Arouse Suspicion Read Online Free PDF Page B

had.
    "So the philandering husband's a used car salesman?" Nick commented.
    "He actually owns the lot." Her bristles retracted. "But Willy is pretty much the stereotypical sleazeball."
    He huffed a startled laugh.
    They arrived at their destination, which had a sign that read: Willy's Used Cars, No Lemons, Only Lemonade. The place didn't look like much; the dirt lot covered only half a block and the vehicles were either mundane sedans or soccer-mom vans. He couldn't think of a more depressing way to make a living.
    Danni drove around to the back of the dealership and parked across and up the street.
    "Why here?" Nick asked.
    "See that black Mercedes?"
    He nodded.
    "That's Willy's."
    "Our Lothario?"
    "Our sleaze."
    "Maybe he's only lonely."
    "Maybe if he spent more time with his wife, he wouldn't be." Danni angled him a glare, though her sunglasses lessened the impact considerably. "Just like a man to defend another man's right to screw around if he gets the itch."
    "I didn't say that." How the hell had she come up with that?
    "Whatever." She turned her attention to the used car lot and the tiny gray building dropped into the center of it. "Hand me my backpack, please."
    He retrieved it from behind the seat and passed it to her.
    "Thanks," she said absently.
    She withdrew the camera, and Nick returned the backpack to its former place.
    Danni pushed her sunglasses up on her head and aimed the camera at the car dealer's office, extending the tele-photo lens as far as it would go.
    "See anything?" Nick asked.
    "No. It's early yet. His wife said when she's called the dealership around three-thirty, Willy's usually gone. Only he doesn't get home until late in the evening."
    Nick shot his wrist out from his sleeve. "It's only two-fifty now." He shifted in his seat, moving Gus slightly so he could see Danni's profile. "Was your secretary talking about Sam Richmond?"
    "First off, Cathy's a paralegal. If she hears you call her a secretary, you'll be singing soprano for a week."
    Nick flinched reflexively. "Point taken."
    "And yes, it was Sam Richmond who called. Do you know him?"
    "He was Paddy's partner. Used to help out at the center, too. He was a three-point man."
    She smiled "I know. Sam taught me how to shoot hoops."
    "What about your da—"
    "He was always too busy," Danni replied curtly.
    Frowning slightly, Nick filed away the information.
    Danni kept her gaze aimed at the car lot, her camera lens balanced on the steering wheel. "Do you know of anything that was bothering my father? Maybe a case?"
    "He didn't mention anything in particular. His partner, Karen Crandle, said he'd been upset about something lately, but she didn't know what."
    "When did you speak with Karen?"
    "She called me after his body was found. She was pretty shook up. I tried contacting her again, but she didn't return my calls."
    Danni sent him a sidelong glance. "Did you find out why?"
    "At the funeral she apologized. She said it'd been pretty hectic at the station. She looked worn out."
    "Did she believe it was suicide?"
    "She told me he wasn't looking forward to retiring, but she didn't think he was depressed enough to take his own life. But she believed the evidence."
    The air in the truck's cab felt close and sticky, and Nick rolled down his window. The damp breeze carried the scent of more rain. What else was new in the Pacific Northwest?
    Gus put her two front paws on Nick's left thigh and stretched her nose toward the window. She wagged her tail across Danni's face.
    Danni sneezed and pushed aside Gus's tail. "Next time Gus sits in the back end."
    "But she likes riding in the front."
    Danni rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. The expression gentled her features, and Nick found himself grinning with her over Gus's antics.
    After maneuvering Gus's backside away from her face, Danni became pensive. "Why?" she murmured. "What did Dad stumble across that was big enough to warrant murder? And why didn't he bring it to the attention of someone in the