Diane Greenwood Muir - Bellingwood 05 - Life Between the Lines Read Online Free PDF Page A

sent me in to my apartment and then I fell apart.”
    “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
    “I wanted you to be here. I felt so alone.”
    “Polly, you’re killing me!”
    “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to make you feel bad about this. That’s not it at all. I missed you. I hate to admit that when things fall apart, you’re the first person I want to talk to.”
    “You could have called me.”
    “I wasn’t going to wake you up just to cry all over you. I managed to get through it.”
    “You can always call me.”
    “I know, but it was stupid early in the morning and I didn’t want to wake you up.”
    Henry actually growled. “How would you feel if I didn’t call you when something awful happened around me?”
    “I’d be mad at you,” she said, a bit petulantly. “I’m sorry. I should have called you. That was silly of me.”
    “It really was. I thought we were past all of this. I’m not just a fair-weather friend. I’m here through all of it. Even if it is stupid early and you have your ugly crying face on.”
    “I’m ugly when I cry?”
    “Well, you aren’t as pretty as you are right now. You can work up a good set of red eyes and snotty nose.”
    She threw a cat toy at the screen, then realized the camera was on top of the screen.
    “That wasn’t very effective, now was it?” he laughed.
    “Leave me alone.”             
    “So, what can you tell me about Thomas Zeller? What does Aaron have to say about this?”
    “Aaron hasn’t talked to me yet. He asked a few questions, but I don’t know what might have led to Thomas’s murder. At least I don’t think I do.”
    “You really can’t think of anything?” he pressed.
    “I really can’t. We talked about a million things this last month. He told me a little about his life before and after all of the drugs.” She stopped and looked at Henry. “He was going to Hollywood next month. I can’t believe he doesn’t get to go now. He was looking forward to it. He couldn’t wait to be a celebrity, talking to reporters and sitting through casting calls. He had so much life ahead of him.” Polly sighed and slumped, then yawned.
    “Am I boring you?” Henry asked.
    “No, I don’t think I completely made up for the sleep I lost last night. Would you mind if I walked away for a moment and got changed for bed? I’ll take you in there with me and when we’re finished talking I can fall asleep.”
    “That’s the sweetest offer I’ve had today,” he said. “I’ll do the same thing. Meet me back here in five minutes?”
    “You have a lot of confidence that it doesn’t take me long to get ready for bed.”
    “You’re my efficient, pretty Polly. Do you need ten?”
    “No,” she giggled, “Five will do it.”
    Polly left the laptop on the coffee table and went in to her bedroom to change into a fresh pair of pajama bottoms and a sloppy t-shirt. She slipped her arms into her robe and tied it around her waist.
    “I’m picking you up? Are you back yet?” she called out as she walked to the computer. There wasn’t any answer, so she assumed she had moved faster than Henry in getting ready for bed. When she picked the laptop up, his grinning face greeted her.
    “I’m here, are you?” he asked.
    “I was just picking you up so I could take you to bed.”
    “That sounds promising.”
    “Stop it,” she scolded. “Just stop it.”
    Polly settled into the bed with the laptop on her lap. Obiwan jumped up and got comfortable beside her. She yawned once and then again.
    “You stop that,” Henry said, “You’re making me tired.”
    “I know, but I can’t stop!” The laptop moved on her lap when Luke jumped up and tried to settle himself between her stomach and the computer.
    “What’s this?” she asked as she felt something hard and sharp in her pocket, then she said, “OH!”
    “What’s oh?” Henry asked.
    “Oh is this!” Polly pulled a small USB flash drive out of the pocket of her robe. “Thomas gave this to