Amanda's Blue Marine Read Online Free PDF

kid is a computer whiz, like one of those people who can tell you whether or not it rained on March 10, 1945, but can't look you in the eye or tie their shoes. What do you call them?"
    "Autistic."
    "Right. Except Frank's not...weird...he's just a baby who got his first computer at three and has never gone offline since."
    Pat Harris pushed in the door Frank had left open and said, "Salon Verde special." She handed Kelly a large brown bag and added, "Enjoy."
    A heavenly smell was emanating from the package. Mandy eyed it with interest.
    "Do you mind eating in here?" Kelly asked her, as Pat left.
    "In this palatial office? With the roaches? No, of course not."
    His lips twitched but he didn't answer. He came out from behind his desk and rummaged through the bag, coming up with the Styrofoam box containing her sandwich and handing it to her.
    "Watch out for the cholesterol in that cheese, counselor," he said, unwrapping his hamburger.
    "Watch out for the lung cancer in the Luckies, Detective," Mandy replied sunnily, meeting his direct blue gaze.
    So he was willing to joke with her now, Mandy noted. He was relaxing.
    Things were looking up.
    And his first name was Brendan.
    * * * * *
    That weekend Mandy went with Tom to a restaurant they frequented to pay a political debt to its owner. Sal Cannettone had made a hefty donation to Tom’s campaign fund. He liked to see Tom having dinner at his place, making the locals aware that Pirro’s was the dining choice of their Congressman and his lovely fiancée. Mandy was certainly not in the mood for an evening out but went along from a sense of obligation to Tom’s career. She would just be sitting home anyway waiting for the next shoe to drop, so a distraction was welcome.
    Tom picked her up and they made the short drive to a commuter town halfway to Philadelphia. Tom stopped the car under the awning at the entrance to the restaurant. The valet ran over to take the wheel as Tom walked around and helped Mandy out of the passenger door. The car glided away from them as Mandy and Tom walked past the trees, decorated with tiny lights, which flanked the main doors.
    "Congressman Henderson," the maitre d' said pleasantly as they entered the hushed, carpeted interior. "And Ms. Redfield."
    Mandy smiled back mechanically. The hostess bustled over and greeted them effusively, chatting amiably as she led them to their regular table in a secluded corner. Mandy followed Tom around a banquette and a standing plant which blocked her view. She walked past the grand piano, silent now as the pianist was taking a break, and right into Brendan Kelly. He was waiting at the entrance to a back patio filled with glass tables which opened for dining in warm weather.
    They stared at one another in surprise.
    Kelly was wearing a dark pinstriped suit with a cream shirt which contrasted with his tanned skin. His eyes looked pool blue in the restaurant’s low lighting.
    "Detective Kelly," Mandy said, recovering. "How nice to see you. This is my fiancé, Congressman Tom Henderson. Tom, this is Detective Brendan Kelly."
    The two men shook hands. "Always a pleasure to see one of our boys in blue," Tom said, slipping easily into politician mode.
    "Detective Kelly has been working with me on the ... my problem," Mandy said lamely, looking around for their table, anxious to get Tom away from Kelly.
    A small, dark woman in a little black dress appeared and hesitated behind Kelly, sizing up the situation and staying back from them. Kelly looked over his shoulder at her and she raised her brows.
    That woman is a cop, Mandy thought. She recalled seeing her at the police station wearing a detective's shield. Were they at Pirro's because Mandy was there or were they working another case? Then the obvious dawned on her.
    Kelly was on a date.
    Mandy tried not to stare but she darted glances at Kelly's companion, noting the neat, voluptuous figure in the fitted sheath and the smooth fall of her dark brown hair. She was an eye