Read The Lady Who Cried Murder (A Mac Faraday Mystery) for Free Online Page B

up in her bed in the corner behind Chelsea’s desk.
    David set Chelsea’s briefcase on her desk. Seeing the county prosecutor in his office, he called out, “Good morning, Ben.”
    “David! Morning!” Ben got up from behind his desk and rushed out of the office. His pace told David that he wanted to talk to him before he had a chance to leave. “What’s this I hear about Khloe Everest getting murdered yesterday?” Spotting his assistant, he greeted her with a nod of his head. “Nice to see you, Chelsea.”
    Seeing the prosecutor dressed in khaki slacks and a blue sweater, the police chief surmised he didn’t have any court appearances scheduled for the day. “Khloe wasn’t murdered yesterday,” David said. “She was murder five days ago. I found her body yesterday.”
    “Bogie told me that her house appeared to have been searched.” Ben folded his arms across his chest. His furrowed brow put a crease in his forehead. His blue bloodlines and privileged upbringing had taught him how to handle difficult situations with grace. A furrowed eyebrow on Ben’s face was uncommon.
    “I think so,” David said. “It’s hard to say because the place was trashed anyway.”
    “Too bad,” Ben said. “Ed Willingham, Florence’s attorney, is coming in from Washington this morning. Can we meet with you this afternoon?”
    “What about?”
    “We may have some information that will help you with the case.”
    “I’ll appreciate anything you can give me.” David refrained from giving into his curiosity and asking for that information up front.
    “Now the bad news.” A playful curl came to Ben’s lips before he bent over to pet Molly.
    “Of course you would have bad news.” David shot a glanced at Chelsea who had taken her seat behind her desk.
    “Bevis Palazzi is revving up to stick his nose into your case,” Ben said, “and he’s got enough juice that he may be able to do it.”
    “Bevis Palazzi as in Senator Harry Palazzi?” Chelsea asked.
    “Bevis was friends with Khloe,” David said. “He’s also an arrogant jerk.”
    “Keep this under your hats,” Ben said. “The governor is planning to retire at the end of this term. He hasn’t announced it yet. Since it seems like Senator Palazzi is never going to retire, Bevis decided to start his political career as governor. He’s using whatever means necessary to get his name in the headlines, and how better than by playing the victim’s advocate for his dead friend? Since his father is a United States Senator, he is not without influence.”
    “So I may be forced to have him under foot like a bad piece of chewing gum,” David said.
    “Exactly,” Ben said. “Now here’s the good news.”
    “What? You have some good news?”
    “The governor is not Bevis’ biggest fan,” Ben said. “He’s a friend of mine and Catherine’s. Off the record, he calls Bevis a degenerate and is not thrilled with his party grooming him to take over as governor. He’s told me that it’s enough to make him want to not retire. That’s pretty bad. He only supports Bevis publicly because some big backers in his party think Bevis can carry on his father’s legacy. If that pain in the butt gets too bad, give me a call and I’ll ask the governor to reel him in.”
    “That’s why I have you on speed dial.”
    With a smile at Chelsea and David, Ben went back into his office.
    David leaned over her chair to whisper into her ear. “What’s your answer about lunch?”
    In spite of her effort to prevent it, a coy smile came to her lips. “It sounds like your day is already planned.”
    “I can fit you in,” he replied. “I’ll swing by before going back to Spencer after meeting with Doc.”
    “You don’t give up.” She watched his back on his way out the door.
    “Never.”

Chapter Four
    “Sorry I’m late.” Mac practically ran through the door in his rush into the medical examiner’s office. He found David and Dr. Washington standing over the examination