Dangerous Relations Read Online Free PDF Page B

dinette table. Too late she remembered the roses.
    Rabe's eyes fixed on them like a bird sighting a worm. "Lovely flowers," he said. "I bought
roses for my wife for our twentieth anniversary. What was the occasion?"
    Rabe's line of questioning led straight to Brett. Having tunnel vision, the detective would
assume the roses meant that she and Brett were romantically involved. Had been romantically
involved before Suziette's murder. Should she lie? Remain silent?
    "They're simply--a gesture."
    Officer Devine laughed. "I'd say. What does a dozen roses cost--twenty, thirty bucks? Not to
mention the vase."
    "The vase belongs to my mother's neighbor. Now if you have any questions regarding my
cousin, I'll be happy to answer them."
    "Who sent you the roses, Ms. Wesley?" Rabe said.
    Ardin poured herself a glass of water and took a sip before answering. "That, Detective
Rabe, is none of your business."
    "Ms. Wesley?"
    Ardin took a deep breath. "What does it matter? They have nothing to do with Suziette's
murder."
    "Anything you tell us will be kept confidential," Officer Devine said. "We don't want to
interfere in your love life."
    "The roses are not about my love life! They're just something a friend sent--by way of an
apology."
    Rabe walked around the long side of the table and sat down. "Did your ex-husband send
them?"
    "Corey? Of course not! What a ridiculous idea!"
    "Did Brett Waterstone?" Officer Devine said.
    The question churned up waves of agitation. Dumbly, she watched him remove a notepad
from an inside pocket.
    "Ms. Wesley?" he said, pen poised.
    Ardin forced herself to speak calmly. "Detective Rabe, I've answered enough of your
questions. Now I'd like you and Officer Devine to leave."
    Her request brought a grin to the detective's face. "Leave now, Ms. Wesley, just as we were
asking you about Mr. Waterstone?"
    "Why? Are you tailing Brett? Are you assuming he's your man simply because he was
Suziette's husband?"
    Detective Rabe ignored her questions and asked one of his own. "What was he apologizing
for?"
    Everything she said came out wrong. Incriminating. Ardin took a deep breath. "I've nothing
more to say. You may continue your interrogation in the presence of my attorney."
    "But you're an attorney," Officer Devine said reasonably.
    "A lawyer who represents herself has a fool for a client."
    "Ah, the comfort of familiar proverbs," Rabe murmured.
    Three sharp knocks had them turning toward the door. Probably Mrs. Katz wanting her
vase back, Ardin thought, and went to let her in.
    * * * *
    The sound of approaching footsteps brought a grin to Brett's face. After he'd ordered the
roses, he found he couldn't stop thinking about Ardin. Why? he wondered, when his visit the night
before had been a disaster. Still, her pale, winsome face remained fixed in his mind like a TV that
wouldn't shut off.
    At his pre-wedding dinner, he hadn't recognized Ardin when she'd approached to offer her
congratulations. To his astonishment, the skinny, gangly girl he'd known had transformed into a
beautiful woman--slender yet shapely, with expressive, watchful eyes. An understated beauty
beside Suziette's radiant appeal. But he'd only had eyes for his future wife.
    More important, Ardin had a heart. Though their paths hadn't crossed very often this past
month, he knew of the kindness she extended to Julia and Leonie when she wasn't busy looking
after her mother. And last night she'd shown genuine concern for his pain after dropping the
bombshell of Suziette's will. She was the type of woman he should have married.
    Cut it out! All the upheaval in his life was making him soft. Soppy. A
    male-female relationship was the last thing he needed. Besides, Ardin was a childhood friend, not
someone he should be hitting on. She was a good kid who cared about other people. Cool
it, buddy . Don't get carried away by a show of simple kindness.
    The trouble was, he wasn't used to someone giving a damn about what he felt or
wanted.
    He'd left work early and come