Read Online Last Known Victim by Erica Spindler - Free Book Online

day.
    â€œAnd how did Max, the marvelous salt-and-pepper shih tzu, get out?” Patti asked as she watched the brunette slather butter on a piece of the bread.
    â€œOne guess.”
    â€œRiley,” she said, referring to June’s happy-go-lucky, much younger brother.
    â€œBingo. Left the door ajar.” June laughed. “I swear, he’s the least organized, most scattered—”
    â€œDelightful, darling—”
    â€œâ€”mess of a young man. What was Mother thinking, having another child so late in life! Now I’m stuck with him.”
    Patti grinned. June adored Riley. He was born when she was fifteen—she could have despised him. And from what she had told Patti, she had for years, secretly referring to him as “It” and “Thing.”
    June laughed about it now. How she had resented him. How jealous she had been of the attention her parents had lavished on him.
    She had gone off to university and come home one Christmas break only to fall in love with the curly-haired, bright-eyed four-year-old.
    â€œWhen is he going to grow up?” June asked, buttering another piece of bread. “He’s twenty-seven.”
    â€œMaybe never. If you keep babying him.”
    â€œI do not baby him.”
    Their eyes met and they both laughed. “Okay, so I baby him a little.”
    Patti understood. She tended to exercise her maternal instincts on her nieces and nephews. For June it was more extreme. She had no one but Riley. Her parents were dead, her marriage had fallen apart early on.
    â€œHow’s the gallery doing?” Patti asked, referring to Pieces, the Warehouse District art gallery June had opened in the fall and which Riley helped her run.
    â€œIt’s going well, actually. Riley’s recruited several really talented local artists, and we made enough last month to pay the bills and our salaries.”
    Without dipping into investments and trust funds.
    Neither June nor Riley had to worry about money, but June was too good a businesswoman not to.
    â€œCan you keep a secret?” June asked, eyes twinkling. “Riley convinced Shauna to come on board.”
    Shauna was the baby of the Malone brood, but instead of joining the NOPD, she’d become an artist. And a damn good one at that.
    â€œShe asked him to keep it quiet until she notified her present representation, then she’s going to tell the family herself.”
    It was so like June to share the news, anyway, then expect Patti to do what she couldn’t.
    â€œIt must have taken some coaxing,” Patti murmured as the waitress approached. “She was happy where she was.”
    The server took their order—a seafood salad for June and etouffée for Patti—then June went on, “You know Riley. Offered to take ten percent less commission for the first year. Plus, he appealed to their friendship.”
    Shauna and Riley were close in age, knew each other and had similar interests: art, music, dancing, good food. They had hung out together as teenagers and had remained good friends all these years. Shauna had even had a crush on the slightly older, good-looking Riley at one time.
    June sighed. “I always wished they’d get together. They’d make a handsome couple.”
    â€œThey still might. After all, they’re both still single.” Patti leaned forward. “Although I hear she’s dating someone. An artist she met at an opening at the Contemporary Arts Center.”
    â€œYou don’t sound thrilled.”
    â€œI haven’t met him.”
    June cocked an eyebrow. “Somebody did. And they’re not thrilled.”
    â€œColleen. Said he was moody and controlling.”
    â€œBut we both know your sister can be a bit overprotective of her children.”
    â€œTrue.” Patti changed the subject. “I have news. About Sammy.”
    June laid down her butter knife. “You have a suspect.”
    â€œYes. And no.”