Read Online Stay of Execution by K. L. Murphy - Free Book Online Page B

she and Jack had started dating, and that was a long time ago. She tilted her head, taking stock of the man seated across from her. It wasn’t hard to see how he’d been elected mayor in this town. He was attractive, and his manner engaging. It crossed her mind to ask him if he had bigger political aspirations. Congress? The Senate, maybe? He was young enough and intelligent enough. Julia wondered if there was a wife and kids. He didn’t wear a ring, but that didn’t always mean anything. She looked down at her own bare left hand, rubbing at the indentation that still marked her third finger, naked and raw. She picked up her shot glass and downed the whiskey in one gulp.
    â€œWow,” he said, sipping his beer. “You weren’t kidding about wanting something stronger.”
    Flushed, she forced a laugh. “Sorry. It’s been a strange ­couple of days. I guess I haven’t been myself lately.”
    â€œOh?” He sat forward, tapping his cigarette into a metal ashtray. “Do you want to talk about it?”
    â€œNo. I don’t think so.”
    â€œAre you sure? I’m a pretty good listener. Plus, since I don’t know you, I might even be objective.”
    She smiled. “Thanks, but I’m sure.”
    He smiled back. “You can’t blame a guy for trying, and I do hate to see a pretty lady unhappy. Maybe another drink then?”
    Her melodic laugh drowned out the preset oldies playing from the jukebox. His smile broadened. “Are you flirting with me, Mayor Baldwin?”
    â€œHell, yes,” he said with a wink.
    She eyed his hand again. “You’re not married?”
    â€œNo. Almost.” The grin faded. “When I was in my late twenties, I was engaged. About a month before the wedding, Carla—­that was my fiancée—­was in a car accident.” He picked up the mug and took a deep slug of the amber beer. “She was working in Charlottesville for the summer and was coming home for the weekend. The roads were wet and they said she was driving too fast. I tried to tell her all the time to slow down, but she would just laugh at me.” His voice shook. “The car must’ve spun out and she ran off the road into a row of trees. They said it was quick. She didn’t suffer.” He drained the rest of his beer.
    Julia swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” he said, his wet eyes finding hers. “It was a long time ago. I came close again a few years ago, but it didn’t work out. Guess it wasn’t meant to be.” He stubbed out his cigarette. “The truth is, I don’t date much anymore. It’s a small town, and I’ve known pretty much everyone here my whole life. Makes it harder in a way, and the job takes so much time . . .”
    Julia nodded. This was hardly what she’d intended when she suggested they have drinks instead of coffee. She’d hoped to ask a few questions, maybe even score an interview, but not swap sad relationship stories.
    â€œHey, sorry about that,” he said and waved a hand. “I didn’t mean to bring any of that up.” He motioned to the waitress near the dartboard. “How about another drink?”
    â€œA beer. Thanks.” When the waitress was gone, she slid a notepad and pen from her canvas bag. He raised an eyebrow. “Mayor Baldwin,” she said, “I was hoping to . . .”
    â€œPlease call me Ted.”
    â€œOkay. Ted.”
    The waitress set two mugs of beer on the table and swept away the empty glasses, pausing when her eyes fell on the notepad and pen.
    â€œAs I was saying, I was hoping to ask you a few questions.”
    The waitress moved from table to table. She picked up the empty mugs two at a time, then mopped up any spilled beer. At the bar, she leaned into the bartender, nodded in their direction, speaking in his ear. Baldwin lit another cigarette. He gestured