where I was when they came. They told me to stay where I was. Where you found me.”
    â€œDid you hang up, Robin? Did you replace the receiver on the handset?”
    She concentrated, tried to recall the exact sequence of events. “I don’t think so…no, I just put it down. I think.” She met his frown. “Wouldn’t the police officers know? The ones who came in first?”
    He squeezed her arm gently where he’d been resting his hand on it just above her elbow. “Sure, they can tell me. Could you see the door to the living room from where you were sitting, Robin?”
    â€œI didn’t look back in there,” she admitted. I covered my face with my hands after I sat down. I just couldn’t look.”
    â€œThat’s okay,” he told her softly. “It’s probably best that you didn’t.”
    â€œBut wait,” she said, grasping his sleeve, hardly aware of what she was doing. “I did look, didn’t I? Yes, after you came. Remember when I asked you if they would cover him? I couldn’t see the front door. I’m certain I couldn’t.”
    â€œI don’t want to frighten you more, Robin, but I think someone was still there. The door was closed when the officers arrived.”
    â€œYes,” she said, wide-eyed with fear of what could have happened to her. “Now I remember! The policemen knocked loudly and identified themselves. I called out for them to come in. Oh, God, the murderer was there, wasn’t he? He was still there, hiding, and then left before they arrived!”
    He nodded. “Either behind the door or in the coat closet beside it. I think he left as soon as you went into the other room. And he took your computer and suitcase with him. That disk you have, the one James asked you to bring him? I believe that’s what he thought he would find.”
    She watched as Mitch retrieved her purse and withdrew the plastic case from inside it. He held it up and read the colorful insert. “Classical Interludes?” he said, turning it over in his hand.
    â€œThe disk was in a clear sleeve so it wouldn’t take up so much room in the safety deposit box. I was afraid it might get damaged in my purse so I placed it in that heavy plastic jewel case to protect it. I keep my CDs for the computer files in a folder so I didn’t have any extra cases lying around. I took out a musical one and used that.”
    â€œHe had it in a safety