Read Online Murder Is Secondary by Diane Weiner - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Diane Weiner
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the white cat a scratch between her ears, then locked the front door and headed home.
Chapter 21
“Phillip, what are you doing here?” said Dalia. Zach had left for a poker game and Dalia was enjoying a quiet evening at the Rocking Horse Ranch when there was an unexpected knock at the door.
“First of all, I missed you,” said Phillip. He embraced Dalia and gave her a long, wet kiss. “Secondly, we have things to talk about. Our plan is going to fall apart if Zach stays in Westbrook doing who knows what, while he ignores our paying clients back home in Saddle River.”
“I can’t figure out what he’s up to,” said Dalia. “He’d never even mentioned Westbrook––not even once. Do you think he has a clandestine client here? Maybe he’s keeping it from you so he can pocket the fees without sharing them.”
“Now Dalia, Zach and I are partners. We share everything. We would never keep secrets from each other.” Both he and Dalia laughed from the pits of their bellies. “How’s he treating you? Has he touched you since he gave you that gash on your chin last month?”
“I’m fine. He won’t hurt me now. I have a secret weapon to protect me. Well, maybe not a secret anymore. Let’s just say Zach won’t dare lay a finger on me now.” Dalia was startled when she heard the door unlocking. To her surprise, Zach stepped into the room. She flinched involuntarily.
“Phillip? What are you doing here?” said Zach. He stressed the word you.
“I came to get you back to New Jersey. You’re abandoning your clients and I can’t run the firm single-handedly. I don’t understand how you could pick up and skip town without saying a word to me or your clients. What on earth are you doing here in this town? This doesn’t appear to be a thriving real estate mecca if you ask me.”
“I have important business here that I can’t talk about. Trust me. I’ll be back as soon as I wrap things up here. I’ll send out an email to my clients.”
“What clients? The ones who showed up for appointments didn’t understand why they were the only party at the meetings they’d arranged with you. Some of them left in a huff and cancelled their contracts. You’re destroying the firm. You’re being extremely selfish right now.”
“I told you I have things to take care of. I’ll be back when I get back.”
“Maybe there won’t be anything to come back for,” said Phillip. He slammed the door and walked out.
“You’re ruining my life as well,” said Dalia. “What am I supposed to live on if you destroy the company? I haven’t held a job since we got married, all at your insistence. How could you be so irresponsible?”
Zach took a step forward as if he was about to punch her, but he stopped himself.
“Good boy,” said Dalia. “You’re learning the art of self-restraint.”
“Shut up, Dalia. This respite is only temporary. You’ll get everything that’s owed you––all in good time.”
“How was your poker game? Making friends here already, aren’t you?”
“It was good to be away from here for a while.” He took off his boots, then grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the mini bar. “By the way, Mike invited us over for dinner Saturday night. His wife was concerned that you’d be bored sitting alone in the hotel room while I was hard at work.”
“That’s so sweet,” said Dalia. She was genuinely surprised that there were caring people left in this world. It was true that she couldn’t stand staring at the walls for another minute. “I’d love to go.”
“I’ll tell him we’ll be there. Meanwhile, I’m going down to the lounge. Don’t wait up.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” said Dalia. She tried to read her novel, then flipped through the TV stations. She needed something to keep her occupied. Then she noticed that Zach had left his phone on the desk. Spying on that old bag of wind is usually interesting , she thought. She looked up his recent search history and found a
Chapter 21
“Phillip, what are you doing here?” said Dalia. Zach had left for a poker game and Dalia was enjoying a quiet evening at the Rocking Horse Ranch when there was an unexpected knock at the door.
“First of all, I missed you,” said Phillip. He embraced Dalia and gave her a long, wet kiss. “Secondly, we have things to talk about. Our plan is going to fall apart if Zach stays in Westbrook doing who knows what, while he ignores our paying clients back home in Saddle River.”
“I can’t figure out what he’s up to,” said Dalia. “He’d never even mentioned Westbrook––not even once. Do you think he has a clandestine client here? Maybe he’s keeping it from you so he can pocket the fees without sharing them.”
“Now Dalia, Zach and I are partners. We share everything. We would never keep secrets from each other.” Both he and Dalia laughed from the pits of their bellies. “How’s he treating you? Has he touched you since he gave you that gash on your chin last month?”
“I’m fine. He won’t hurt me now. I have a secret weapon to protect me. Well, maybe not a secret anymore. Let’s just say Zach won’t dare lay a finger on me now.” Dalia was startled when she heard the door unlocking. To her surprise, Zach stepped into the room. She flinched involuntarily.
“Phillip? What are you doing here?” said Zach. He stressed the word you.
“I came to get you back to New Jersey. You’re abandoning your clients and I can’t run the firm single-handedly. I don’t understand how you could pick up and skip town without saying a word to me or your clients. What on earth are you doing here in this town? This doesn’t appear to be a thriving real estate mecca if you ask me.”
“I have important business here that I can’t talk about. Trust me. I’ll be back as soon as I wrap things up here. I’ll send out an email to my clients.”
“What clients? The ones who showed up for appointments didn’t understand why they were the only party at the meetings they’d arranged with you. Some of them left in a huff and cancelled their contracts. You’re destroying the firm. You’re being extremely selfish right now.”
“I told you I have things to take care of. I’ll be back when I get back.”
“Maybe there won’t be anything to come back for,” said Phillip. He slammed the door and walked out.
“You’re ruining my life as well,” said Dalia. “What am I supposed to live on if you destroy the company? I haven’t held a job since we got married, all at your insistence. How could you be so irresponsible?”
Zach took a step forward as if he was about to punch her, but he stopped himself.
“Good boy,” said Dalia. “You’re learning the art of self-restraint.”
“Shut up, Dalia. This respite is only temporary. You’ll get everything that’s owed you––all in good time.”
“How was your poker game? Making friends here already, aren’t you?”
“It was good to be away from here for a while.” He took off his boots, then grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the mini bar. “By the way, Mike invited us over for dinner Saturday night. His wife was concerned that you’d be bored sitting alone in the hotel room while I was hard at work.”
“That’s so sweet,” said Dalia. She was genuinely surprised that there were caring people left in this world. It was true that she couldn’t stand staring at the walls for another minute. “I’d love to go.”
“I’ll tell him we’ll be there. Meanwhile, I’m going down to the lounge. Don’t wait up.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t,” said Dalia. She tried to read her novel, then flipped through the TV stations. She needed something to keep her occupied. Then she noticed that Zach had left his phone on the desk. Spying on that old bag of wind is usually interesting , she thought. She looked up his recent search history and found a
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