The Wife of a Lesser Man (LA Cops Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

was what I would have done, rather than interrupt everything.  I’ll be home in a few days from what the doctor said right before I went under.”
    I nodded.  Mark’s face looked into mine and he reached out to touch my cheek.  “Life sure is about to change”.  His face looked solemn; his eyes looked glossy and kept moving from side to side, following my eyes. 
    “It sure is,” I said.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
    It was Mark’s first week back to work after the heart attack; he and Richard sat in his  office eating lunch.  Luckily things had been quiet since Mark had been away and his deputy chief Andy Kerrington was able to manage everything during his convalescence.  They were beginning to gear up for Thanksgiving: crime tended to rise slightly during holidays.  Last year there had been two shootings and a home invasion on Thanksgiving Day and since the economy had taken somewhat of a nosedive and there was an election looming, statisticians projected that things could be worse this year.
    Andy’s head popped in and he casually threw a file on Mark’s desk “Here’s the Reed file you asked for.”
    “Hm. Thanks Andy.”  A woman named Karen Reed was murdered during Mark’s absence, and he wanted to be updated.
    Andy nodded at Richard; Richard nodded back and said, “Hey, how’s it goin’ Andy?”  Andy nodded and closed the door.
    When Mark and Richard first met, they were partners working the beat together.  Richard was married at the time to Wendy.  She was a high school counsellor, and they met through a mutual college friend.  The shift work tore them apart and Wendy couldn’t have kids which didn’t help.  They were only married for five years.  If Wendy wasn’t home they would go to the local pub together and have dinner and a beer.  Shelley and Mark met a few years into Richard’s marriage. 
    “What’s goin’ on anyway?  Richard asked.  “Hate being back to the grind or what?”
    “Nah.  It’s all these damn changes.  Diet, pills, exercise.  I hated it before the heart attack, and I still hate it,” Mark spat, covering his fist over his mouth to let out a burp.
    “Well be thankful you’re alive.  That’s more than I can say for ol’ Karen Reed here.”  Richard said, opening up the file that Andy left.  He began leafing through the pictures and statements from the witnesses.
    “Jesus.  I didn’t know she was only forty.  I only heard talk from Noonan and Hobbs when they got back from the Coroner’s Office.  A damn shame.  Shot.  Point blank in the forehead in her own home.  No witnesses except the neighbours; they heard the shot I suppose.”  Richard’s head shook slowly from side to side and his face frowned as he read the notes from the first cop on the scene.  He took the last bite of his sandwich and scrunched up the plastic bag.  Looking at Mark, he asked, “Are you done?” and extended his hand, offering to throw Mark’s garbage in the basket with his.  Mark balled up the waxed paper and handed it to Richard.  “Thanks,” he said, turning his attention back to the file.
    “Any prints?”  Mark asked, glad the subject had changed.
    “None.  Must have used gloves.  No forced entry, no sign of a struggle accept for a tear in her living room drapes.” 
    “Any kids?  Husband?  Boyfriend?”  Mark asked.
    “Nope.  Divorced.  Ex died last year in a car accident.  Drunk driver.”
    “Well that’s a relief.  Thank god no kids were around to see that,” Mark said, recalling the murder that made him chief.  Every time a new murder case came up, he was reminded of how bad it could be.  James Gruber had served his sentence for raping and murdering a middle aged woman.  He escaped during his parole and went out again to rape and murder another woman.  He had a thing for performing his crimes in front of children, even though he never touched them. 
    “Yeah.  Tell me about