Gina Cresse - Devonie Lace 03 - A Deadly Change of Heart Read Online Free PDF

it’s mine.“
    Craig wasn’t listening to me.  His gaze went past me to the Explorer parked in the driveway.  “What’s that?” he asked.
    I turned to see what had his attention.  “Oh, that’s my new ride.  Like it?”
    He gawked for a few more seconds.  “Explorer?”
    “Yeah,” I answered as I walked past him through the doorway.  He continued to study the vehicle in his driveway.
    “Those are good,” he noted, with a little hesitation.
    “That’s what I hear.  Did you notice it’s orange?” I asked.
    “Almost right away.”  He squinted harder at it.  “What’s that green writing on the side?”
    I pulled Diane Parker’s letter to her estranged husband out of the purse and handed it to him.  “Sunkist.  Here, read this.  It’ll break your heart.”
    “Sunkist?” he asked, staring at the letter, confused.
    I kissed him.  “That’s what I love about you.  You didn’t feel the need to inform me of the color of my new car.  You’re so considerate.”
    He kissed me back.  “No.  You’re a bright girl.  I just figured you probably already knew it was orange.  What’s this letter?”
    I started down the hallway to his office.  “Read it, then I’ll fill you in on how I found it.  Can I use your copy machine?”
    “Sure.  Might have to put some paper in it.”
    I copied all the pages from Diane’s address book.  Craig wandered in with the letter and handed it to me.  I placed it facedown on the glass and pressed the copy button.
    “So the purse was in the spare tire?” Craig marveled.
    “Weird, huh?”
    Craig nodded.  “Why are you making copies?”
    “Because I have to give the originals to Detective Wright.  He doesn’t think Bradley Parker’s a suspect.  He thinks Diane Parker fell off that cliff all by herself.  I bet he won’t even go talk to Parker.”
    Craig frowned.  “You’re not going to jump in the middle of this, are you?”
    “No.  I just…didn’t that letter tear you up?  Someone has to be on her side.”  I folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope.  “I think Bradley Parker pushed her,” I said. 
    “I have to admit, the guy sounds like a total scumbag, but how can you be sure?  What about the guy who hid the purse in the tire?  Don’t you think he’s a more likely suspect?”
    I stuffed the envelope back into the purse.  “I hadn’t thought of that.  You could have something there.  See?  That’s why I need your help with this.  You’re brilliant.”
    Craig shook his head.  “If I were brilliant, I’d come up with a way to talk you out of this.”
“Can’t be done,” I reminded him.
    “I know.  That’s why I’m going to help you.”
    I kissed him, again.  “That’s the other reason I love you.”
    “Because I let you wrap me around your little finger?” he joked.
    “No.  Because you never try to change me.”
     
    The sergeant behind the desk announced my arrival to Detective Wright over the phone.  I waited several minutes before the six-foot-four, three-hundred pound powerhouse of a man strode into the lobby.  I stood in the middle of the room with Diane’s purse clutched to my chest.
    “Miss Lace?” he inquired, holding out his hand.
    I felt dwarfed by this man.  I released my grip on the purse and held my hand out.  “Yes,” I replied.
    “Is that the purse?” he asked.
    I nodded and handed it to him.  “This is it.  Everything’s still inside.”
    He took the purse and gave it a brief inspection.  He didn’t open it.  “Let’s get a look at the vehicle.  Is it outside?”
    I nodded, again.  “It’s in the lot.”  He followed me out the door and down the steps.  I stopped in front of the Explorer.
    “This it?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    He removed a stubby pencil and a small notebook from his pocket and flipped through the pages.  “You bought it yesterday?” he asked.
    “Yes.  At the U.S. Marshal’s auction.”  I hesitated a moment while he jotted