Read Just Desserts for Free Online Page A

the wind out of his sails.
    “If you would, please, come with me.” Savannah turned to Beverly and gently took her elbow. “Down this way. It won’t take long, I promise, and then it’ll be over.”
    Feeling the woman stiffen at her touch, Savannah instantly released her. “I’m all right, Detective Reid,” she said, lifting her chin. “Let’s get on with it.”
    Savannah wondered, not for the first time, if a prominent jawline truly was indicative of strong character. In Councilwoman Winston’s case, it appeared to be so.
    With a wave of her hand Savannah gestured toward the corridor to their right. “This way,” she said, matching Winston’s curt tone. If the councilwoman wanted businesslike rather than maternal treatment, no problem.
    Savannah’s leather-soled, sensible flats made no sound to accompany the staccato clicking of Beverly’s Gucci pumps as they walked briskly down the hall. The gray linoleum floor glistened, reflecting white circles of light from the institutional fixtures overhead.
    Glancing at Beverly, Savannah was somewhat surprised by her cool, collected demeanor. Of all the times she had walked people down this far-too-long corridor to view the remains of their loved ones, Savannah had never seen such a subdued reaction.
    Even if the person being conducted down the hall later turned out to have been the killer, he or she usually showed more emotion than this.
    “How long have you and Mr. Winston been married?” she asked. She supposed it was a bit tactless to bring up the subject at a time like this, but it would have been more awkward to continue on in silence or to try to make small talk about the weather or the last Lakers’ game.
    “Twenty-three years,” Beverly replied in a flat monotone. “We married very young. The first two years were good.”
    “And the rest?” Savannah asked, pressing gently.
    “The rest were convenient.”
    Unaccustomed to such candor, Savannah gave Beverly a quick sideways glance, which she intercepted. The woman stopped abruptly in the middle of the hall and took a deep breath. “Detective Reid,” she said, “I’m not going to insult your intelligence by lying to you. By the time you’re finished with your investigation you’ll know that my marriage was ... rocky, at best.”
    Savannah returned her steady gaze. “I appreciate that, Beverly. A bit of honesty goes a long way in trying to uncover the truth.”
    “The truth is ... if that body in there is Jonathan, I won’t be surprised. I’ve been expecting something like this. My husband has been committed to a self-destructive path for years. It was only a matter of time.”
    “You seem pretty certain it is him.”
    She shrugged, and her expression became even more bitter. “Call it a hunch,” she said.
    A door to their left opened and an attractive, petite Asian woman stepped into the hall. She wore a white smock and a gentle smile that radiated an unearthly serenity.
    Savannah beckoned her. “Dr. Liu, this is Councilwoman Beverly Winston,” she said. “She’s here to see if she can identify this morning’s homicide victim.”
    “Yes, of course. He’s here in the examining room,” she said, indicating a set of double doors farther down the hall. “Give me a moment, please, and then you can come on in.”
    Savannah knew the coroner would be draping the body, preparing it to be viewed with the least amount of emotional trauma to the parties involved. One look at Beverly told her that she, too, had understood the purpose of the delay.
    Gone was the congenial politician who had shaken her hand only half an hour ago. She appeared exhausted, pale and drawn, with the practiced facade lowered. Beverly Winston seemed to have aged ten years in the past thirty minutes.
    For a moment the woman closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips to her temples. Savannah could only imagine how badly her head must be aching.
    Once again the heavy silence between them grew thicker by the second.