Cold Case Cop Read Online Free PDF Page B

him. “Tell me you’ve given up any notion of returning to police work.”
    Nothing had really changed between them. “I started back today.”
    She pouted. “What a waste of good talent. I spoke to your brother Brandon the other day. He’d love to have you in the company.”
    Gertie drummed impatient manicured fingers on the table’s white linen. “How goes plans for the Founders’ Ball? It’s less than a week away.”
    Regina brightened. She brushed an imaginary bit of lint from his shoulder, something she’d done a lot when they’d been married. “Excellent. We will transform this place tomorrow. It’s a Monte Carlo theme this year.”
    “Wonderful,” Gertie said.
    His ex-wife missed the sarcasm in his grandmother’s voice. The two had never gotten on well.
    Alex decided to turn this meeting into an opportunity. “Regina, what do you remember about Kit Westgate?”
    The blonde smiled. “Lovely woman. Such a sense of style. I would have killed for her skin.”
    “Anything unusual you remember about her?” Alex said.
    “There was this one time when we were in New York shopping about eighteen months ago. We were on Fifth Avenue in Saks. Anyway, this shopgirl came up to Kit, hugged her and called her Brenda.” Regina shuddered. “We were all shocked. Kit was furious. She told the woman that she was mistaken, and we left immediately.”
    Brenda. Gertie had heard Kit arguing about a woman named Brenda. “Could it have been a case of mistaken identity?”
    Regina nodded. “That’s what I thought. But it was strange. The woman was convinced that Kit was this Brenda.”
    “Anything else you remember about Kit?”
    “No. Why are you asking? The woman has been dead for a year.”
    “I’m looking into the case. A loose end that’s always troubled me.”
    Regina checked her diamond watch, caught sight of a male friend across the room and waved. “Honestly, Alex, why you would worry about an old case is beyond me. Kit is yesterday.”
    Understanding each other had been one of the major faults of their marriage. “Thanks, Regina.”
    She hooked her arm in his. “Walk me to my car?”
    “Sure.” Alex glanced at Gertie and her friends. They shamelessly stared at the duo. None looked happy. “Ladies, thank you for your help.” He kissed Gertie on the cheek. “Call me if you think of anything else.”
    “Of course, my dear,” Gertie said.
    Alex escorted Regina out of the club, aware that a half-dozen sets of eyes followed him. She was the darling of the club. He was the black sheep of his family and social set. No doubt everyone would be talking about him and his ex for days as whispers of reconciliation swirled. The club was like a small town where everyone knew everyone else’s business.
    When they came out on the portico, Alex spotted Tara’s Toyota parked at the top of the circular drive. He glanced around, wondering where she lurked.
    Regina tightened her hold on his arm. “Alex, darling, we really should get together again soon. It’s been too long.”
    Regina was beautiful, and sex with her was always passionate if a bit lonely. It would be easy to fall into bed with her but he knew he’d be fooling himself and her if they did.
    “Hey, sport!”
    Tara Mackey’s familiar voice caught Alex by surprise. He turned toward the east end of the building. A club security guard, who was an off-duty cop named Jimmy Rogers, was hauling Tara away from the club. She was trying to dig in her heels and pull against him, but resisting Jimmy was like trying to stop an avalanche. The guy was six-five and weighed close to two hundred and fifty pounds.
    “You’re gonna have to leave, ma’am,” Jimmy said. His voice was calm. “This club is for members only.”
    “Let go of me, pal!” Tara shouted. “I told you I only need five minutes.”
    Jimmy kept pulling her toward the driveway. “No way.”
    A smile tipped the edge of Alex’s lips. Regina was a beautiful woman, but compared to Tara she seemed