Read Online Love Inspired Suspense October 2015 #1 by Lenora Worth, Hope White, Diane Burke - Free Book Online Page A

cute lounge outfit only added to that distraction. She was a petite little dynamo who’d withheld information—good intentions but bad judgment.
    Shouldn’t he hold that against her?
    Yes, he reminded himself. “I need a list of any other acquaintances that might have had a grudge against you or Tessa. Anybody you’d had words with, or had a run-in with.”
    â€œOkay.” She got up and found a pen and paper. “Starting now with you?”
    He ignored her little joke. “Yes, and going back as far as you can remember.”
    â€œI...I don’t think I have any known enemies,” she said. “I work hard and I’ve built up a strong client base around the entire state. I’ve never had a client turn on me, mainly because I’m willing to redo anything that isn’t right or that they don’t like.”
    Blain put down his phone and notebook and decided to try some small talk for a few minutes. “Tell me about your work.”
    She shrugged. “I decorate houses. I like beach themes with a bit of understated elegance. Not too much of any one thing and not too kitschy.”
    â€œYes, too much of any one thing can be dangerous.”
    She pushed at her fringe of bangs and gave him a daring stare. “Or boring.”
    Blain couldn’t imagine anything this woman did as boring. “Could you have seen something or heard something that might put you in danger?”
    â€œI don’t think so.” She hesitated and then added, “But I do deal in a lot of priceless art and antiques.”
    â€œNow we’re getting some ideas,” he said.
    â€œBut murder?” She looked pale and unsettled.
    â€œYes, murder.”
    â€œSo now my career is in jeopardy?”
    He nodded and refocused. “And you’re comfortable financially?”
    Her dark eyebrows winged up in two perfect slants. “Isn’t that a bit too personal?”
    â€œYes. But that’s the point.”
    She shot up off the couch. “You aren’t making any sense, Detective Kent.”
    â€œNone of this makes sense,” Blain countered. “I have to look at every angle. Did someone have a grudge against either of you? Did someone want to steal from either of you or take you hostage in exchange for millions of dollars in ransom? Did you order a priceless antique or doodad that someone wanted? Is this some kind of vendetta against your family? Or Tessa’s? Who would follow you here and kill another woman who looks almost exactly like you? And why?”
    â€œI don’t know,” she said, tears forming in her dark eyes. “I’ve told you over and over that I don’t know. I came here to visit my mother and I also planned to use the time to get my head on straight and finally get over Chad. Tessa wanted to visit with me and have some fun. I...I needed my best friend and so she came.”
    She shrugged, hugged herself as she stood in front of the fire. “That’s all I know. I hoped to get some work done for clients who have summer homes in the area too—mainly to give me something to do that would distract me from all my problems.”
    Blain held firm against her misty gaze and resisted the need to tug her close and comfort her. He didn’t do comfort very well. “I’ll need a list of those client names.”
    â€œMy clients aren’t killers,” she retorted.
    â€œAnyone can become a killer for any kind of reason,” Blain replied. “Anyone.”
    They heard a door open and then a shuffling set of footsteps coming from the hallway from the garage. Blain stood up, prepared for a guard coming to tell him he needed to leave.
    But this man was not a guard.
    â€œWhat’s going on here?” Franco Alvanetti stopped just inside the kitchen, his hostile gaze scorching Blain with disdain.
    Rikki’s gaze locked with Blain’s in what might have been a warning and then she turned to face