Read Online Thicker Than Water by P.J. Parrish - Free Book Online Page A

really. We all went back to work.”
    â€œNo one else came to see him?”
    â€œHe had one appointment after Jack Cade left, but he told me to cancel it. Spencer was in here with his door closed the rest of the day. We were preparing for the Osborne case and I figured that’s why Spencer didn’t come out. I stayed late to finish typing the brief.”
    â€œWhat time did you leave?”
    â€œJust before nine. I remember because I was thinking that I was going to miss Matlock.”
    â€œWas there anyone else in the office?”
    â€œNo, everyone was gone.”
    â€œDid Mr. Duvall say anything to you before you left?”
    â€œHe said he was staying over and asked me to order him a sandwich from Moe’s across the street.”
    â€œStaying over?”
    â€œSpencer kept an apartment here in town. He often stayed there when he worked late because he hated driving home to Sanibel.”
    â€œSo you got him a sandwich?”
    She nodded slowly. “Corned beef on rye with thousand island dressing and a cream soda, same as always. Then I left.”
    She paused. “No, wait. That isn’t right. After I brought the sandwich back, Spencer asked me to go down and get the Cade file.”
    Louis had been looking around the room and he turned. “He asked to see Jack Cade’s old file?”
    Ellie nodded. “We store the old files downstairs. I went down and got it.” She nodded to the desk. “Last time I saw the Redweld, it was right there.”
    â€œRedweld?”
    â€œRedweld. That’s what we call them. It’s a brand name for the file folder.”
    â€œYou told the police this?”
    She nodded. “I guess they took it, with all the other files and stuff that was in here.”
    Louis had a million other questions, but he knew Ellie Silvestri couldn’t answer them. He had to get his hands on the police file, and he knew the only way he was going to do that was to go through Mobley.
    Ellie was staring at the desk, arms wrapped around herself. Louis knew she was seeing Duvall’s shattered head lying on top of the file.
    â€œMiss Silvestri,” he said gently, “did Mr. Duvall tell you why he needed the old file?”
    She shook her head slowly. “That was the last time I saw Spencer. I mean, besides the funeral. But the casket was closed.”
    Suddenly, she looked tired, every bit her sixty-some years. He had one more question. He touched her arm and she looked back at him.
    â€œWhy do you think Mr. Duvall asked you to get him that old file?” Louis asked.
    â€œI told you, he didn’t say.”
    â€œI know. I was asking your opinion.”
    She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve been asking myself that same question. Spencer knew Cade would get nowhere with a suit because of the statute of limitations. He had nothing to worry about from that old case.” She paused, shaking her head.
    â€œWhat is it?” Louis said.
    â€œBut he was worried,” she said. “Maybe worried isn’t the right word. I mean, he was fine that morning, then after Jack Cade left he stayed in here all day and I didn’t even see him until I brought him the sandwich. He was upset about something.”
    â€œWhat do you think it was?” Louis asked.
    â€œI thought it was because Cade threatened him. But I don’t know. When he asked me to go get that old file, it was more like he was just . . .”
    â€œWhat?” Louis prodded gently.
    She looked at him. “Sad,” she said.
    Her eyes drifted to the closed door. “I’d better get back out front,” she said.
    He followed her back past Lyle Bernhardt’s door and out into the outer office. Ellie paused behind her desk. Louis realized she was looking at him oddly.
    â€œYou’re working for Jack Cade, aren’t you,” she said.
    Louis hesitated.
    â€œEverybody thinks he did it,” she said.
    There