Read Online Murder Is Uncooperative by Merrilee Robson - Free Book Online Page B

community center to use the library. I've been working out at the fitness center too. And I love the pool. I'm there a lot. Maybe I'll run into your father there sometime. I like to keep fit.”
    Looking at her comfortably rounded body, I questioned her fitness level. But I was willing to bet Dad was going to run into Mariana at the community center a lot. I didn't think that he was over my mother yet. But there was no denying Mariana was a lively, fun woman. And she was pretty. Her round face had very few wrinkles, and her dark hair, though obviously dyed, was shiny and thick. Her dark eyes were warm and friendly.
    The outfit she wore seemed too elegant for visiting neighbors. Today she was dressed in a slim, long cotton dress in green, with a darker cardigan. Sandals in a soft, dark-brown leather completed the look. Hardly the outfit I would have chosen to bake in, if I even owned such a pretty dress.
    I wondered if the gorgeous outfit was for my father's benefit, or if she just dressed beautifully all the time.
    Mariana's green sweater reminded me of Gwen's last night. I shuddered again as I remembered her wiping her bloody hands on that sweater. I was willing to bet she would never wear it again. I had thrown my own bloodstained clothes in the garbage as soon as I could strip them off. I hoped the blood hadn't transferred to Mariana's clothes when she comforted me.
    I was just pouring the tea when someone else knocked on the door. Because the outside buzzer hadn't rung, I was expecting it to be Gwen or someone else from the co-op. I pulled open the door with a smile on my face.
    I'd never before seen the man at my door, but he was certainly pleasant to look at. Black hair, cut well enough to show just a hint of wave. Olive skin that had spent time in the sun this summer. A strong nose that wouldn't have looked out of place on an ancient statue. Cheekbones to die for. And golden eyes like an eagle.
    He was wearing a beautiful gray suit, unusual in this casual co-op. It stretched over his broad shoulders but didn't hang loose on his slim torso. I wasn't much of a judge of men's clothing but the suit looked made for him. Or maybe he was just the perfect size.
    Well, if the co-op has guys that look like this, I might start dressing up too, I thought. I looked up at him.
    â€œRebecca Butler?” he asked. I nodded, still smiling.
    That was before I noticed that the young police officer I'd met last night was standing behind him. And that the man I'd been ogling was holding police identification in front of my face.
    â€œI'm Sergeant D'Onofrio. I just have a few questions I wanted to ask you.”
    â€œAbout Les? Sure. And this is my neighbor, Mariana Cole. She was there last night too.”
    â€œYes, I have you on the list,” he said to her. “But I'd like to interview you separately.”
    â€œOh, sure,” Mariana said, standing up. “I just live next door. Come over when you're ready.”
    The officers declined the tea I offered them but did sit down so they weren't towering over me.
    "You and Ms. Gwendolyn Arsenault found Mr. Walter?” D'Onofrio began.
    â€œMr. Walter? Oh, Les. I didn't know his last name. I've just moved in to this building a little while ago. No, I found him. I went to get Gwen after I'd called 911.”
    â€œI gather you told the emergency dispatcher that there had been an accident. You asked for an ambulance but not police. Can you tell me why you thought it was an accident?”
    â€œWell, I just assumed. The office's been a mess every time I saw it. I just thought the boxes had fallen when Les tried to get something out of them or move them.”
    â€œAnd yet, when Ms. Arsenault came into the office, she thought that there had been a break-in or that someone had been in the office. Do you know why that was?”
    â€œGwen did say that. I guess there had been some incidents in the past. I didn't know about them. As I said, I'm new to the