Read Online You Belong to Me by Karen Rose - Free Book Online Page A

Russ Bennett. He sure fooled me. Fooled us both .
    Gwyn needs to know . Before Lucy knew it, she was dialing.
    ‘Mel’s Morgue. You stab ’em, we slab ’em,’ Gwyn deadpanned.
    On any other day Lucy would have laughed. Today she had to swallow back a sob. ‘It’s Lucy.’
    ‘Well, duh. I can see the caller ID. You think I answer that way for everybody?’
    ‘No. Of course not.’ Lucy had to stop. Suddenly her heart was beating way too fast again as her mind raced. What am I doing?
    You can’t tell her. If the cops find out you told her Russ is dead, you could both be in trouble . Because Gwyn had also known Russ. Known , as Ruby would have said, and that hadn’t been pretty. At all. Gwyn needed to know Russ was dead, but not until the Bennetts had been informed. And not until the cops knew it all.
    Gwyn had not done this. Lucy had never been more sure of anything in her life. But Gwyn would still be a suspect. Just like me .
    You can’t let them blindside her. She’ll be so hurt. She’ll hate you forever .
    No, Lucy knew that wasn’t true. Gwyn wasn’t capable of hating anyone forever.
    Not like I have . But that was an issue for another day.
    ‘Lucy? What’s wrong? Are you okay, honey?’
    She couldn’t tell Gwyn, not yet. ‘Um, I need to talk to Thorne.’
    ‘What happened?’ Gwyn demanded.
    ‘Don’t be mad, but I can’t tell you yet. Please, put me through to Thorne.’ Thomas Thorne was Gwyn’s boss, their friend, and one of the best bass players in the city. Today Lucy cared more that he was also one of the best defense attorneys in the city.
    ‘He’s in court,’ Gwyn said worriedly. ‘But I’ll have him call you as soon as he gets out. This is about that body this morning, isn’t it? The one you were supposed to find.’
    Normally Lucy admired Gwyn’s quick mind. Today, not so much. ‘Yes.’
    ‘Lucy, just tell me you’re okay. Are you in any danger?’
    ‘No. I’m here in the morgue. I’m okay, I promise. And I’ll tell you as soon as I can.’
    ‘Okay,’ Gwyn said doubtfully. ‘Come to the club tonight. It’ll make you feel better.’
    After the day she’d had, the club sounded like nirvana. ‘If I can, I will.’
    ‘Mowry says people have been calling to ask if you’re coming in.’
    ‘If I can, I will.’ If I’m not in jail. Again . The thought terrified. Again .
    ‘Look, I’m meeting Royce for lunch. Why don’t you join us? I’ll ask him to invite one of the guys from his office for you.’
    Lucy wanted to scream. No, I cannot meet you for lunch. I am in trouble here . But of course she did not. ‘No thanks. I’ve got a ton of work. You two have a good time.’
    ‘Mel’s Morgue is always bursting at the seams,’ Gwyn said fretfully and Lucy knew her friend had not been convinced. ‘You’ve got to eat.’
    No, I don’t. I really don’t . Nausea was clawing at the back of her throat and she swallowed it back down, injecting a calm smile into her voice so that Gwyn would stop worrying. ‘I ate a really late breakfast so I’m not hungry. You have fun with Royce, and thank him again for me. It was sweet of you two to wait around for my late flight last night. I appreciated the ride.’
    She looked up when the door opened. It was Craig Mulhauser, and he looked upset. Not angry, but very, very concerned and both the smile and the calm she’d conjured disintegrated. ‘I have to go, hon. Have Thorne call as soon as he can.’
    She put her phone on the counter, squared her shoulders. ‘I was calling my attorney,’ she told him.
    ‘Probably wise, just to be on the safe side. Ruby told me that it’s Bennett. I’ll stay here with you until the detectives come. Then we’ll play it by ear.’ He smiled, but his was as forced as hers had been. ‘I wouldn’t worry, Lucy. You’re an innocent bystander here. You haven’t done a thing wrong.’
    This time , was his unspoken implication. Grimly she remembered her last exchange with a living and livid Russell