Read Online The Design Is Murder (Murders By Design) by Jean Harrington - Free Book Online Page B

there, but that was a couple of weeks ago, before I got out of Florida State,” he said, making the slammer sound like a four-year college. “But as soon as I got sprung he took me into the ‘Glades for a couple of days. We had good luck too. If I didn’t have to meet my parole officer tomorrow, we’d still be out there. You have to love that swamp.”
    Talking nonstop, he led me slowly to the back of the truck. He unlatched the rear doors, flung them wide, and stepped aside so I could peer inside.
    “Hey, Tony, the lady wants to take a look at—”
    Tony never heard him. A scream of pure panic rose up from my lungs, ripped into my throat and burst out of my mouth, shattering the quiet calm of Fern Alley.
    Frozen with fear, I stood there shaking, a cold chill raising goose bumps on my skin. I wanted to run but shock had me rooted to the spot—the back of the truck was full of snakes.
    “Hey, the table’s not that bad,” Mike joked. He put one of his callused hands on my arm, for reassurance, I guess, but I recoiled as if one of the snakes had wrapped itself around me.
    My scream had brought a cluster of people on the run. They stood in a rapt semicircle behind us—Lee, Irma, and several women wearing outfits with boutique tags dangling from their sleeves. Repelled and yet fascinated, when they spotted the snakes, they screamed too, but like me, they couldn’t look away either.
    A truck door opened and slammed shut.
    “What’s going on back here?” Tony asked.
    Nobody answered him. Then Mike said, “I was showing the little lady the table you bought. Guess I forgot about the snakes.”
    “You’d forget your head if wasn’t screwed on,” Tony said.
    “I didn’t think they’d scare her so bad. They’re in cages.”
    “You don’t think, that’s right,” Tony retorted.
    “See that big one over there?” Mike asked me. I saw it all right and shuddered. “He’s thirteen feet long. Been measured. Tony caught him, the first day of the Challenge, the same day he caught the fifteen footer. It’s a record, hey, Tone?”
    “You know what? You need to shut up. You talk too much,” Tony said, slamming the rear doors shut. “Come on, let’s go. We got work to do.”
    Mike nodded and turned to me. “It’s been a pleasure, ma’am.” His eyes sparkled as he spoke. Had he enjoyed scaring the daylights out of me? And worse, had he done so on purpose?
    I couldn’t be sure, but when he extended his hand, I didn’t take it. He shrugged and hopped into the truck. As they drove off, he rolled down his side window. “Hey, Mrs. Dunne,” he called. “I forgot to ask. What did you think of the table?”

Chapter Fourteen
    After my adventure with the snakes, I was ready for some relaxation and could hardly wait for closing time and my dinner date with Rossi.
    I wore a new outfit today, a short shift in mustard, summer’s hottest shade—sounded bad, looked good, especially with my hair. Being a redhead, I could only wear a limited color palette, so I was always pleased to find something that was fresh and chic and suited me. And even made my one pair of Jimmy Choos look new again.
    I was in the shop’s tiny bathroom, refreshing my makeup, when Beethoven’s Fifth chimed out. Da da da DA. I dropped the lip gloss, rummaged in my bag, and grabbed the cell phone on the second ring.
    Rossi.
Was he working late and calling to cancel our date? An all-too-common occurrence in a detective’s life. And to be honest, one I’d probably never get used to.
    I pressed Talk with my pulse spurting up a bit. “Rossi.”
    “Deva, we’re celebrating tonight. I made reservations at Sully’s.”
    Our favorite steakhouse? Sounded like an occasion. “How nice,” I said. “What are we celebrating?”
    “Tell you when I see you. One hitch, though, I have a little car problem at the moment. Would you mind picking me up?”
    “Of course not. Where are you?”
    “At the station. Can’t wait to see you.”
    “For a man with