Sally Berneathy - Death by Chocolate 01 - Death by Chocolate Read Online Free Page A

don’t know! I swear to you, I’ve never heard of Lester Mackey.”
    “Where were you last night between the hours of eight and ten?” Trent demanded, taking advantage of her distress.
    Nice eyes or not, I’d had enough of this man badgering my friend. I set Zach on the floor and stepped forward, moving up beside her, closer to Trent than she was.
    “Does Ms. Walters need to call an attorney?” I demanded.
    He folded his arms and rocked slightly backward, one eyebrow lifted. “That depends. Has Ms. Walters done something illegal?”
    How the hell should I know? But I didn’t say that. “If you don’t think she’s done anything illegal, why are you grilling her?”
    “I’m just checking out a missing persons report.”
    I scowled at him and he scowled at me. “So this Lester Mackey disappeared last night between the hours of eight and ten?”
    “That’s right.”
    “Don’t you have to wait forty-eight hours or something before you check on missing people unless there’s suspicion of foul play?” I watch all those cop shows. I know these things.
    Creighton looked to Trent as if waiting for him to field the question.
    “Usually,” the detective said after a long moment. “Now , is it my turn to ask a question?”
    “It’s okay, Lindsay,” Paula said quietly before I could respond to Trent’s sarcasm. “I’ll answer the question. I was at home all night. I left work a little after four, picked up Zach at the baby sitter’s, took him to the park, and I’ve been right here since about six last night.”
    “Alone?”
    “Yes, of course alone, except for my son.”
    “Why do you want to know?” I was feeling very defensive on Paula’s behalf and, I admit it, very curious. “Who is this Lester Mackey person and what’s happened to him? Why are you checking out his disappearance so fast?”
    Trent scowled at me again. “Who are you?”
    “I’m Lindsay Powell. I’m her sister.”
    “No, you’re not. She doesn’t have a sister.”
    Aha! So he’d checked into her background. This was getting deeper all the time.
    “Well, I’m her best friend.”
    Trent and I did some more glaring and sizing each other up. I could tell he was thinking about asking me to leave and I was thinking about refusing.
    “On that piece of paper in Lester Mackey’s apartment,” Creighton said, breaking the silence, “right beneath Ms. Walters’ phone number was yesterday’s date and a time, eight o’clock. Mr. Mackey left on an appointment and never returned home. His apartment manager was worried and called us.”
    “Failing to return home from an appointment equals suspicion of foul play?” I asked. Gee, all those nights I could have had the cops out looking for Rick.
    Trent gave Creighton a warning glance. There was more to the story, but they weren’t going to tell us.
    Zach, tired of being ignored, chose that moment to charge over , wielding his favorite truck. “Here!” Grinning happily, he clutched Creighton’s pant leg in one sweaty little hand and held the toy up to him with the other.
    “Hey, what you got there?” Gun belt creaking, Creighton squatted down to the kid’s level and accepted the truck. “Cool wheels.”
    “Zach!” Paula stooped and lifted her son, snatching him away as though she thought the cop would harm him. “Don’t bother the policeman,” Paula said, her face pale again, the panic back in her voice and her eyes. “He’s working. Why don’t you go to your room and play with your purple dinosaur? Mommy won’t be much longer, and then I promise we’ll go to the park.” She set him down. “Go on now.” He raised his arms for a hug. She hugged him then patted his diapered bottom and sent him from the room.
    “Bye!” he called.
    “Bye!” we all responded, even the cops. Creighton smiled, but Trent winced and his lips clenched as if he’d suddenly realized what he’d done…let his macho façade slip. Kinda cute. He’d probably clench his lips even harder if he