Black Diamond Death Read Online Free PDF Page B

so that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t see how it can hurt.”
    “You didn’t take this case because of Gabrielle, did you?”
    I picked at my salad and tried my best not to stab it.
    Nick reached over and wrapped his fingers around my wrist.
    “I’m sorry,” he said.
    “Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.”
    “She was your sister. It isn’t nothing.”
    “Maybe, but that’s not why I took the case.”
    And that was true, for the most part.
    Our dinner arrived.
    “Another ummm, drink?” she said to Nick.
    He nodded.
    Nick cracked his lobster. I sliced and diced my steak. Nick finished his drink. I finished mine.
    “So what’s the plan of attack?” Nick said.
    “The usual. Talk to people she knew, check out the ex-boyfriend, take a look at her place and see what turns up.”
    “Let me know what you find out,” he said.
    “Always.”
    The check came and I stood, or tried to stand, and in the process I noticed my vision had changed since I first arrived.
    “Where do you think you’re off to little lady,” Nick said.
    “Home,” I said.
    “You don’t plan to drive yourself.”
    I smiled and shook my head.
    It took a moment, but somewhere in Nick’s head a light went on.

CHAPTER 7

    The next morning I exercised my options and phoned a friend.
    “I’m calling in a favor Maddie,” I said.
    “Big one or little one?”
    “Not sure yet,” I said.
    “Well girl, it’s gonna cost ya.”
    “How about a ladies night out?” I said. “Just the two of us, I’ll pick up the tab.”
    “Throw in a weekend in Las Vegas and you’ve got yourself a deal. Although, I should ask what I’m getting myself into first.”
    “I’m not sure I even know the answer to that,” I said. “I took a case and it’s on the unusual side.”
    “My favorite kind.”
    The phone made a distinct cracking noise. At first I blamed it on a bad connection until I recognized the sound of Maddie chomping away on a piece of gum like a cow chewing its cud.
    “Did you hear about the skiing accident at Wildwood a couple days ago?” I said.
    “Nope.”
    I filled her in on the details and got her up to speed.
    She popped a bubble into the phone. At times it was hard to believe she graduated college at the top of her class.
    “Do you believe her? I mean, that sounds kind of far out, you know.”
    “I don’t know what to think yet. But there’s a disgruntled ex so I already have a good place to start.”
    Maddie laughed.
    “Isn’t there always?”
    “Can I count on you to help me out then?” I said.
    “What do you need and how soon do you need it?”
    “They’ve transferred her body to the funeral home. Your team can do the autopsy there.”
    “Didn’t the ME order one?”
    “He did and so did she, but no one knows when the results will come back, and let’s just say weeks don’t register in her vocabulary.”
    “Not the patient type, eh?”
    “Not in the least,” I said.
    “You two should get along famously then.”
    “I figure I’ll poke around and see if there’s anything that can back up her suspicions, and if I don’t find anything, at least I can give her some closure.”
    “Did they find anything on the body?”
    “Right now it looks like an accident,” I said.
    “I’ll get my boys over there right away.”
    “The funeral is in two days,” I said.
    “We’ll work it in, no worries.”
    “You’re the best Maddie.”
    She popped another bubble into the phone.
    “Don’t I know it.”
    “Listen, I need to run, but let me know what you find,” I said.
    “Will do,” she said, “and give Mr. Studly a big kiss for me.”

CHAPTER 8

    Marty stood at the front desk and looked out into the parking lot. His eyes had deep-set bags under them and he looked tired, but he did his best to muster up a smile when I came through the door.
    “Thanks for seeing me,” I said.
    “Not at all, I always have time for you my dear.” He gestured toward his office. “Let’s sit for a