Read Online Unfinished Business - Barbara Seranella by Barbara Seranella - Free Book Online Page A

and shoelaces trailing.
    " Konnichi wa ,"
she said as she climbed into the car and dumped her coat and
schoolbag on the floor of the backseat. Asia had a Japanese teacher
this year, who was teaching her students different phrases.
    Mother and daughter strapped on their seat belts.
Munch had to open her door to free the left half of her lap belt.
Asia took note.
    " Mom," she said disapprovingly.
    Munch offered no defense. When you're busted, you're
busted. As open as Asia was to learning new things, she also had a
real cautious side. She insisted on seat belts, knee and elbow pads
when skating or biking, and to Munch's disappointment, refused to go
on roller-coaster rides. Which meant, of course, that Munch, too, was
doomed to endless repetitions of "It's a Small World" when
they went to Disneyland.
    "I got you something," Munch said, reaching
into the backseat.
    "October?" Asia asked, eyes sparkling.
    "Hot off the presses," Munch said, handing
her daughter the latest issue of Brides magazine. Asia also had a
private collection of wedding paraphernalia left over from limo runs
and kept her Barbie doll permanently decked out in veil and gown, a
tiny silk flower bouquet at the ready
    "Cool," she said now, running her small
hand over the glossy cover.
    "How was school?"
    "We learned a new song."
    Oh no, Munch thought. Anything but that.
    "It's a Japanese song." Without further
encouragement Asia demonstrated. Which wouldn't be so bad except that
what the kid lacked in tone and pitch perception she made up for in
full-throated projection. Asia wanted to be in show business. She had
the confidence for it; now all she needed was some kind of talent.
The song had an endless number of verses or so it seemed after two
blocks. Munch had no idea if her daughter was pronouncing the words
right or just making them up as she went along.
    She interrupted at the light on Wilshire. "We're
going to see Mace St. John."
    "Yeah!" Asia responded. "And Sammy and
Nicky?"
    "Sure."
    Munch smiled. She knew going to see Mace St. John,
and by extension his dogs, would meet with the girl's wholehearted
approval. She was at that age when she wanted a dog. She wanted a
little brother, too, but Munch explained they would take things one
at a time.
    The sun was low in the sky. The brisk snap to the air
was quickly turning to a chill. Asia was dressed only in her
short-sleeved white cotton shirt and plaid pinafore.
    " Where's your coat?"
    Asia didn't look up from her magazine. "In the
back."
    Munch reached behind her and retrieved it. A note had
been pinned to the front. " Mind your own
business, " it read. " If
I needed to hurt you, I could ."
    Munch's throat went dry "Where did this come
from?" she asked as calmly as possible. Heat shot through her.
She felt sweat form in her armpits, under her collar.
    "What is it?" Asia asked, reaching for the
note.
    Munch held it back, away from her grasp. "Did
you see who pinned this on your coat?" What sick, limp-dicked
son of a bitch?
    "I didn't even know it was there until just
now."
    Munch stuck the note in her shirt pocket and
struggled to bring her breathing under control. All she could think
of was getting to Mace St. John. He'd know what to do and have the
power to do it. God damn it. She looked over at her precious little
girl and asked with as light a tone as she could manage, "So,
uh, how does the rest of that song go?"
 
    Chapter 9
    M ace St. John was
underneath the Bella Donna when Munch pulled into one of the parking
spaces provided for his siding of track. The dogs were with him but
romped over to meet the new arrivals.
    "Where's your ball, Nicky?" Asia asked the
border collie mix. Nicky understood and went bounding off to retrieve
a tennis ball. Sam, the husky-Lab, stayed behind to lavish Asia's
willing face with kisses. The new dog, tied by a rope to the train
car's ornate platform, whimpered loudly.
    "Always the bridesmaid," Asia said,
breaking free from Sam and going over to the tethered hound,