Read Online The Crush by Sandra Brown - Free Book Online
Authors: Sandra Brown
Tags: Contemporary
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respected Oren for upholding them.
Oren went back to watching Rennie Newton's house. After a short silence, Wick said, "One thing I thought was curious. In her closet. Lots of blue jeans. Not designer shit. Worn ones like mine." He rubbed his hand over the denim that time and a thousand washings had bleached and softened. "Three pair of western boots, too. I didn't expect that."
"She rides."
"Horses?"
"It was in her bio. The Star-Telegram had an extensive file on her. I asked them for a copy of everything. Dr. Newton's been in the newspaper numerous times. Charity events.
Community involvement. Doctors Without Borders."
"What's that?"
A manila folder was lying on the table. Oren picked it up and dropped it into Wick's lap.
"Do your own research. Grace is holding dinner for me."
He got up, stretched, reached for a roll of architectural drawings he was using as props, and headed for the staircase. "We didn't finish the video last night. It's there if you want to watch it, but don't let it distract you from keeping an eye on the house."
"I'd like to see the rest of it. Might pick up something."
Oren nodded. "My pager will be with me. Call if anything out of the ordinary happens."
"Like Lozada showing up?"
"Yeah, like that. I can be here in ten minutes.
See you in the morning."
"Is there any food?"
"Sandwiches in the minifridge."
The stairs creaked beneath Oren's weight. After he left, the house fell silent except for the occasional groan of old wood. The empty rooms smelled like the sawdust left over from the uncompleted renovation. Most would consider it an unpleasant place in which to spend a night, but Wick didn't mind. In fact he had volunteered for the night shift. Oren needed to be with his family. Thigpen, too. Although Wick imagined that Mrs. Thigpen would probably prefer him to be away as much as possible.
He picked up the binoculars and checked Rennie Newton's house. She wasn't home yet. He used the opportunity to check the small refrigerator and found two wrapped sandwiches. Tuna salad. Turkey and Swiss. He selected the turkey and carried it back with him to the table near the window. He put the tape into the combo VCR and monitor, then settled back to watch the video as he ate his sandwich.
The recording started playing at the point where Oren had stopped it the night before. On the video Oren said, "Dr. Newton, did you recently serve on the jury that acquitted an accused killer, Mr. Lozada?"
Her lawyer leaned forward. "Where's the relevance, Detective?"
"I'll get to it."
"Please do. Dr. Newton has surgical patients waiting for her."
"It could become necessary for another doctor to take over her responsibilities."
"Is that a threat that I might be detained?"
Rennie Newton asked.
Oren sidestepped the direct question by saying,
"The sooner you answer my questions, the sooner you can go, Dr. Newton."
She sighed as though finding the proceedings extremely tedious. "Yes, I served on the jury that acquitted Mr. Lozada. You must know that or you wouldn't have brought it up."
"That's right, I do. In fact I've interviewed all eleven of your fellow jurors."
"Why?"
"Curiosity."
"About what?"
"It struck me that Dr. Howell's murder looked like a contract kill. His killer didn't rob him. We can't isolate any other motive. Fact is, his only known adversary was you."
Taken aback by that statement, she exclaimed,
"Lee and I weren't adversaries. We were colleagues. Friendly colleagues."
"Who quarreled constantly."
"We had disagreements, yes. That's hardly--"
"You were a friendly colleague of his who recently let a contract killer back onto the streets."
"Mr. Lozada's crime was alleged," the attorney said in typical lawyer fashion.
"Which has no bearing on this matter one way or the other. Dr. Newton, I insist you say nothing more."
Wick fast-forwarded through the argument that ensued between the attorney and Oren, who evidently persuaded the lawyer that it would be in his client's best interest
Oren went back to watching Rennie Newton's house. After a short silence, Wick said, "One thing I thought was curious. In her closet. Lots of blue jeans. Not designer shit. Worn ones like mine." He rubbed his hand over the denim that time and a thousand washings had bleached and softened. "Three pair of western boots, too. I didn't expect that."
"She rides."
"Horses?"
"It was in her bio. The Star-Telegram had an extensive file on her. I asked them for a copy of everything. Dr. Newton's been in the newspaper numerous times. Charity events.
Community involvement. Doctors Without Borders."
"What's that?"
A manila folder was lying on the table. Oren picked it up and dropped it into Wick's lap.
"Do your own research. Grace is holding dinner for me."
He got up, stretched, reached for a roll of architectural drawings he was using as props, and headed for the staircase. "We didn't finish the video last night. It's there if you want to watch it, but don't let it distract you from keeping an eye on the house."
"I'd like to see the rest of it. Might pick up something."
Oren nodded. "My pager will be with me. Call if anything out of the ordinary happens."
"Like Lozada showing up?"
"Yeah, like that. I can be here in ten minutes.
See you in the morning."
"Is there any food?"
"Sandwiches in the minifridge."
The stairs creaked beneath Oren's weight. After he left, the house fell silent except for the occasional groan of old wood. The empty rooms smelled like the sawdust left over from the uncompleted renovation. Most would consider it an unpleasant place in which to spend a night, but Wick didn't mind. In fact he had volunteered for the night shift. Oren needed to be with his family. Thigpen, too. Although Wick imagined that Mrs. Thigpen would probably prefer him to be away as much as possible.
He picked up the binoculars and checked Rennie Newton's house. She wasn't home yet. He used the opportunity to check the small refrigerator and found two wrapped sandwiches. Tuna salad. Turkey and Swiss. He selected the turkey and carried it back with him to the table near the window. He put the tape into the combo VCR and monitor, then settled back to watch the video as he ate his sandwich.
The recording started playing at the point where Oren had stopped it the night before. On the video Oren said, "Dr. Newton, did you recently serve on the jury that acquitted an accused killer, Mr. Lozada?"
Her lawyer leaned forward. "Where's the relevance, Detective?"
"I'll get to it."
"Please do. Dr. Newton has surgical patients waiting for her."
"It could become necessary for another doctor to take over her responsibilities."
"Is that a threat that I might be detained?"
Rennie Newton asked.
Oren sidestepped the direct question by saying,
"The sooner you answer my questions, the sooner you can go, Dr. Newton."
She sighed as though finding the proceedings extremely tedious. "Yes, I served on the jury that acquitted Mr. Lozada. You must know that or you wouldn't have brought it up."
"That's right, I do. In fact I've interviewed all eleven of your fellow jurors."
"Why?"
"Curiosity."
"About what?"
"It struck me that Dr. Howell's murder looked like a contract kill. His killer didn't rob him. We can't isolate any other motive. Fact is, his only known adversary was you."
Taken aback by that statement, she exclaimed,
"Lee and I weren't adversaries. We were colleagues. Friendly colleagues."
"Who quarreled constantly."
"We had disagreements, yes. That's hardly--"
"You were a friendly colleague of his who recently let a contract killer back onto the streets."
"Mr. Lozada's crime was alleged," the attorney said in typical lawyer fashion.
"Which has no bearing on this matter one way or the other. Dr. Newton, I insist you say nothing more."
Wick fast-forwarded through the argument that ensued between the attorney and Oren, who evidently persuaded the lawyer that it would be in his client's best interest
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