A.R. Winters - Valerie Inkerman 01 - Don't Be a Stranger Read Online Free PDF Page A

tell her to – why’d you try to protect her in the first place?”
    Jerry shrugged. “You know, chauvinism.”
    I could hear the lieutenants thumping about, going through my things. They left my bedroom and went into the bathroom – they wouldn’t find much in there other than my tampons and hairspray and Jerry’s hundred-strong collection of colognes.
    I said, “What chauvinism?”
    Jerry shrugged again. “You know, how everyone says it’s dying these days.”
    “Believe me,” I said. “Chauvinism isn’t dying.”
    “Sure it is. Being polite to women and opening doors for them and such.”
    “Oh.”
    I wanted to correct Jerry about his notions of chivalry, but out of the corner of my eye, I could make out Detective Hartley’s lips quirking up a little at the corners. So instead of saying anything, I pulled out a seat at the kitchen table and sat down.
    “What’s your relationship with Mr. Spilatro?” asked the detective.
    “I’m his roommate.”
    “I see. You must be–” She pulled out a notepad and rifled through it. “Valerie Inkerman?”
    “That’s me.”
    The two lieutenants came out of the bathroom, and we heard them going through Jerry’s room. Within a few minutes, they reappeared in our tiny living area.
    “No luck,” said one of them to Detective Hartley.
    “Keep going,” she said. “One of you keep an eye on Spilatro.”
    Detective Geller came and stood by Jerry.
    He’s not dangerous, I wanted to say. He doesn’t even know what chauvinism is. And he probably couldn’t even spell it!
    “Valerie,” said Detective Hartley. “Could I have a word, please?”
    I glanced at Jerry and he shrugged slightly. So I got up and followed her into my bedroom.
    I groaned as soon as I saw what the cops had done to it. I was about to swear loudly, but Detective Hartley was giving me a funny look, and I stopped myself in time. The dresser drawers had all been pulled out, and even the drawers on my nightstand were askew. Clothes were strewn about, a lot of them on the floor. The bed sheets had been pulled off, the pillowcases removed, and all the books on my bookshelf had been moved about. Even the paintings that hung on my walls were crooked.
    I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at her grumpily. “What’s this about?”
    “I’m sorry about your room,” she said lightly. “But we can’t take any chances when it comes to protecting innocent civilians.”
    “Sure. And I suppose that protection involves two strange men going through my underwear drawer.”
    I plucked a bra from where it hung wantonly over my nightstand lamp and stuffed it into the right drawer.
    Detective Hartley waited till I’d pulled the bed sheet part-way over my bed and sat down. She remained standing. “How long have you known Mr. Spilatro?” she said.
    “A little over two months. Two and a half months.”
    “And what kind of relationship would you say he had with Esme Lindl?”
    I frowned. “He didn’t have a relationship with her. As far as I knew.”
    “But you met her.”
    “Yes, he introduced me to her at the party.”
    “And why would he do that?”
    “I don’t know – he was being friendly.”
    “I see. And does he usually introduce you to his female friends?”
    I rolled my eyes, remembering the parade of half-dressed women who frequently exited his bedroom in the morning. In the two and a half months that we’d been roommates, I’d met at least eight different women.
    “I’m assuming that’s a no.”
    I looked at Detective Hartly again, unsure of what to say. Whatever I could think of seemed to be the wrong thing. If I said that he slept with a lot of women, maybe she’d find some way to suggest that Esme was pregnant with Jerry’s child. If I said he introduced me to all his female “companions” – voluntarily – that would be a lie.
    Hesitantly, I said, “Well, he’s a friendly guy. He knows lots of people. He grew up here,” I added, slightly defensively. “It’s not