a Touch of Ice Read Online Free PDF Page B

see where that can be a problem.” Violet shrugged away the silence. “I gave up on loving people a long time ago. Comes with being a PI and always bumping into the worst traits of humanity. But it’s so good when I can fix things and make life better for people. Same reason you don’t give up on coaching.”
    “True.” I couldn’t stop my grin. “And in just a few hours, I’ll be feeding Mitchell Hunt, photographer, a superb apple pie and plying him with questions.”
    “Nope. Bad plan. As far as questions go, I’m the one he hired and PI trumps date. Besides, I still haven’t forgiven you for not immediately telling me about the image of the DB you picked up when you touched Mitch.”
    The kitchen was filled with the scent of hot oven and fresh-cut apples. I popped a bite in my mouth, savoring the tart flavor. “How could I? He was standing right there. So, moot point, and I want to focus on the date thing. Remember, you’re talking to a woman in the prime of her sexuality, who’s been without any possibility of a relationship for forever. I’m way out of practice, make that, I’ve had little to no practice whatsoever, so questioning him will be my lifeline. If I’m thinking about murder, it’s unlikely I’ll hop into bed with him before I realize what’s happened.”
    “Go for the man-woman thing. The murder is—”
    “I know. I know. But somebody has to find the killer, and unless I want to end up in that rocking—”
    “We’re all going to end up in a rocking chair, or…well, whatever. That somebody definitely isn’t you.”
    “Wrong. That somebody is me since my curiosity seems to have volunteered for the job, and I’m the one with ESP fingers. Wanna help me catch a killer?”
    “No I do not want to help you catch a killer. I work alone. You may not have noticed, but people who catch killers are trained in all kinds of stuff, and they don’t spend most of their lives hiding out at home. I have some experience with the criminal element, and I know, for a fact, you have to go out in the world on a fairly regular basis to be a successful killer catcher.”
    I took the glass of sweet tea out of her hand and replaced it with a can of soda. Dumped the tea down the drain and went back to slicing apples. “I agree. Trouble is, the universe has a totally different plan. Besides you didn’t see the body or feel Mitch’s pain. And you haven’t—”
    “I’m trained. And I’m good at my work, El.” She tipped the soda can in my direction. “To reiterate. You’re not.”
    I stabbed the tip of the knife into an apple, dragged it toward me. I couldn’t argue with that, but how much, exactly, should I share with her?
    “Hey, you in there?” Violet took the apple out of my hand and started slicing.
    “Yeah. I’m here.”
    “Well, your face is doing that blue-white thing again. What’s going on?”
    “I have to do this.” I looked at Violet. Her forehead was creased and a ghost of apprehension clouded her eyes. Okay. Deep breath, Everly. “I need you to understand. When I touched Mitch, when I saw Tony’s body, something snapped in me.”
    “Snapped?” The furrows in Violet’s brow deepened. “Everly Gray, what the hell’s the matter with you?”
    I shook my head, impatient. “Not bad snapped. Good snapped, I think. If fear can be called good. I mean, seriously, there was a warning, a threat in that vision. A reason why old-woman me was filled with regret. She didn’t speak for the dead body, didn’t do anything to find his killer. I am so not going to be her.”
    “Little scary, El. Maybe a vacation would help, a few days on a tropical island with sun, surf, and umbrella cocktails. What do you think?”
    I scraped my chair back and stood. “Vacation later. Killer now. I better get this mess cleaned up so I have time for a shower before Mitch gets here.”
    “Have you considered that chasing down this murderer will give you more nightmares, not make them go away? I get that