Read Online Notorious by Michele Martinez - Free Book Online Page A

sweater that was much too big for her. The woman looked ill and exhausted, yet the refined bones of her face were still beautiful.
    â€œMs. Gould, or do you prefer Mrs. Poe?” Melanie asked.
    â€œIt’s Gould, but just Brenda is fine.”
    â€œThank you for seeing me, Brenda. I’m Melanie.”
    â€œYou’re from the U.S. Attorney’s Office?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI thought it was the FBI that was coming. Can I see some identification? Sorry to be such a stickler, but that’s how Lester taught me.”
    As she handed Brenda Gould her credentials, Melanie chastised herself silently for giving in to curiosity. This wasn’t about generating leads, and she knew it. She’d be stepping on the FBI’s toes, taking a career risk over this stupid preoccupation with Lester. But it was too late to turn back. Brenda gave the creds back and motioned her inside.
    â€œCome in. I have a few people here helping me with the funeral and shiva arrangements, but we can find a quiet spot.”
    They walked through enormous rooms full of good art and antique furniture until they came to an office at the back of the house that had obviously been Lester’s. The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves served by the type of elegant rolling ladder you’d expect to find in some medieval scholar’s library, or in the lair of an archvillain. Redwelds and law books were piled everywhere, toppling over, spilling papers. It was hard to believe in the midst of this glorious mess that Lester was dead, that he wouldn’t walk in the next moment and pick up some book, find his place, and start reading. The room still smelled of his cologne.
    Brenda moved a pile of papers from a sofa to a coffee table and they sat down.
    â€œLester had an office downstairs where he met clients,” Brenda said, “but he did all his important work here. Sorry it’s such a mess. Nobody was ever allowed in to clean.”
    â€œIt’s perfect. I can totally see him in it,” Melanie said.
    Brenda fixed intense dark eyes on Melanie’s. “You knew my husband?”
    â€œOh, yes. I’m one of the prosecutors on the Atari Briggs case. I was there yesterday when it happened. We’d just been standing outside the courthouse talking about the case, and then he went to his car, and—then, then, well.”
    Melanie looked down at her hands, fighting for composure.
    â€œMy God, I had no idea. How awful.”
    Brenda squeezed Melanie’s hand and passed her a box of Kleenex.
    â€œI must be more upset than I realized,” Melanie said. “I’m sorry. I came here to comfort you. To offer my sympathy, and to let you know that, having witnessed your husband’s murder, I’m deeply committed to bringing the killers to justice.” She thought about telling Brenda that the car bomber had been found dead, but she wasn’t sure if it was public information yet.
    â€œThank you. It gives me great comfort to hear that,” Brenda said. “Was there something you needed to ask me?”
    Melanie was sorely tempted to find out what Brenda knew thatmight relate to the bombing. But interviewing her would be disobeying a direct order that she was to focus on the trial and leave the bombing investigation to others.
    â€œNot exactly,” Melanie said. “Didn’t you say the FBI is coming to talk to you?”
    â€œYes, later this afternoon. They want Lester’s files.”
    â€œThey’ll question you about his business dealings and other things that might help with the bombing.”
    â€œYes, that’s what the man said on the phone. So, if they’re going to question me, why are you here?”
    Melanie’s cheeks burned. “This is more of a condolence call.”
    â€œOh.” Brenda studied Melanie’s face for a long moment. “What exactly was your relationship with my husband?”
    â€œWe were