Read Dirty Secrets for Free Online Page B

alone since his divorce. It had been so hard on Megan, he hadn’t wanted to add to the disruption in her life with a parade of girlfriends. So his love life had remained unfulfilled for three years. As had his sex life.
    But Emma was coming. He gritted his teeth against a sudden surge of need.
Don’t be a fool
. They’d have dinner. They’d talk. And she’d go home to Cincinnati, her curiosity appeased. And he would remain a single dad, which was his most important priority anyway. He put his arm around Megan’s shoulders and sniffed. “What smells so good? Did you cook dinner?”
    “If I did, it wouldn’t smell so good. Uncle Jerry brought a bucket of KFC. Come on, Dad, sit down and eat.”
    As Megan’s godfather, Jerry had been “Uncle” since she’d learned how to talk. What a huge help he’d been in planning the funeral. Darrell had been one of Jerry’s physics students, so he’d known him, although not as well as Christopher had. That Jerry brought food was a typically thoughtful gesture. “That was nice of him. Let’s go before he eats it all.” He found Jerry standing at the kitchen window, staring at the channel that flowed past the end of Christopher’s back yard on its way to Tampa Bay. “Jerry?”
    Jerry turned, a drumstick in one hand. The sadness in his eyes disappeared as he forced a smile for their benefit. “I got twenty pieces. You can eat it tomorrow, too.”
    Christopher moved the bucket to the table while Megan pulled down plates and glasses. “Sit, Jerry. You look as tired as I feel.”
    Jerry sat with a sigh. “How is Darrell’s mother?”
    “About like you’d think. Some people from her church brought casseroles and cakes, so the boys won’t go hungry, but without Darrell’s salary . . . I don’t know what they’re going to do.”
    Then in a moment that he knew he’d always remember, his daughter bit at her lower lip, then shrugged. “I have a little of my own in savings, Daddy, almost fourteen hundred dollars. Give it to Mrs. Roberts.”
    Christopher sat still, pursing his lips against the sudden rise of emotion, prouder than he’d ever been. “You were saving that money for a car, Megan.”
    “I won’t be able to drive for three years anyway. That gives me time to save more.”
    Jerry cleared his throat, his eyes moist. “And who says America’s teenagers are selfish? Chris, I’ve got some rainy day cash set aside. You can have that, too.”
    “Maybe we can have a fundraiser,” Megan said, excitement lifting her voice for the first time in days. “All the students can help. Tanya and Ian and Nate. And we can call the students that graduated last year and the year before. I know they’ll want to help.”
    “I’ve got a friend at the University TV station,” Jerry said. “He can help you get the word out.”
    Megan beamed. “That’s great. We can do a car wash and a raffle.”
    Christopher sat back and listened to her plan, but the car washes and raffles began to run together and his mind began to wander. To Saturday night. Emma was coming.
    * * *
    St. Pete, Thursday, February 25, 2:00 a.m.
    “You fucked up.”
    He closed his eyes, his stomach liquid and queasy. “I know.” They’d kill him now. Maybe it would be for the best. He’d never be able to live with what he’d done.
    “You said they’d think it was an accident.”
    “I thought they would.”
    “Don’t lie to me.”
    He stiffened when a rope was pulled tight around his throat. Then loosened, left to lie on his shoulders, taunting him. “If you’re going to kill me, then do it, for God’s sake.”
    The rope tightened, leaving just enough space for him to take a labored breath. “I’ll kill you when and if I’m ready. Now I want information. There’s a private detective asking questions about Walker. Why?”
    “I don’t know.” The rope tightened and he gave in to reflex and tried to pull it away from his throat, tried to free even a millimeter for breath to flow. “I