Read Online Some Like It in Handcuffs by Christine Warner - Free Book Online

forgot he had them.”
    She opened the brown document sized envelope and the pictures spilled over the surface of the table, along with a thin white envelope stuffed full of several sheets of lined paper. Sunny pushed it aside as she sifted through the photographs.
    “Looks like people standing around, nosy neighbors, and shots of the police working the scene.” She picked up a few pictures to examine them. “Here are some pics of the neighborhood.”
    Judson pulled a partially hidden picture from the pile. It was larger than the rest and looked like a professional portrait. Sunny whistled and blinked in quick succession as she took the glossy print Judson offered.
    “This deserves a place of honor. It’ll be a constant reminder of why we’re doing this.” Sunny plucked a thumb tack from a tray and secured the glossy picture onto the wall, off to the side by itself. She wanted it to stand out from the others, so it’d be the focal point when she came into the room to work. Karina’s face smiled back at her. She wore her graduation cap and gown, her face full of hope, excitement and the future.
    “Good thinking.”
    Sunny stepped back, her vision blurry, sniffed and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. Judson came up beside her, resting his arm across her shoulders. They both stood in silent respect.
    “Karina was so beautiful.” Sunny’s hushed voice quivered. “I wish I’d gotten the chance to meet her.”
    “It’s the perfect spot for her picture, Sunny. Glen said she’d been valedictorian of her class.” Judson’s fingers caressed her shoulder. “Don’t turn all girly on me now. Let’s get to work.” He squeezed her upper arm.
    “I know, I know.”
    He pulled a chair from the table then held it out for her. “After you, Wildcat.”
    Not that she’d let him know, but she liked his nickname for her. He’d singled her out to make her special.
    Heat oozed through her body as she took the offered seat. “I don’t have a lot of time, Judson, I have to be—somewhere in a couple of hours.”
    She almost messed up and revealed her secret. Sunny looked away when he sat beside her, hoping he hadn’t noticed her pause.
    He didn’t miss a beat. “What time do we have to be at Benny’s?”
    “What—what are you talking about?”
    “Sunny, Sunny, Sunny,” he drawled, dragging out her name each time he said it.
    “Judson, Judson, Judson.” She swallowed, and tried to win him over with her exaggerated smile.
    It didn’t work.
    “I thought I warned you against playing me for a fool. Although your charm is quite effective, I won’t be swayed. I’m not under your thumb like your brothers and dad.” His slow smile warmed her from head to toe.
    She wiggled in her seat and looked away. Needing a distraction, Sunny grabbed the white envelope from the table stuffed with papers; the pressure from her fingers bent the corners as she mumbled, “Nobody’s under my thumb.”
    “Come clean, you might as well fess up. I know you’re still the resident bartender at Benny’s.” He snorted. “I’ve seen you there.”
    Her head jerked up. “You’re spying on me? Following me?”
    “If that’s how you want to phrase it, go ahead. I prefer to say I’m staying on top of the situation.”
    She glared at him. His cavalier smile told her he knew everything and her heart sank to her stomach, filtered down to her knees then thudded to the floor.
    “Okay…okay, you caught me.” She might as well confess. Shrugging, she leaned back. “That must’ve been you the other night. Benny said someone was watching me.”
    “Now you’ve caught me.” He didn’t take his eyes from her face. “Am I mistaken or did you not agree to be straight with me when we started this?”
    “I know.” She sighed. “Damn it, Judson, I couldn’t give up my contacts there.” Her arms folded over her chest, and she looked at him from beneath her lashes. “How else will I be able to get information if I don’t work the case