Read Online Legacy of the Highlands by Harriet Schultz - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Harriet Schultz
Ads: Link
tirade.
“It’s easier if I have someone to be mad at, to blame, you know?
And since it looks like this guy is never going to be caught…I
guess I’m it.”
“Come home, sweetie. Maybe if you get back to
a normal routine it’ll help. You could go back to work or start a
business or something to occupy that sharp mind of yours. I know
you don’t have to work, but...”
“I’ll think about it and believe me, I know
I’m lucky not to have to worry about money, but bottom line? I
don’t want to come back yet. I’m in a very luxurious, secure cocoon
and I think I’ll stay a while.”
“Define ‘a while’.”
“Maybe a week...maybe even a month. I don’t
know. By the way, I’m very grateful that David stays in touch with
the police. O’Shea called today with a routine question and it
freaked me out.”
“David says the cops are surprised that the
Camerons haven’t used their influence to apply pressure on the
investigators. O’Shea is going to talk to Will’s parents
again.”
“Does he think they have something to do with
it?”
“David didn’t get that impression, just that
in a high profile case like this O’Shea expected the brass to lean
on him to solve it quickly. Will’s parents couldn’t be covering up
something, could they?”
“No, of course not. They adored him, but it’s
odd that John isn’t on the phone with the Mayor or even the
Governor every day. He has access. I wonder why he doesn’t use it.
But enough about my in-laws.” Alex rubbed her eyes and yawned. “
Look, France, I’m wiped out and I’ve got a big day of shopping
ahead of me. This time I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve
got nothing to wear!”
“Retail therapy is almost as effective as
drugs or chocolate so give your AmEx a good workout. Sleep well,
sweetie…and call me!”
“Don’t worry. I will. Give my love to David,
and tell him to give you a big hug and a smoochy kiss from me.
Bye.”
David had been listening to Francie’s side of the
conversation and was now watching his wife intently from their
canopied bed in a room bedecked with enough frou-frou floral prints
to double as a Laura Ashley shop. She raised both palms in a
gesture of bewilderment and shook her head from side to side.
“I don’t know what’s going on with her. She
still blames herself for what happened. You saw what a mess she was
and now…she says the change of scenery was good for her and she
wants to stay in Miami indefinitely. This isn’t like Alex. She’s
usually so strong and rational.”
David wasn’t going to offer his opinion on
this subject without an invitation.
After a few minutes of silence, Francie
raised her eyes to him. “Aren’t you going to say anything? I’m
worried about her. She wouldn’t do anything stupid like hurt
herself, would she?” Alex’s hasty departure and her guilt about
Will’s death, combined with John Cameron’s sudden interest in her,
were troubling.
“No. Alex isn’t the suicide type, she’s a
survivor,” said David. “Maybe it was smart for her to start the
healing process in a place she doesn’t associate with Will.” He
paused, took a breath and dove into the deep end. “Don’t jump down
my throat, but sometimes I think she’s right to believe that she’s
partly responsible for what happened to Will.”
“What!” Francie snapped, hands on hips and an
edge in her voice.
“Well,” he began then hesitated.
“David, you better tell me what you mean if
you expect to get any sleep tonight.”
“Okay. I’ve walked from their apartment to
that market with Will lots of times. He never went through that
alley. He never even considered it. He always stuck to the street.
He liked to watch the people. I think she’s right that she put the
idea about the shortcut in his head that night. No guy is going to
take his time when he knows his woman is naked and waiting for him
at home.”
Francie seemed uncharacteristically calm as
she sat down in an
“It’s easier if I have someone to be mad at, to blame, you know?
And since it looks like this guy is never going to be caught…I
guess I’m it.”
“Come home, sweetie. Maybe if you get back to
a normal routine it’ll help. You could go back to work or start a
business or something to occupy that sharp mind of yours. I know
you don’t have to work, but...”
“I’ll think about it and believe me, I know
I’m lucky not to have to worry about money, but bottom line? I
don’t want to come back yet. I’m in a very luxurious, secure cocoon
and I think I’ll stay a while.”
“Define ‘a while’.”
“Maybe a week...maybe even a month. I don’t
know. By the way, I’m very grateful that David stays in touch with
the police. O’Shea called today with a routine question and it
freaked me out.”
“David says the cops are surprised that the
Camerons haven’t used their influence to apply pressure on the
investigators. O’Shea is going to talk to Will’s parents
again.”
“Does he think they have something to do with
it?”
“David didn’t get that impression, just that
in a high profile case like this O’Shea expected the brass to lean
on him to solve it quickly. Will’s parents couldn’t be covering up
something, could they?”
“No, of course not. They adored him, but it’s
odd that John isn’t on the phone with the Mayor or even the
Governor every day. He has access. I wonder why he doesn’t use it.
But enough about my in-laws.” Alex rubbed her eyes and yawned. “
Look, France, I’m wiped out and I’ve got a big day of shopping
ahead of me. This time I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve
got nothing to wear!”
“Retail therapy is almost as effective as
drugs or chocolate so give your AmEx a good workout. Sleep well,
sweetie…and call me!”
“Don’t worry. I will. Give my love to David,
and tell him to give you a big hug and a smoochy kiss from me.
Bye.”
David had been listening to Francie’s side of the
conversation and was now watching his wife intently from their
canopied bed in a room bedecked with enough frou-frou floral prints
to double as a Laura Ashley shop. She raised both palms in a
gesture of bewilderment and shook her head from side to side.
“I don’t know what’s going on with her. She
still blames herself for what happened. You saw what a mess she was
and now…she says the change of scenery was good for her and she
wants to stay in Miami indefinitely. This isn’t like Alex. She’s
usually so strong and rational.”
David wasn’t going to offer his opinion on
this subject without an invitation.
After a few minutes of silence, Francie
raised her eyes to him. “Aren’t you going to say anything? I’m
worried about her. She wouldn’t do anything stupid like hurt
herself, would she?” Alex’s hasty departure and her guilt about
Will’s death, combined with John Cameron’s sudden interest in her,
were troubling.
“No. Alex isn’t the suicide type, she’s a
survivor,” said David. “Maybe it was smart for her to start the
healing process in a place she doesn’t associate with Will.” He
paused, took a breath and dove into the deep end. “Don’t jump down
my throat, but sometimes I think she’s right to believe that she’s
partly responsible for what happened to Will.”
“What!” Francie snapped, hands on hips and an
edge in her voice.
“Well,” he began then hesitated.
“David, you better tell me what you mean if
you expect to get any sleep tonight.”
“Okay. I’ve walked from their apartment to
that market with Will lots of times. He never went through that
alley. He never even considered it. He always stuck to the street.
He liked to watch the people. I think she’s right that she put the
idea about the shortcut in his head that night. No guy is going to
take his time when he knows his woman is naked and waiting for him
at home.”
Francie seemed uncharacteristically calm as
she sat down in an
Similar Books
