Read Cropped to Death (Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) for Free Online Page B

a romantic entanglement with the sexy neighbor.
    I opened the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of ice tea. I needed to focus away from the feelings running loose in my head. Marilyn. Think about Marilyn’s situation.
    Wait, Steve was a prosecutor. He could help me. Her. Help her.
    “Roget took all the sharp-tip scissors from the store. Michael had to have been killed with a pair. So, it couldn’t be Marilyn.”
    Steve paused, half of a plastic lid off the larger bowl, the other half remained attached. His unnerving deep brown gaze settled on me. “Why are you telling me this?”
    I wandered over to the table and placed the pitcher down. Why in the world did I think this would be easy? I was cute, but not that cute. Actually, a plan like this called for hotness and my attire did nothing for achieving that effect.
    Not that I wanted to look hot for Steve.
    “Faith,” he said through gritted teeth.
    I hated that warning tone, especially from a man. “I just thought all the facts about Marilyn’s cropping habits should be out in the open.”
    “Thanks for telling me.” He looked around the kitchen. “Where’s the silverware?”
      I reached up and took two glasses from the cabinet. “In the drawer near the sink. Marilyn hates using sharp-tip scissors. Loathes them, actually. She never uses them when scrapbooking.”
    Steve sighed in an I-give-up manner. “Since you need to talk about this, I’ll grant your wish. Let’s start with the scissors in question weren’t used in the pursuit of a hobby.”
    The frosted white glasses clinked on the top of the gold and red toned granite counter top. I planted my hands on my hips, spun, and faced him. “She didn’t do it.”
    “I’m not saying that.”
    “Then what are you saying?”
    He ran a hand over his smooth head. “You should let the police do their job.”
    A scratch and howl at the back door diverted my attention. I plucked a can of cat food from a lower cabinet and ripped the top off. “I am. I let them search the store and didn’t stop them from taking anything they claimed was evidence.”
    “I’m glad to hear that.” Steve roved his gaze to the door then back to me. “Are you still feeding that cat?”
    “He’s hungry.”
    Ol’ Yowler, an orange tabby tomcat, had taken to me a few months ago. Of course, feeding an animal gained a person some loyalty. I handed Steve the bowl. “You feed him and I’ll serve us.”
    Us. The word caused a jump in my pulse. I switched the subject. “Do you think Marilyn will get released on bail tonight?”
    Steve opened up the back door and placed the bowl on the ground. Yowler hissed. Steve jerked his hand back and slammed the door. I pressed back my smile. Yowler was a very jealous male.
    “I changed my mind,” Steve said. “Let’s talk about something else.”
    There wasn’t anything else to talk about for me. My life revolved around my job and hobby, which linked to Marilyn. A chill worked itself down my spine. “Do you think she’ll spend the night in jail?”
    “I don’t know.” Steve nodded at the food growing cold. “How about you eat?”
    “Could you call and find out? What about her children?” I bit my lip and tilted my head, pleading with my eyes. “Maybe you can talk to someone and let them know the other details.”
    “What other details?” Steve pulled out a chair and motioned for me to sit.
    “Like the fact Michael told Marilyn, who told me, the woman’s baby wasn’t his. That should be important.” I remained standing.
    “That’s hearsay. Stay out of the investigation, Faith.”
    “I don’t want to be part of the investigation. I only want to give the police all the information. I don’t want Marilyn to be charged with a crime because of what I said. That detective wouldn’t listen to anything I said unless it hurt Marilyn. He doesn’t like me.” I heard the whine in my voice and clamped my lips shut.
    Steve looked into my eyes. The compassion and care he felt for