Read Online Murder for Bid by Susan Furlong Bolliger - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Susan Furlong Bolliger
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Phillipena O’Brien. The nerve! How could you intrude on someone’s vulnerability like this? The man’s burying his wife today!”
“Take it easy, Sheila.” Greg Davis’s voice carried quiet authority as he approached us. “I’m sure Ms. O’Brien didn’t intend to upset Richard.” His charming smile quickly dispersed Sheila’s rage, turning her into a pussycat.
She ran her hand through her blond bob and smile tightly. “I just feel protective of Richard. That’s understandable, isn’t it? With all that he’s been through,” she purred.
“Of course, Sheila, I know you just want to protect him. Richard’s lucky to have a friend like you.” He placed a hand on her shoulder.
Sheila practically melted under his touch. I was feeling pretty gooey myself.
“Why don’t you go back in and join Richard. He needs his friends at a time like this,” Greg suggested.
“Yes, you’re right. I’ll head back in.” Sheila threw me a murderously evil eye and turned back to Greg, resting her hand on his sleeve. “Thanks, Greg,” she cooed, rubbing her hand up and down his arm a couple of times before turning to leave.
I shrugged. I had no idea what she was thanking him for, but I was glad she was leaving. Sheila could be difficult to contend with sometimes.
Once alone with Greg, I removed the black hat and wig, dug out a few hairpins, and released my red curls, allowing them to fall softly over my shoulders. I had seen many a leading lady do this in the movies and I hoped that I was accomplishing the same smoldering sex appeal.
“Thanks for rescuing me, Greg,” I said, running my fingertips through my hair. “This seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I feel quite foolish.” Quite foolish? I never said things like ‘quite foolish.’
Greg looked down at me with his sexy eyes and for some reason I felt compelled to explain myself further. “You see, I’ve been conducting a private investigation into Amanda’s murder. I’m just about positive that Richard Schmidt killed his wife.”
Greg blinked but said nothing.
“He was having an affair, you know,” I added, as if that explained everything.
“No, I didn’t know. With whom?”
Wow! Good looking and proper grammar, too. My mother would love this guy. “Madeline Reiner,” I stated, matter-of-factly.
I detected a slight smirk from Greg. It was the same type of smirk that I often see on Sean’s face right before he breaks into a full rolling hysterics over one of my ‘brilliant’ observations. Why did I bother?
“Fine. I can see that you don’t believe me.” I turned to leave, but he placed a hand on my shoulder, sending tiny warm prickles all the way down to my toes. My hormones were running amuck and I was ticked that my body could so easily betray my mind. I knew better than to confide in someone I barely knew, but commiserating with Greg seemed so appealing. Actually, doing a lot of things with Greg seemed appealing.
“Hey, don’t run off. I’m interested in what you have to say.”
“Really?” That was a switch. Sean was never interested in what I had to say.
“Yes, really. Tell me what you’ve discovered,” he said, smiling down at me seductively. Or, maybe it was just his usual smile, but I was wishing it was seductive.
Anyway, whatever the smile, all my reservations melted away and I quickly relayed my suspicions concerning Richard Schmidt. When I finished, I was relieved to see that he was no longer smirking or smiling; instead, he was regarding me quite seriously.
“You know, Phillipena, I think you may be on to something. I’ve been golfing with Richard from time to time this past year and I’ve seen a change in him.”
“You have?”
“Yes. Lately he’s seemed particularly stressed. I don’t think it was career induced either. He hinted that there was a problem in his marriage.”
“I knew it,” I said triumphantly.
“Then there was the day that Amanda was killed…”
“What do you
“Take it easy, Sheila.” Greg Davis’s voice carried quiet authority as he approached us. “I’m sure Ms. O’Brien didn’t intend to upset Richard.” His charming smile quickly dispersed Sheila’s rage, turning her into a pussycat.
She ran her hand through her blond bob and smile tightly. “I just feel protective of Richard. That’s understandable, isn’t it? With all that he’s been through,” she purred.
“Of course, Sheila, I know you just want to protect him. Richard’s lucky to have a friend like you.” He placed a hand on her shoulder.
Sheila practically melted under his touch. I was feeling pretty gooey myself.
“Why don’t you go back in and join Richard. He needs his friends at a time like this,” Greg suggested.
“Yes, you’re right. I’ll head back in.” Sheila threw me a murderously evil eye and turned back to Greg, resting her hand on his sleeve. “Thanks, Greg,” she cooed, rubbing her hand up and down his arm a couple of times before turning to leave.
I shrugged. I had no idea what she was thanking him for, but I was glad she was leaving. Sheila could be difficult to contend with sometimes.
Once alone with Greg, I removed the black hat and wig, dug out a few hairpins, and released my red curls, allowing them to fall softly over my shoulders. I had seen many a leading lady do this in the movies and I hoped that I was accomplishing the same smoldering sex appeal.
“Thanks for rescuing me, Greg,” I said, running my fingertips through my hair. “This seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I feel quite foolish.” Quite foolish? I never said things like ‘quite foolish.’
Greg looked down at me with his sexy eyes and for some reason I felt compelled to explain myself further. “You see, I’ve been conducting a private investigation into Amanda’s murder. I’m just about positive that Richard Schmidt killed his wife.”
Greg blinked but said nothing.
“He was having an affair, you know,” I added, as if that explained everything.
“No, I didn’t know. With whom?”
Wow! Good looking and proper grammar, too. My mother would love this guy. “Madeline Reiner,” I stated, matter-of-factly.
I detected a slight smirk from Greg. It was the same type of smirk that I often see on Sean’s face right before he breaks into a full rolling hysterics over one of my ‘brilliant’ observations. Why did I bother?
“Fine. I can see that you don’t believe me.” I turned to leave, but he placed a hand on my shoulder, sending tiny warm prickles all the way down to my toes. My hormones were running amuck and I was ticked that my body could so easily betray my mind. I knew better than to confide in someone I barely knew, but commiserating with Greg seemed so appealing. Actually, doing a lot of things with Greg seemed appealing.
“Hey, don’t run off. I’m interested in what you have to say.”
“Really?” That was a switch. Sean was never interested in what I had to say.
“Yes, really. Tell me what you’ve discovered,” he said, smiling down at me seductively. Or, maybe it was just his usual smile, but I was wishing it was seductive.
Anyway, whatever the smile, all my reservations melted away and I quickly relayed my suspicions concerning Richard Schmidt. When I finished, I was relieved to see that he was no longer smirking or smiling; instead, he was regarding me quite seriously.
“You know, Phillipena, I think you may be on to something. I’ve been golfing with Richard from time to time this past year and I’ve seen a change in him.”
“You have?”
“Yes. Lately he’s seemed particularly stressed. I don’t think it was career induced either. He hinted that there was a problem in his marriage.”
“I knew it,” I said triumphantly.
“Then there was the day that Amanda was killed…”
“What do you
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