An Unacceptable Death - Barbara Seranella Read Online Free PDF

determine that when all the facts are
in."
    " He was a good and moral man."
    Bayless nodded.
    Munch pointed at his open notebook. "Write that
down."
    " Would you say he was loyal?" Bayless
asked.
    " Completely," Munch said, deciding to limit
her answers to one-word responses. It wasn't looking like she and old
Ball-less here were going to be new best friends after all.
    " And you characterize him as an honest man?"
    A two-word response came to mind, but she didn't want
to come off defensive. "Yes, I would."
    " How far would he go to protect a loved one?"
    Munch blinked. "How is anyone supposed to know
the answer to that? I'd step in front of a train for my kid. Is that
the kind of protection you're talking about? Who was in trouble, and
why?"
    Bayless waved aside her question as if he were
swatting a gnat.
    " When was the last time you saw him?"
    " A week ago."
    " Was that unusual?"
    " We made time together when we could. It was
never enough."
    She looked over and caught Fernando's eye. He had
crossed his arms over his chest and was shaking his head no to
Grimes's questions. Soon he would lose his English.
    " Who's handling the criminal investigation?"
she asked Bayless.
    She wanted to add, Not this bullshit witchhunt; but
she didn't. It was too early to burn this guy as a possible resource.
    " They'll be contacting you in due course."
    " Then I should probably get home."
    " Just one more question," he said. "If
you remember anything else, or if something comes up in the future
that doesn't make sense, would you give me a call?"
    " The man I loved is dead. How is anything
supposed to make sense?"
    " Maybe that's something we can figure out
together."
    " Yeah, sure, You and me. What a team we'll
make."
    Bayless had the grace to look uncomfortable. Munch
felt an unwilling response of empathy for him. Since she'd been
promoted to service manager at her gas station, there had been more
times than she cared to count where she'd been an asshole for the
sake of the business. And not always to the people who deserved it.
    After the IA cops left, Munch stood on the sidewalk
with Fernando.
    " What's going on?" she asked. "No one
has even told me how it happened?
    " He was shot. Many times." Fernando's mouth
turned down from the bitterness of the news. "This is all I
know."
    Munch shut her eyes against the image of ripped flesh
and shattered bone. "Have you spoken to Angelica?" she
asked, although what she was really wondering about was if Fernando
had turned to Rico's first wife, Sylvia. Was Munch jealous even now?
She couldn't tell and didn't want to examine her feelings too
closely. She already had enough to hate herself for.
    " Yes, they are coming over later with the rest
of the family."
    She was glad he wasn't going to be alone. That's what
was important. "Can I use your phone?"
    " Of course, hija ."
Daughter. He'd never used that endearment with her before.
    She passed through the darkness of the garage
quickly. Her grief had settled in her throat, making it difficult to
swallow. Cruz was in the living room, standing as she often saw him
with his forehead pressed against the bronze-veined mirrored wall,
head bent down so that he could see the reflections. He turned to
her, startled by the noise, and she saw that his face was wet with
tears. She put a hand on his shoulder and said, "We'll get
through this."
    She used the kitchen phone to call Ellen.
    " Hi," was all she said.
    " What's wrong?" Ellen immediately asked.
    " It's Rico."
    " What's he gone and done?"
    " He died."
    " He what? Oh, shit. No way. Oh, sugar, I'm
sorry. Damn. How? When?"
    " Some kind of shoot-out, I think; they haven't
told me much or with whom. Listen, I need your help."
    " Anything," Ellen said without hesitation.
She knew Munch well enough to know she'd only ask once.
    " I need to go over to . . ." Munch
hesitated. Was it far-fetched to think that the phone might be
bugged? "The mall. I'm going to need a new Outfit."
    " Where are you now? You want me to pick