Acquainted With the Night Read Online Free PDF

the accident, you keep after her.”
    “That’s not exactly accurate,” Alex said coolly. “It’s a bit much of a coincidence that we have an unpleasant encounter with the woman and a few hours later someone tries to kill me.”
    “Alex, for God’s sake,” CJ said, exasperated. “Motive is not evidence. She has an alibi. She says she was with Patty all evening. Patty confirms that. Besides which, the woman does not have the skills to boost a Toyota, much less handle the demolition driving it would take to run you off the highway.”
    “You don’t know that.”
    “Yes, I do! Alex, I lived with her for two years. She could not have pulled that off. And Patty just isn’t smart enough to lie successfully. She didn’t do it, Alex. Give it up.”
    Alex said stubbornly, “One phone call and she could easily have hired someone to do it for her.”
    CJ leaned across the island with her hands braced on the granite top. “You think she has a car thief on call, just in case she needs one? Listen to yourself, Alex. She had a couple of hours. She couldn’t go through the Yellow Pages or go online and do a search for ‘murderer for hire.’ You’re not making sense.”
    Alex crossed her arms and wished she hadn’t as the pain shot through her shoulder. “It’s still too big a coincidence.”
    “Coincidences do happen. Alex, have you had a pain pill today?”
    The twinge from her shoulder must have shown on her face, Alex decided. “No. I don’t need one.”
    CJ said, “I disagree. Stop being such a martyr and take one. I’ll finish dinner.”
    Alex narrowed her eyes. “Does this mean we’re through with this fight?”
    “Up to you,” CJ said, but her voice had softened in tone. “I said what I wanted to say. At least Steph called me instead of Paul, but I don’t think she’ll stop at calling your boss next time.” Her voice gentled further. “And if Paul has to log an official complaint, the Internal Affairs Inspector will be assigned to investigate.”
    Alex recognized CJ’s attempts to end the argument with a gentle joke. “Well, that’s okay then,” she said with a little smile. “I’ve got a lot of influence with the head of IA.”
    “Do you?”
    Alex leaned into her for a kiss. “I’m pretty sure.”
    CJ stroked Alex’s cheek gently with her fingertips. “Will you please think about what I said? Going after Steph without any proof is a bad idea.”
    Alex frowned. “You seem a little too worried about Stephanie’s feelings for my taste.”
    “You know what? I don’t give a flying hushpuppy about Stephanie Morrow or what she thinks or how she feels. But I care very much about you, your mental health and your career. So do me a favor, will you? Until or unless we get some evidence, just let it go, all right?”
    Alex stared into CJ’s bright green eyes. “You know that’s not exactly the way I work.”
    Very quietly CJ said, “I do know that. And you know sometimes we just can’t solve every case.”
    Alex turned away. “I’m well aware of that. Whoever ran my father down twenty-four years ago is still out there somewhere.”
    She felt CJ come around behind her. The next moment she felt CJ’s arms circle around her waist. Alex leaned back into the warmth of CJ’s body and felt herself relax.
    Into her ear, CJ murmured, “I’m sorry, darlin’. I should have realized why this was so difficult for you. I just want you to recover from what happened, whatever it takes. I love you, you do know that?”
    “I know, sweetheart. And I promise I won’t talk to Stephanie again unless we get something else to go on, all right?”
    “All right. Good. I know how hard this is for you, and I admire your ability to…what’s the word?”
    “Grow? Change? Evolve?”
    CJ laughed. “One of those, anyway.”
    * * *
    Alex had a new mystery novel. She was reading studiously, propped up at her end of the couch. CJ closed her book and let it slip to the floor by the couch with a small thump. She