Dead Wrong Read Online Free PDF Page B

the previous fall, when she’d left for private practice. “She was the most miserable, demanding—”
    “She really wasn’t,” Mary protested. “She was conscientious, and okay, maybe she was a bit of a perfectionist—”
    Her friends hooted.
    “Boy, is that a stretch,” Joanie laughed, and nudged Tina with her elbow. “We have to keep reminding ourselves that Mary takes that ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all’ stuff to heart.”
    “Yeah, well, wasn’t it Eleanor Roosevelt who said, ‘If you can’t say something nice, come sit next to me’?” Tina grinned.
    “One of the Roosevelts said it, but it wasn’t Eleanor. So, what are you doing this weekend?” Mary changed the subject. “Either of you have plans?”
    “Nada.” Tina shook her head. “The kids are going with their father. He’s picking them up right after school and I won’t see them until Sunday night. How ’bout you? You and Kevin have any plans?”
    “Kevin is working night shift this weekend.” Mary made a face.
    “What? I thought you liked it when Kevin worked nights. Didn’t you say that you liked having the house to yourself because it gave you a little time to read or watch a movie that you wanted to see?” asked Joanie.
    “I did. But that was before . . .” Mary’s voice trailed away.
    “Before what?”
    “You’re going to laugh.” Mary’s eyes flicked back and forth between her companions.
    “Maybe.” Tina smirked. “Tell us anyway.”
    “Before the Mary Douglas murders,” Mary said quietly.
    “Oh, I am so not laughing.” Tina grew solemn and shook her head. “Let me tell you, if a couple of women named Tina Gillette were found dead two weeks in a row, I’d be plenty freaked. God, I’d have myself locked away until they found him. I’d have an armed guard at my door and I’d—”
    “Thanks. I no longer feel foolish,” Mary said grimly. “Now I feel terrified.”
    “Oh, shit, I’m sorry. Me and my mouth . . .” Tina’s face reddened.
    “Look, how late is Kevin working tonight?” Joanie pulled a cigarette from one pocket, then searched another for matches.
    “He usually leaves right after dinner, around six-thirty or so, and gets home around three in the morning.”
    “Would it make you feel better to have a little company? I’m not doing anything tonight. I could bring over a movie,” Joanie suggested.
    Before Mary could answer, Tina chimed in, “We’ll make it a girls’ night. I’ll come, too. We can watch a movie, have a pizza break, watch another movie. . . .”
    “That’s so nice of both of you. Are you sure there isn’t something else you’d rather do?”
    “Oh, hell, what are friends for?” Tina glanced at her watch, noting that their lunch hour was just about over. “Joanie, why don’t we meet up for dinner at Hugo’s? We can grab a couple of movies at Chasen’s next door, then shoot on over to Mary’s.”
    “Sounds great. What do you say, Mary? Girls’ night at your place?” Joanie took a few last short drags before stubbing out her cigarette. She picked up the butt and tossed it into the container at the foot of the courthouse steps.
    “That would be great. More than great. Thanks. I really appreciate it.” Mary breathed a sigh of relief and followed her friends back into the building, totally unaware that every move she’d made since she stepped outside forty minutes earlier had been watched oh so carefully.
     
     
    As the wide glass doors closed behind Mary Douglas, the man seated on the bench diagonally across from where she’d been standing folded his newspaper, tucked the paper under his arm, and rose. Without a backward glance, he left the same way he’d come. He walked three blocks north to the side street where he’d parked his car earlier that morning after following Mary from her home to the courthouse, after which he’d walked to a local coffee shop, had a leisurely breakfast, bought a paper, and poked into a few of