Read Online Phi Beta Murder by C.S. Challinor - Free Book Online Page B

the Green Zone. What surprised me most was the Iraqis going about their daily business with an air of resignation, in spite of all the disruption to their lives.”
    “I don’t suppose they have much choice.”
    Moira ate fast and abundantly. It had always amazed him that such a small person could put away so much food. He suspected a lot of it went on nervous energy.
    “What does your fortune cookie say?” she asked at the end of the meal.
    He peered at his slip of paper. “Mine’s fruity: ‘You will gain admiration from your pears.’ Is that really Confucius?”
    Moira laughed. “Mine says, ‘Riches are measured in friends.’” She read it in a Chinese voice, and Rex laughed in turn. “It’s true though,” she said, gazing intently at him.
    “These must be the writers who failed the greeting card class,” he remarked with forced levity.
    “Let’s take a walk along the beach.”
    “Aren’t you tired?” He wanted Moira to go to bed. She seemed uncharacteristically exuberant, much like an overexcited child at a theme park, and it made him uncomfortable.
    “I’m getting my second wind. A moonlit walk along the beach would do me a world of good. At least do that much for me after I came all this way,” she pleaded.
    The room phone rang at that moment, and Rex picked it up in trepidation. It was the front desk calling with information about flights. When he got off the phone, he told Moira he had booked her on a Continental flight leaving from Jacksonville International Airport at 8:30 a.m.
    “You should have let me see if I could change the flight on my airline.”
    “This has just the one connection—in Newark.”
    “I’m a free woman. You didna need to go making arrangements to get rid of me so fast, as though I didna have a say in the matter!”
    “You don’t,” Rex said firmly. “You can come back to Jacksonville for a sightseeing visit when I’m not here.”
    Moira sat back in her chair, a fixed look in her eyes. “Well, I suppose there is no point in staying if you’re going to be like that.”
    “I’m going to be occupied at the university over this business with the Clark boy, and I want to spend time with Campbell.”
    “Very well, but I’d still like to go on that walk.”
    Moira was nothing if not willful. Rex could see no way out of it and, in any case, was starting to feel guilty now that he was assured of her leaving the next day.
    “That’s a good idea,” he capitulated, clearing the empty cartons from the table. “I need to walk off this dinner.”
    “Save the spring rolls in case we get peckish later.” Moira walked to the door.
    “Aren’t you going to change?”
    “I’m comfortable in my robe, and it’s dark. Nobody is going to notice what I’m wearing. I don’t even need sandals, do I? There’s a path all the way down to the sand.”
    Rex grabbed the room key and followed her outside. Perhaps if he walked fast he could tire her out sooner. She must be jetlagged. Then, when she went to bed he could call Helen.
    His cell phone rang as they reached the beach. Moira stopped with an impatient sigh.
    “Dad, I thought if you’re not busy you could drive over and pick me up, and we could watch a Pay-Per-View back at the Siesta and knock back a few beers.”
    “Sounds like a glorious idea,” Rex told his son with regret. “But I have company. Moira flew in and surprised me.”
    “The woman you were dating? The one who went to Iraq?”
    “Aye.”
    “Does Helen know?”
    “Unfortunately.”
    “Jesus, Dad. You’re in for it.”
    “I’ll take a rain cheque on the beer and movie.”
    “When’s she leaving?”
    “Tomorrow.”
    “That’s too weird.”
    “I’ll call you in the morning. Night, Son.”
    “You should take off your shoes,” Moira suggested as he pocketed his phone. “The sand feels wonderful.”
    “I’m fine with them on,” Rex replied shortly, resentful that he could not spend the evening with Campbell. “Well, let’s get on with