Deadly Valentine (Special Releases) Read Online Free PDF

any lingerie,’’ Jack said finally, turning to Tempest. ‘‘Isn’t that odd?’’
    She seemed amused that he would ask her.
    ‘‘I mean, look at that pile of presents he had Peggy buy. Even those damned cooing birds. But no lingerie.’’ He wished he hadn’t said anything, because it probably didn’t mean anything and he was starting to feel foolish.
    ‘‘You think he was trying too hard,’’ Tempest said, bailing him out.
    Jack nodded, surprised how easily she’d put her finger on what had been nagging at him.
    She smiled and shook her head at him. ‘‘Sorry, but not even Oliver would ask his secretary to buy lingerie for his wife.’’
    ‘‘Oh.’’ He hadn’t thought of that. ‘‘I guess not. Too gauche?’’
    She nodded. ‘‘Especially considering the crush Peggy’s had on Oliver for years.’’
    He frowned. ‘‘Really?’’
    She mugged a face at him. ‘‘Don’t tell me you never noticed.’’
    He hadn’t. But then he’d had his own problems.
    ‘‘The gifts are pretty cliche´d,’’ Tempest said. ‘‘Lingerie does seem like an omission.’’ She shrugged. ‘‘He definitely was trying to impress her. He wanted something.’’ She seemed to consider that. ‘‘But it wasn’t to get her into bed. He had another motive for all the gifts.’’
    Jack found himself studying her, not surprised by how smart she was and not sure what he was looking for in her face. Not sure what he needed from her. Something. Absolution, no doubt. He’d treated her badly in the past and they both knew it.
    ‘‘I need to get statements from the Sanderses first,’’ he told her. ‘‘Then I’d like to talk to you, if you’re going to be around later?’’
    She laughed. Her laugh had aged nicely, just like she had. ‘‘I’m not planning to leave town, if that’s what you’re worried about.’’
    ‘‘I thought you might have a date,’’ he said, feeling strangely shy and uncomfortable around her.
    She flushed and looked away. ‘‘No.’’
    He cursed himself for his lack of tact. ‘‘Then I’ll give you a call later.’’ She gave him her number.
    Once down at the department, he had to wait until Oliver’s attorney arrived. When Mitzy finally arrived in her own car, she waived her rights to an attorney.
    By then Ramsey had called. He’d had the lab run the chocolates. The cremes were full of poison—strychnine to be exact. Definitely murder.
    Jack took Mitzy into the interrogation room, just a small room off the back with a couple of chairs and a table. River’s Edge was lucky to have a sheriff’s office at all. But since it was the richest part of the county, it got not only an office but a five-person staff.
    Mitzy stuck to her story of arriving to find the key in the elevator and Peggy already dead on the floor.
    He asked her about the chocolates, whether she’d purchased the second heart-shaped box. Rather than shock or indignation, she’d seemed amused that he thought she’d murdered Peggy.
    ‘‘What is my motive?’’ she asked.
    ‘‘I don’t know. Maybe you didn’t like her working for your husband,’’ he said.
    She smiled, different now that they were alone. Not so coy. Nor as brittle or obnoxious, either. ‘‘You know Oliver. He liked having someone who idolized him work for him.’’
    ‘‘Did Peggy idolize him?’’ Jack asked, remembering what Tempest had told him.
    She laughed. ‘‘Come on, Jack. You know how she used to stare at him all the time in school. She had a major crush on him.’’
    ‘‘That was high school,’’ he pointed out.
    She raised a brow. ‘‘Are we so different now than we were back then?’’
    He hoped to hell he at least was. ‘‘Is there anyone who might want to cause you harm?’’
    ‘‘You mean poison me? Of course not.’’
    Right. ‘‘Someone who might have been...jealous, maybe. Or had some grudge against you?’’ Had they still been in high school he could have come up with half a dozen off