Read Online Lark by Richard; Forrest - Free Book Online Page B

of the men get jobs in store security.”
    â€œAnd bust teeny-bopper shoplifters all day.”
    Her face flushed with anger. “You know, you’re full of it. Why am I wasting my time with a man who’s such a goddamn crybaby? You feel sorry for yourself, Lark. You wallow in self-pity, and I’m tired of it.”
    â€œThen leave,” he said softly as he stared into his beer.
    â€œIt’s not that simple. I’ve given you years of my life.”
    â€œMonths would be closer to the truth. Christ, you’re melodramatic tonight.”
    â€œYou bring out the bitch in me.”
    â€œNo wonder your husband left you.”
    She stared at him with wide eyes. “At least he didn’t blow his head off.”
    He moved without thought. His body catapulted across the room as his hands automatically balled into fists. His hand lashed out to be deflected at the last possible moment by a massive surge of will. “I almost lost control.”
    â€œDo you want to hit me?”
    He took two backward steps. “I almost did.”
    â€œYou know, Lark, one of these days you aren’t going to stop.”
    He slumped down on the divan. “You know all the wrong buttons to press.”
    â€œYou’re not a bad button-presser yourself.” She turned and ran from the trailer.
    He heard her car-starter engine whine and whine again. Her engine started, coughed, and died. He went to the doorway. “You’ve flooded it.”
    â€œScrew you!” She jammed her foot down on the accelerator.
    â€œWait.”
    â€œUp yours.” The engine caught and she threw the car in gear.
    Lark ran into the car’s path and stood before it with his hands stretched toward its nose. “I want you to hear something.”
    â€œI’m tired of insults.” She jammed on the brakes only feet from him. “Out of the way.”
    He walked over to the driver’s door, opened it, and gently put a hand on her shoulder. “There’s something you should know. It might explain something about me. Come with me.”
    â€œYou take me anywhere, Lark, and I warn you, I’ll scream the whole bloody way. When you stop for a traffic light, I’ll jump out and yell rape.”
    â€œGonna call the cops?” He tried to smile.
    â€œYou know it. You almost hit me.”
    â€œCome.” His voice was cold and authoritative. She looked at him a moment and then slowly climbed from her car and followed him to the pickup.
    â€œI’m not in the mood for a beer in one of your dives.”
    â€œThis is something else.”
    Lark parked in front of a fire hydrant at police headquarters and firmly took her elbow and led her into the building.
    Faby broke from his grip and approached the amused desk sergeant. “This man has me prisoner.”
    â€œSo, what else is new?” the sergeant asked.
    â€œI demand a cop.”
    Lt. Horn came out of the watch commander’s office and looked at Faby with disinterest. “What’s coming down, Lark?”
    â€œI picked her up for soliciting.”
    Horn looked displeased. “Book her,” he said as he returned to his office.
    â€œYou want me to start paper going?” the sergeant asked.
    â€œGot to interview her first,” Lark said as he led her to the elevator.
    â€œYou know, Lark,” Faby said in a loud voice as the elevator doors began to shut, “you’re going to have one hell of a time explaining this to those guys at our engagement party.”
    â€œLots of cops fall for perps.”
    The elevator rocked to a stop and the doors opened. “My office is third on the left.”
    She stalked ahead of him. “I don’t know what I’m doing here or what kind of games you have in mind. Maybe handcuffs in the back room?”
    â€œFunny.” He followed her into the office and motioned to the desk chair. He took out the cassette player and placed the earphone in her ear.