Double Take Read Online Free Page B

He himself called his longtime friend Manny Dolan, told him what was happening, but he didn’t tell him Julia’s name.
    â€œDamn, Cheney, I think June wanted to jump your bones. She’s not a happy camper.”
    â€œKeep repeating what a hero I am, okay?”
    â€œYeah, sure. Have fun with the widow.”
    When Julia joined him again, she said only, “Wallace wanted to come over, but I told him no. Believe me, you don’t want a flamboyant psychic medium interacting with cops. Not a good mix.”
    â€œNo,” Cheney said slowly, “I don’t suppose it would be.”

CHAPTER 5
    Captain Frank Paulette arrived with the two inspectors who’d been the leads on the Dr. August Ransom murder case the previous fall and into the winter—Inspector Rainy Bigger and Inspector Allen Whitten.
    The two inspectors nodded at Julia Ransom, saying nothing at all. Cheney saw a flash of contempt on Inspector Rainy Bigger’s face, which made him frown, but there was only professional indifference on Inspector Allen Whitten’s face. Frank stepped forward and introduced himself to Julia, shook her thin white hand.
    Cheney noticed there was no wedding ring on her finger, no jewelry of any kind.
    â€œYou’re sure you don’t want to see a doctor, Mrs. Ransom? That bruise on your jaw looks pretty bad.”
    She lightly touched her fingertips to her jaw, opened and closed her mouth a couple of times. “It’s not broken, only looks bad. Thank you for your concern, Captain Paulette.” She looked at Inspectors Whitten and Bigger, weary resignation on her face. “Please come in. This is Agent Cheney Stone.”
    Both Bigger and Whitten shook his hand. A fed, Cheney knew they were thinking, and that meant they wondered whether he enjoyed kicking local cops before breakfast.
    Inspector Rainy Bigger gave Julia the once-over, not bothering to mask her dislike. “You’re looking particularly well, considering someone smacked you in the face and dumped you into the bay, Mrs. Ransom.”
    Julia knew Bigger believed she’d killed August and had gotten away with it. She hated how the inspector’s hostility made her feel defensive, reduced her to feeling unworthy to be alive. She said, voice clipped, “Thank you. Good genes.”
    â€œOr something else altogether,” said Inspector Bigger.
    Julia said, “Agent Stone, do you think I smacked myself in the jaw, then happily hopped over the railing into the bay for a nice evening swim?”
    â€œNo, of course not,” Cheney said, and sent Inspector Bigger a back-off look.
    â€œNo, that isn’t what you mean, is it, Inspector Bigger?” Julia said slowly. “You’re thinking a falling out among villains, perhaps?”
    Inspector Bigger kept her mouth shut, but gave an elaborate shrug.
    Cheney was relieved the inspector did have some minimal sense of professionalism.
    Inspector Whitten said, “It would appear someone is out to hurt you, Mrs. Ransom.”
    â€œI’m thinking the knife put it beyond the ‘hurt me’ stage, Inspector Whitten,” Julia said.
    He nodded toward a beautiful Impressionist painting hanging over the Carrara marble fireplace. “That new?”
    â€œYou mean did I purchase it with my ill-gotten gains?” That’s exactly what he meant, Cheney realized, but he didn’t say anything. He wanted to hear what Julia would say.
    Julia said, “August wasn’t fond of the Impressionists. I am. I brought it down from my study. It’s a Sisley. My husband bought it for me as a wedding present. Do you like it, Inspector Whitten?”
    â€œWell, yes, I do. Bet it cost Dr. Ransom a bundle. So who do you think is after you, ma’am?”
    â€œThe man wasn’t a mugger or some crazy drug addict. Given how he behaved, what he did—it occurred to me he could be the person who murdered my husband. He would have killed me if