Read Online Serial Date: A Leine Basso Thriller by D.V. Berkom - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: D.V. Berkom
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diversion, Leine walked into the kitchen to answer her phone.
“Leine Basso.” Her voice sounded knife-sharp.
“Sorry to interrupt. This is Detective Jensen. Do you have a minute?”
Leine cleared her throat. “Of course, detective. Has anything happened?”
“No, no. Graber's still in custody. Everything's fine, as far as I know. I was wondering-” There was a brief pause. “I realize this is out of the blue, but would you be open to having dinner with me some time?”
Relief flowed through Leine like heroin through a junkie's veins. She glanced at the empty space where April no longer stood, knowing her daughter wasn't coming back until much later, if she even came back at all.
“You know, detective, you have great timing. It happens I'm free tonight.”
***
Leine watched through the window as Jensen pulled up to the house. April hadn't come back or called since she'd stormed out of the house. Leine left fifty dollars and directions to a local grocery store on the counter. She'd placed the spare key under the flower pot on the porch. She chided herself for leaving the house after such a fight, but couldn't bring herself to back out of the date and open herself up to worrying about her angry, accusing daughter. Funny how she'd been good at hunting down targets and executing the kill, but when it came to April, she had no idea how to repair what was broken. Compartmentalizing problems she could do and she did it now.
Face it—you're just not mother material .
Leine took another peek out the window at Detective Santiago. His smooth good looks and the fact that he knew his way around a gun gave her a little thrill she'd thought long dormant. She'd actually primped and couldn't remember the last time she wore mascara and showed off her legs in a dress. She figured getting laid would help take her mind off of April. The way Jensen looked at her the last time they'd met, she was certain dinner would be the beginning of an eventful evening.
She closed and locked the front door, leaving her problems with April inside the house, and sauntered over to the black, 1969 Camaro SS. She leaned in the window to give him a nice cleavage shot. His eyes hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses, she noticed an almost imperceptible dip of his head as he checked the girls out.
“Nice ride.” She straightened up and walked around the front, trailing her fingers along the clean lines of the muscle car. Jensen climbed out of the driver's side and met her at the passenger door, opening it for her with a hint of a smile.
“Glad you like it.”
Leine smiled back and slid into the front seat, letting her dress hike up enough to expose some serious thigh. He closed the door and she inched the material back down, but not before he let out a low whistle.
Yeah. So much better than what waited for her back in the house.
Bad mother.
Bad, bad, bad.
Chapter 11
They pulled into the parking lot at Il Buon Alimento a few minutes before their reservation. Jensen worked it like Leine was the Queen of Sheba, opening doors, offering to let her use his jacket, aware of her every need. The maître'd showed them to a table on the patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean. For Jensen, hearing the gentle crash of the waves always took the edge off.
“This is beautiful, detective, thank you.” Leine sighed as she leaned back in her chair and took in the view. The sun had begun to set, the deep orange and red hues reflecting off the water like a kaleidoscope.
Jensen detected a pensive mood. He'd have to remedy that.
“It's one of my favorite places. Glad you approve.” Damn, she looked good. Real. The fading sunlight brought out a hint of red in her hair as it brushed past her shoulders, framing the classic lines and high cheekbones of her face. Santiago had gotten his fill of the tucked, plucked and Botoxed women so prevalent in Southern California. In the process, he'd learned to appreciate authenticity.
“Leine Basso.” Her voice sounded knife-sharp.
“Sorry to interrupt. This is Detective Jensen. Do you have a minute?”
Leine cleared her throat. “Of course, detective. Has anything happened?”
“No, no. Graber's still in custody. Everything's fine, as far as I know. I was wondering-” There was a brief pause. “I realize this is out of the blue, but would you be open to having dinner with me some time?”
Relief flowed through Leine like heroin through a junkie's veins. She glanced at the empty space where April no longer stood, knowing her daughter wasn't coming back until much later, if she even came back at all.
“You know, detective, you have great timing. It happens I'm free tonight.”
***
Leine watched through the window as Jensen pulled up to the house. April hadn't come back or called since she'd stormed out of the house. Leine left fifty dollars and directions to a local grocery store on the counter. She'd placed the spare key under the flower pot on the porch. She chided herself for leaving the house after such a fight, but couldn't bring herself to back out of the date and open herself up to worrying about her angry, accusing daughter. Funny how she'd been good at hunting down targets and executing the kill, but when it came to April, she had no idea how to repair what was broken. Compartmentalizing problems she could do and she did it now.
Face it—you're just not mother material .
Leine took another peek out the window at Detective Santiago. His smooth good looks and the fact that he knew his way around a gun gave her a little thrill she'd thought long dormant. She'd actually primped and couldn't remember the last time she wore mascara and showed off her legs in a dress. She figured getting laid would help take her mind off of April. The way Jensen looked at her the last time they'd met, she was certain dinner would be the beginning of an eventful evening.
She closed and locked the front door, leaving her problems with April inside the house, and sauntered over to the black, 1969 Camaro SS. She leaned in the window to give him a nice cleavage shot. His eyes hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses, she noticed an almost imperceptible dip of his head as he checked the girls out.
“Nice ride.” She straightened up and walked around the front, trailing her fingers along the clean lines of the muscle car. Jensen climbed out of the driver's side and met her at the passenger door, opening it for her with a hint of a smile.
“Glad you like it.”
Leine smiled back and slid into the front seat, letting her dress hike up enough to expose some serious thigh. He closed the door and she inched the material back down, but not before he let out a low whistle.
Yeah. So much better than what waited for her back in the house.
Bad mother.
Bad, bad, bad.
Chapter 11
They pulled into the parking lot at Il Buon Alimento a few minutes before their reservation. Jensen worked it like Leine was the Queen of Sheba, opening doors, offering to let her use his jacket, aware of her every need. The maître'd showed them to a table on the patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean. For Jensen, hearing the gentle crash of the waves always took the edge off.
“This is beautiful, detective, thank you.” Leine sighed as she leaned back in her chair and took in the view. The sun had begun to set, the deep orange and red hues reflecting off the water like a kaleidoscope.
Jensen detected a pensive mood. He'd have to remedy that.
“It's one of my favorite places. Glad you approve.” Damn, she looked good. Real. The fading sunlight brought out a hint of red in her hair as it brushed past her shoulders, framing the classic lines and high cheekbones of her face. Santiago had gotten his fill of the tucked, plucked and Botoxed women so prevalent in Southern California. In the process, he'd learned to appreciate authenticity.
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