An Unacceptable Death - Barbara Seranella Read Online Free PDF Page B

you up?"
    " Yeah, meet me at the Brentwood Country Mart. We
can leave my car there."
    " Should I bring anything?" she asked.
    " You might want to
wear comfortable shoes."
    * * *
    The Brentwood Country Mart was a grouping of faux
barn buildings on the corner of Twenty-sixth and San Vincente. The
mini-mall had all the neighborhood essentials, including a hardware
store and a market. If people didn't care about paying top dollar,
they could get film developed, prescriptions filled, and buy toys.
There were also a world-class deli, a central courtyard where
shoppers could nosh on rotisserie chicken, and several boutiques that
sold the other necessities, such as three-hundred-dollar beaded
evening bags and hand-made Italian loafers.
    Munch parked among the Mercedes and Cadillacs. Ellen
was already there waiting, although it took Munch a moment to
recognize her friend in long black beaded braids, fringed buckskin
jacket, and matching moccasins. Ellen walked over while Munch locked
her car. Munch took a closer look. "I like the eyes."
    Ellen batted her long lashes. "Honey amber. I
just got them."
    They embraced. Munch drank in the body contact, felt
nourished by it, and—in another first for them—let Ellen break it
off first. Ellen brushed a lock of hair from Munch's face and tucked
it behind one ear. "How you doing, kid?"
    Munch shrugged. She didn't like to lie or complain,
and that left little to say.
    Ellen put a protective arm around Munch's shoulders.
"Now, Miss I-Need-a-New-Outfit, where are we really going?"
    " Rico's house. I want to look around. Something
stinks."
 
 
    CHAPTER SIX
    RICO'S HOUSE WAS IN SANTA MONICA CANYON. THE garage
faced the street and the front door was actually on the side of the
house, facing the next-door neighbor's side fence. Munch had Ellen
park a few doors down the street.
    " Honk twice if you see anyone coming."
Munch looked up and down the block as she got out of Ellen's Camaro.
    " You want me to create a diversion or
something?"
    Munch had to smile. Creating diversions was one of
Ellen's specialities. She didn't even need a reason and it often
involved lifting her blouse to her chin. "Let's play it by ear,
Pocahontas."
    Munch used her key to let herself in. Once inside the
door, she turned off the alarm. She looked for signs that someone
else had been there, but couldn't detect any. Neither the police nor
the coroner had put their seal on the door. Not that a piece of
gummed paper would have stopped her.
    The two-bedroom beach bungalow was definitely a
bachelor's pad. No dining room. A Pac-Man video game served as a
small table. The kitchen was open, defined from the living room by a
high counter. On the occasions that they had eaten meals there, she
and Rico had perched on the barstools side by side.
    His stereo system was top of the line, Harman Kardon,
and every room boasted a television suspended by brackets from the
ceiling. Over the large overstuffed leather sofa hung a framed fight
poster advertising last year's bout between "Boom Boom"
Mancini and Bobby Chacón. Mancini had won by a unanimous decision.
Munch wondered if anyone would object to her keeping the poster.
    The focal point of the master bedroom was the
king-size bed. The spread was pulled hastily across lumpy sheets. She
lay down on his side and rested her head on his pillow. He always
took the side closest to the door. He wanted to be the first line of
defense against an intruder.
    How far would he go to protect someone he loved?
Where had that question come from? Was it a fishing expedition, or
had Bayless been trying one of those cop head trips on her? Sometimes
they were able to finesse a confession by providing the guilty person
an out. People naturally wanted to tell the truth. Giving them a
logical excuse for their actions made honesty that much easier.
    She studied her image in the mirrored closet door,
curious to see if her grief showed in her face. So far she looked the
same. The dark circles under her hazel eyes