Read Online Quiet as the Grave by Kathleen O`Brien - Free Book Online Page B

it all wrong.”
    She forced herself to take a deep breath. Man, was she regressing. She didn’t do this anymore, didn’t fly off the handle, didn’t read insults into perfectly innocent comments. Her tendency toward irrational ferocity had disappeared the minute she left Firefly Glen, which in her opinion proved that Mike Frome must have been the problem all along.
    However, there was such a thing as protesting too much. She inhaled one more time, just for good measure.
    â€œOr maybe,” he said, “I’m putting it all wrong.”
    â€œProbably both,” she said tightly. “We never did really communicate all that well. But, look, we’re getting off topic. This is serious. I’m trying to tell you that your ex-father-in-law wants to see you spend the rest of your life in jail.”
    â€œOkay.” He gazed at her, the poker face returning. “So what did you tell him?”
    â€œI told him I hadn’t laid eyes on you in ten years. That frustrated him, but it didn’t really slow him down much. He made it clear that if I’d just say I saw you shove Justine around or something he’d make it worth my while.”
    The smile remained on Mike’s lips, but it was as if he’d simply forgotten to put it away. He still had hold of her hand, so she knew how tight his fingers were.
    â€œAnd what did you say to his offer?”
    She pulled her hand away. “What do you think I said?”
    â€œI don’t know.” He shook his head slowly. “I think you said no. I hope you said no.”
    â€œBut you’re not sure?”
    He stared at her a moment, and then, his body stiff, he rose from his wicker chair. He leaned against the railing, his back to the sunshine, which threw his face into shadow.
    â€œHow can I be sure? The Suzie I used to know—she would have told Alton to take his money and stuff it up his hairy ass. But I haven’t seen you in ten years. I don’t know you anymore. Not really.”
    â€œYou think ten years is enough to turn me into a liar?”
    He hesitated again. “Ten years can do a lot of rottenthings to people, Suzie. If you don’t know that yet, I’m happy for you.”
    She stood up. “Let me get this straight. You think it could turn me into a woman who would send a man to the gas chamber for something he didn’t do?”
    â€œPerhaps not.” He lifted one hand. The effort to look suave, indifferent, world-weary failed miserably. He was just plain tired. “But am I sure? No. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure of anything anymore.”
    Her annoyance faded slightly in the face of his exhaustion.
    â€œWell, you can be sure of this. Millner is going to try to frame you for this, Mike. He’s going to do any dirty thing he can to see that you pay for what happened to Justine.”
    â€œI know.” He glanced toward the French doors, obviously wondering if Gavin was within earshot. “But frankly, Suzie, Alton Millner isn’t the only vulture out to get me. He isn’t even the most dangerous one. The D.A. has a bead on me, too. I guess it’s pretty standard for the cops, even if it feels outrageous to me. They always look at the husband first.”
    She felt an upwelling of incredulous indignation. Was everyone around here insane? Mike Frome couldn’t kill anyone. Heck, Suzie herself was a more likely candidate. She’d hated Justine, and she was, after all, the one they called “Fang.”
    But neither of them had done it. They just weren’t that kind of people.
    â€œThat’s the dumbest thing I ever heard,” she said. “Jeez. Shouldn’t you be a better judge of people than that if you’re going to be the D.A.?”
    Mike almost smiled. “You’re so sure he’s wrong, then?”
    Suzie rolled her eyes. “I’ve known you since you were about six, Frome. You can be a horse’s ass, and you