Read A Good Man Gone (Mercy Watts Mysteries) for Free Online Page A

was a pleasure to view with his sinewy muscles, broad shoulders, and hooded blue eyes. Still, Chuck couldn’t be considered conventionally handsome. He had thinning hair and pockmarks on his cheeks, but those flaws added to his allure. Dad said it was lucky he had them or he would’ve gotten nowhere on the force. It doesn’t pay to be too good-looking in a job like Chuck’s.
    “Hey, Mercy,” he said and gave me a hug that lasted a couple of seconds too long. No one else seemed to notice.
    “Back off, you stink,” I said.
    “Is that any way to greet your favorite cousin?”
    “You’re not my favorite cousin. We’re not even blood-related.”
    “Even better.” Chuck smiled the smile that melted the hearts of every single one of my friends, including my best friend Ellen. She took him to our prom. I haven’t quite forgiven her for that one.
    “Give it up. We’re still cousins by marriage and that’s bad enough.” I shook his arm off me.
    “Mercy girl, what are you doing here?” asked Dale Crudup from the corner.
    “Hey, Dale. Just here to say hi to Dr. Grace.”
    “Oh, yeah?” Dale raised his eyebrows and came forward to give me a more welcome hug. “Didn’t know you knew Grace.”
    “Through Dad. You know how it is.”
    “How come you don’t mind Dale’s stink?” said Chuck.
    “I don’t mind Dale in any form.”
    “I say she doesn’t mind because Dale stands as far from the slab as possible.” A detective I didn’t recognize came forward and shook my hand. “Chris Nazir. You must be Mercy Watts.”
    “My reputation precedes me,” I said.
    “Your description anyway. You do look great on film,” said Chuck.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You should wear that leopard bra more often.”
    “I don’t have a leopard bra and, even if I did, you’d never see it,” I said in a manner I hoped was convincing. I loved my leopard bra.
    Detective Nazir blushed and said, “It’s nice to meet you, Mercy.”
    Chuck gave me a sly, knowing grin that made me feel like I needed a shower, and the rest of the crew shuffled their feet in the following silence.
    “So what are you doing here? Big case?” I asked.
    “Um, yeah. We pulled a couple more bodies from Sternberger Lake,” said Nazir.
    “Five detectives for two autopsies?” I said.
    “We’re up to four bodies now and Watts caught the bride, too,” said Dale.
    “Bride?” I said.
    “You know, the bride strangled in the crying room right after her wedding reception,” said Chuck. “And the lake’s a nasty one. I earned this stink.”
    “You guys should bring a change of clothes with you,” I said.
    “Nah. It doesn’t bother us. I’d think you’d be used to it too. I bet your dad came home smelling worse than us plenty,” Dale said.
    “I imagine he did, but Mom made him come in through the basement. He’d shower and change down there,” I said.
    “Glad my wife hasn’t thought of that yet,” said Nazir.
    Dale clapped Nazir on the back. “Shit, she’s probably just glad to see you. Nazir here is following in the steps of Tommy Watts. Twenty-hour days and all.”
    “He’ll get over it,” said Chuck.
    “You haven’t,” I said.
    Chuck was my father’s protégé. He filled the sad vacancy I left when I decided against the family business. Chuck is the son I refused to be.
    “It’s a dirty job, but I love it,” said Chuck.
    “That’s because you have a dirty mind,” I said.
    “Don’t you know it.”
    “Actually, I don’t and I don’t want to.”
    “Burn,” said Dale. “You gotta love a girl like that.”
    “On that note, I’m off to see Dr. Grace. Good luck on the lake case.”
    I went down the hall to Grace’s office, knocked and received a quick “Come in.”
    “Hi. Are you busy?” I said.
    “No more than usual. Glad you’re here. I just finished Mr. Flouder.” Dr. Grace took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and yawned. “Sorry, I’ve been here all night.”
    “Not on my account, I