A Job to Kill For Read Online Free PDF Page A

and Ryan had been close buddies since about second grade, and our families had become friends, too. Last year, the boys had been doubles partners on the school tennis team. Ryan got all his racket skills from his dad—attorney Jack Rosenfeld.
    I’d run out of the Crawfords’ so fast that I forgot that Jack was on his way.
    “Tell Ryan everything’s okay,” I said, pulling out my cell phone to call Jack directly.
    Grant relayed the message, but then he listened to Ryan for a minute, and his face darkened.
    “Mom, it’s not okay,” Grant said, turning back to me. “Ryan says some woman got murdered. You were at her apartment. Mr. Rosenfeld went over to get you out of hot water.”
    “We don’t know the woman was murdered,” I said, ignoring the comment about my being in hot water. At least it wasn’t boiling.
    “Murdered?” asked Ashley, her eyes getting wide and her voice rising. “Who was murdered? Oh my God, who was murdered now ?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” I muttered.
    “A woman got murdered and it doesn’t matter ?” asked Ashley, practically screeching.
    We all stared at one another.
    “Mom, are you in the middle of a murder again?” Grant asked bluntly.
    “I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” I said. “Or maybe the right place. I tried to save her.”
    “Are you a suspect?” asked Grant.
    “Of course not.”
    Ashley started moaning. “I can’t handle another killer in the family,” she said, groaning.
    I wanted to remind her that we had no killers, criminals, or crooks in the family. Her father had been totally cleared of all charges months ago. But who could speak reason to a teenager? Give Ashley an hour with Spinoza, and the entire Rationalist theory would go out the window.
    Grant handed me his cell phone. “Ryan just conferenced in his dad. Talk to him.”
    I took Grant’s RAZR and heard Jack Rosenfeld’s booming voice.
    “Lacy, are you there? It’s Jack. I just left the Crawfords’. I tried calling you half a dozen times. I was getting worried.”
    I glanced at my own Motorola and realized I’d unwittingly set the ringer on mute. If only these hi-tech toys had buttons you could actually see.
    “Sorry, Jack, I should have called. I raced out to Jimmy’s swim meet.”
    “Frankly it’s just as well you got out when you did,” Jack said ominously. “Roger started strutting around demanding action, and the police went into panic mode. You and I need to talk.”
    I opened my mouth and then closed it again. Ashley and Grant stood staring at me. Ryan might still be listening on the line. From the corner of my eye, I saw Jimmy running toward us with his ribbon. (Didn’t anybody tell kids not to run on slippery surfaces anymore?)
    “Where should we meet?” I asked Jack, hoping Jimmy would understand if I missed his medley for a murder. “Your office?”
    “Actually, I’m heading over to Beverly Hills to pick up something for Gina. Today’s our anniversary.” He cleared his throat. “Uh, want to meet me? I could use some advice on necklaces. Gina loves your taste.”
    I gave a little smile. Fair swap. Jack needed something pretty to put around his wife’s neck. And I apparently needed someone to save mine.
    “Be there shortly,” I said.
     
     
    Traffic moved slowly on Santa Monica Boulevard, so I turned north onto Sunset Boulevard and drove west. What happened to the famed LA smog when you needed it? The sunny blue sky blazed so brightly that even my oversized Chanel sunglasses couldn’t keep out the glare. I sped easily along Sunset and turned south on Rodeo Drive, getting caught only briefly at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard. My roundabout route might have added extra miles, but it saved at least ten minutes. Nice to be smarter than my GPS.
    I ignored the municipal parking lot on the corner and cruised along, pulling up next to a small sign for valet parking. I opened the door of the Lexus, leaving the key in the ignition. A