Accused: A Rosato & Associates Novel Read Online Free PDF

partner, we should rent a parking space.”
    “We’re gonna luck out.”
    Mary sighed inwardly. “It would be so much easier if we were in the garage. We could just pull in and be done with it.”
    “It’s not that hard to find a space.”
    “It would save time. They have a guy there twenty-four hours.”
    “Nah, we’re fine without one.” Anthony fed the car gas. “We don’t need everything easy, do we?”
    “Honestly, yes, we do. Why not?”
    “There are $780 worth of reasons why not.”
    Mary closed her eyes, frustrated with herself. She really needed to be more of a badass. She had the money to get them a space in the garage, and she shouldn’t have to ask Anthony’s permission to spend her own money. They’d had the same issue with the house, which she could afford but he couldn’t, and they’d almost broken up when she paid the down-payment. They’d worked it out, so he’d moved in, paying half the mortgage and expenses, but she felt like she was always asking him to spend her money or to do her job, like after dinner. Other than that, she was blissfully happy and in love, for the past several years.
    “Don’t be that way,” Anthony said, softly.
    “Sorry, but it bugs me.”
    “I know. Gimme one more lap, then we’ll put it in the pay lot for the night.”
    “I won’t have time to move it in the morning.”
    “I’ll do it, no worries.”
    “Thanks.” Mary knew it was a concession, since he had to be at school early, and her mood lifted when she looked over to see him smiling. He had a great smile, which came easily to him, and always dressed well, in a sport jacket and white oxford shirt, like a man instead of a boy, and kept his dark wavy hair neat, with long sideburns.
    “Hey, look, a space right in front!” Anthony hit the brakes, flipped on the emergency lights, and grinned. Their street was tree-lined, and one of the most quaint in town. “Told you.”
    “You live right.”
    Anthony steered their car into the space, parked it like an expert, and turned off the ignition. “You say that every time.”
    “Because it’s true.” Mary gathered her bag and messenger bag, got out of the car, and walked to the steps of their old colonial townhouse. It was three stories tall, with black shutters and a brick façade, replete with historic details that Mary adored, like mullioned windows with bubbled glass and windowsills a foot deep. Every time she came home, she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to live here.
    “After you, partner.” Anthony unlocked the front door, and Mary flicked on the hall light and dumped her stuff on the chair, while he closed the door, turned the deadbolt, and picked up the mail. Their division of labor was that he sorted mail and she watered plants, then they had decaf tea, went to bed, and watched Jimmy Fallon. Anthony looked up from the thick stack of bills and catalogs. “What’s the deal? We having tea or are you working?”
    “I was going to.” Mary met his eye, feeling a new tension between them, as if his question were a test. She felt torn between wanting to make him happy and wanting to work. The Gardner case gnawed at the edges of her brain, and she hadn’t finished reading the Google articles yet.
    “But it’s a special occasion.” Anthony set down the mail without sorting it, and Mary couldn’t help but smile.
    “Is that code for partnership sex?”
    “Ha!” Anthony laughed. “I’d settle for tea with the love of my life.”
    “Aw, have one with me instead.”
    “I’ll take it.” Anthony shed his jacket and hung it up, and Mary kicked off her heels, then they headed down the hallway past the empty living room to the kitchen, to which they gravitated, both by nature and necessity. The house didn’t need work, but it needed furniture. They’d ordered a couch, coffee table, and chairs, but were waiting the requisite forever to get it delivered, which bugged Mary no end.
    “When are we going to get our living room