Angel Interrupted Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Who are you?” he demanded.
    “I’m her neighbor.”
    “Did you know her?”
    “No.”
    “Then shut up and leave the scene to us.”
    “There was a man in the park,” Martin said. “He was sitting on the bench right over there.” He pointed straight across the street to where a row of benches lined two sides of the playground, forming a neat right angle that gave one row of benches a perfect view of the cottage’s front door.
    “That’s what benches are for,” Calvano said impatiently. “For sitting on.”
    “But he’d been there for days,” Martin insisted.
    “And you know that how ?” Calvano asked brusquely.
    “I’ve been watching him.” Martin started to explain, but Noni put a warning hand on his arm. She knew people like Calvano on sight. Martin fell silent.
    It was too late. Calvano was staring at Martin more closely, sizing up his sloppy clothes and intense gaze. “What’s your name?” he asked abruptly.
    “Robert Michael Martin,” the chef said promptly.
    “Well, Robert Michael Martin, I’m going to need your address, too.” Calvano held a pad out to the man. “Print, please. We’ll be in touch.”
    Martin wrote his address down, eager to help, not knowing he would likely pay dearly for speaking up.
    The old lady knew better. She’d lived longer. She’d run into bullies like Calvano before. “Robert, you go home and wash up,” she said firmly when he was done printing his address. “I have some things to tell this nice detective and then I’ll stop by.”
    “But someone needs to—”
    “I can do that,” Noni interrupted firmly. “You go on and I’ll stop by when I’m done.” Even Robert Michael Martin got the hint. With a look at Calvano that was part scorn and part fear, Martin started marching resolutely down the block, trying to maintain his dignity. Calvano’s only choice in stopping him was to tackle him and risk damaging his expensive suit, possibly for nothing, or let him go.
    Naturally, Calvano let him go. He was an even worse detective than I had been. At least I’d had the excuse of being a drunk to explain my sloppiness.
    Calvano took it out on Noni. “Lady, I don’t appreciate you—”
    “Did you want to talk to me or not?” Noni demanded. “I can give you ten minutes and then I intend to go to church and pray for this young woman’s soul.”
    I was impressed. Her voice had gone from cooperative to steely in an instant. I bet she’d been one hell of a teacher in her day. Calvano actually flipped to a new page in his notebook, ready to take notes. What a grand old dame.
    “What did you know about . . . ?” Calvano asked, his voice faltering. He flipped back a few pages and checked for the victim’s name, one he had already managed to forget. “ . . . about Fiona Harper?”
    “Her name was Fiona Harker ,” Noni correctly him grimly. “She lived alone. She never married. She didn’t have a boyfriend that I know of. And she would never have killed herself. You’re quite mistaken on this point. Fiona was a practicing Catholic. She would not have killed herself.”
    Calvano looked bored. I wanted to brain him. Fiona Harker deserved better. Yes, I had been just as careless when I was alive. But I was different now. I was sensitive. Which was why I knew he needed a good beat-down. Watching Calvano reminded me of how sloppy I had been, and I didn’t like looking in the mirror.
    “What else can you tell me?” Calvano asked Noni.
    “She was very private and a little shy. We only met because she stopped by my house to ask me about some perennials in my garden. People say she was an excellent nurse, and I know she was an excellent gardener.”
    “But no boyfriend?” Calvano asked skeptically.
    “Not that I know of,” Noni said. “Although I’m not the one to ask. We did not discuss our personal lives.” She managed to make it sound like Calvano had been a pervert for asking, even though it was his job to know. I totally enjoyed his