Read Before She Dies for Free Online Page B
Authors: Mary Burton
Rokov, you want Ms. Wellington to rail on you.”
They paused as a minicooper buzzed past and then crossed to the coffee shop. “You’re like a dog with a bone, Sinclair. What set you off today?”
“The new suit for court. Super fancy, even for you.”
“Dad made the suit for me for my birthday.”
“Your birthday was in February.”
“So, maybe it was just time to dust it off.”
“Right.”
“Get it through your head, Sinclair. The suit ain’t about Charlotte Wellington.”
As Rokov opened the coffee shop door, the rich scents of coffee and pastries greeted them. Three customers waited at the register as a kid working behind the counter looking frazzled hustled to fill drink orders. They held back.
“And just for the record,” Sinclair said, “if Samantha White’s husband really beat her as the witnesses during the trial testified, I can’t say I’m against her. Wellington wins points in my book for taking the case on pro bono.”
He pulled off his sunglasses. “I’m sure the good attorney will be relieved to know you approve.”
She chuckled. “She doesn’t give a crap about what anyone thinks about her. She is pure ice.”
Charlotte had been cool and reserved when they’d first met at a cancer fund-raiser a month ago. Her law associate, Angie Carlson, who was married to homicide detective Malcolm Kier, had hosted the event. Rokov had gone as a show of support to a fellow cop’s wife and the cause. Charlotte Wellington was there to support Angie as well. They’d been fish out of water at the festive event and had struck up a casual conversation. At the event she’d been reserved and cool. He’d suggested coffee and somewhere along the way they’d ended up naked in a motel room.
“So you gonna see her again?” Sinclair said.
“There can’t be an again if there wasn’t a first.”
Sinclair nudged him with her elbow. “Come clean.”
“Buzz off.”
The morning crowd at Just Java had cleared, and Rokov reached in his pocket for his badge. He flashed it as the kid looked up at them. “Five-O. What’s the deal?”
“Stella here?”
“Yeah, just a second.” The kid vanished in the back and seconds later returned with an older woman in tow.
She tucked stray strands of gray curly hair behind her ear. “Figured when I saw the cops down the road earlier there was trouble. Kids using drugs this time or vandals? We’ve had trouble with both since that building was abandoned.”
“A woman was found murdered,” Sinclair said. “Her body was left in the building.”
“And you are?” Rokov said.
“Stella Morris. I own the place.”
“Were you here last night?”
“Normally I have Monday nights off but I got a call from the kid who was working the last shift. He was sick and had to go home, so I came in to work the last couple of hours and close up.”
“You see anything? Odd customers? Trouble. A car that didn’t belong?”
Stella rested her hands on her hips. “A few buzzed guys from O’Malley’s wandered in before midnight. And there was a homeless guy who stops by when he can scrap together enough coins.” She raised a finger. “I was closing up around twelve thirty, and I did hear someone shouting.”
“Shouting what?”
“Couldn’t make out the words, but it kinda sounded like howling. Like a wild animal. I figured it was a drunk.”
“What direction was the sound coming from?” Sinclair said.
“By The Wharf. That’s why I thought to mention it.”
“And that was about twelve thirty?” Rokov said.
“Twelve thirty-six as a matter of fact. The sound kind of spooked me. Sent chills up and down my spine and I glanced at my watch because I wanted to remember the time.”
“See anything?”
“Nope. Saw nothing.”
Rokov pulled out his card and handed it to her. “Ever seen a woman around here with a red leather jacket that says Magic ?”
“That sounds like Diane.”
“Diane?”
“I don’t know her last name. She used to come in
They paused as a minicooper buzzed past and then crossed to the coffee shop. “You’re like a dog with a bone, Sinclair. What set you off today?”
“The new suit for court. Super fancy, even for you.”
“Dad made the suit for me for my birthday.”
“Your birthday was in February.”
“So, maybe it was just time to dust it off.”
“Right.”
“Get it through your head, Sinclair. The suit ain’t about Charlotte Wellington.”
As Rokov opened the coffee shop door, the rich scents of coffee and pastries greeted them. Three customers waited at the register as a kid working behind the counter looking frazzled hustled to fill drink orders. They held back.
“And just for the record,” Sinclair said, “if Samantha White’s husband really beat her as the witnesses during the trial testified, I can’t say I’m against her. Wellington wins points in my book for taking the case on pro bono.”
He pulled off his sunglasses. “I’m sure the good attorney will be relieved to know you approve.”
She chuckled. “She doesn’t give a crap about what anyone thinks about her. She is pure ice.”
Charlotte had been cool and reserved when they’d first met at a cancer fund-raiser a month ago. Her law associate, Angie Carlson, who was married to homicide detective Malcolm Kier, had hosted the event. Rokov had gone as a show of support to a fellow cop’s wife and the cause. Charlotte Wellington was there to support Angie as well. They’d been fish out of water at the festive event and had struck up a casual conversation. At the event she’d been reserved and cool. He’d suggested coffee and somewhere along the way they’d ended up naked in a motel room.
“So you gonna see her again?” Sinclair said.
“There can’t be an again if there wasn’t a first.”
Sinclair nudged him with her elbow. “Come clean.”
“Buzz off.”
The morning crowd at Just Java had cleared, and Rokov reached in his pocket for his badge. He flashed it as the kid looked up at them. “Five-O. What’s the deal?”
“Stella here?”
“Yeah, just a second.” The kid vanished in the back and seconds later returned with an older woman in tow.
She tucked stray strands of gray curly hair behind her ear. “Figured when I saw the cops down the road earlier there was trouble. Kids using drugs this time or vandals? We’ve had trouble with both since that building was abandoned.”
“A woman was found murdered,” Sinclair said. “Her body was left in the building.”
“And you are?” Rokov said.
“Stella Morris. I own the place.”
“Were you here last night?”
“Normally I have Monday nights off but I got a call from the kid who was working the last shift. He was sick and had to go home, so I came in to work the last couple of hours and close up.”
“You see anything? Odd customers? Trouble. A car that didn’t belong?”
Stella rested her hands on her hips. “A few buzzed guys from O’Malley’s wandered in before midnight. And there was a homeless guy who stops by when he can scrap together enough coins.” She raised a finger. “I was closing up around twelve thirty, and I did hear someone shouting.”
“Shouting what?”
“Couldn’t make out the words, but it kinda sounded like howling. Like a wild animal. I figured it was a drunk.”
“What direction was the sound coming from?” Sinclair said.
“By The Wharf. That’s why I thought to mention it.”
“And that was about twelve thirty?” Rokov said.
“Twelve thirty-six as a matter of fact. The sound kind of spooked me. Sent chills up and down my spine and I glanced at my watch because I wanted to remember the time.”
“See anything?”
“Nope. Saw nothing.”
Rokov pulled out his card and handed it to her. “Ever seen a woman around here with a red leather jacket that says Magic ?”
“That sounds like Diane.”
“Diane?”
“I don’t know her last name. She used to come in