Read Classified as Murder for Free Online

anything has at least one eccentric among its ranks. And I’m it for the Harris clan.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind when Laura and I arrange for the competency hearings,” he said, totally deadpan.
    This was more like the Sean I knew, always ready with a witty retort. He did look better this morning after a good night’s sleep. All he needed now was plenty of good food to put back on some much-needed weight, and he’d be back to normal—physically, at least.
    “Did you have breakfast? When I came down this morning it looked like you’d been up at some point and had something to eat.” I went to the sink for a glass of water.
    “That was a snack about three this morning,” Sean said. “I stopped at a fast-food place just now and had something before I went to the grocery store.” He snapped his fingers, and Dante’s head popped up. “Come on, dog, I think you need to run around in the backyard and burn up some of that restless energy. See you later, Dad.”
    Dante followed Sean toward the door into the hall, and Diesel went with them.
    “Hold on a second, Sean,” I said, and he turned to look back at me. “About lunch. I thought I might take you to one of my favorite places. It’s about a fifteen-minute walk from here, and we can take the guys with us.”
    “Must be an interesting place if it allows animals,” Sean said. He shrugged. “Sure, why not? When do you want to go?”
    “Eleven,” I said.
    “See you then.” Sean disappeared down the hall with his two companions.
    I finished my glass of water and thought about Sean’s manner toward me. He was polite, but distant. Perhaps I could get him to open up a little more during the walk or over lunch. The more I could get him to relax, the better. I decided I’d read until it was time to leave and went upstairs to my bedroom.
    At eleven Sean met me at the front door with Dante on his leash. “So, where are we going?” Sean asked when we were outside on the front walk.
    “The square. There’s a French bakery there, and the owner, Helen Louise Brady, is an old friend of mine and your mother’s.”
    “Sounds interesting.” Sean glanced at me briefly. “Lunch will be my treat.”
    “Sure. Helen Louise has a limited lunch menu, but everything on it is delicious.” During the walk I told Sean about the job Mr. Delacorte wanted me to do. He whistled when I told him the hourly rate. “That’s more than a lot of lawyers make.”
    “It’s extremely generous, but I didn’t try to argue with him.”
    “What about this family of his?” Sean said. “Do you know any of them?”
    “No, I don’t,” I replied. “And I’ll admit I’m very curious about them. Especially if one of them is stealing books from the collection.”
    “You’d better hope whoever’s doing it doesn’t turn nasty when they find out what you’re doing there.” Sean tugged at Dante’s leash when the poodle stopped to sniff at a shrub.
    “That’s for Mr. Delacorte to handle,” I said firmly.
    A few minutes later we arrived at Helen Louise’s place, and Sean stopped by an empty table on the patio. “If you want to go in first, I’ll stay out here and watch the guys.” He indicated Diesel and Dante with a nod.
    I smiled. “It’s okay. Helen Louise spent some time in Paris. Having animals in the bakery doesn’t bother her.”
    “Isn’t it a violation of the health code here to have them inside?” Sean frowned, looking very stern and lawyerish.
    “Technically, yes, but I take Diesel in with me all the time. So far no one’s raised a fuss about it. And if anyone does, Helen Louise would probably kick them out and not let them back in.” I laughed as I opened the door and motioned for Sean and Dante to precede me and Diesel.
    Sean shrugged. “If you say it’s okay.” Dante, already excited by the delicious smells, strained at his leash.
    I glanced at my watch. Our leisurely walk had taken us twenty minutes, but we were still here well before the usual