If the Shoe Kills Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Nope. She wants me to tell you that the lady is worried.”
    â€œThe lady?” I picked up the box and slipped out of the truck. I met him on the other side. “What lady is she talking about?”
    â€œI thought you’d know. That’s all she said, then she turned around and went back to the dispatch center. When I walked by to leave, it was like she’d never even spoken to me.” Greg held open the front gate, and we walked up the cobblestone walk I’d put in last month. I was still in love with my creation. Next to the path, Miss Emily’s fairy circle had returned. If I believed in magic, I’d say my friend was blessing my caretaking of her house.
    I unlocked the door and flipped on a light. “Not a clue.”
    After we’d settled in the kitchen and waited for the coffee to brew, Greg let Emma into the kitchen. My golden retriever had been a housewarming gift from him earlier that year. She still was mostly a puppy and her energy level spiked when she saw both of us in the house. Of course, she gave Greg more attention, teaching me a lesson for working too long of a shift. Normally I was home by noon and the two of us spent the afternoon on the porch reading and napping. Well, I read, and we both napped.
    As Emma settled into her bed next to the door and we settled around the table, I tapped my finger on the surface. “Marie Jones stood her intern up this evening. She cancelled her class and everything.”
    â€œThe same Marie who almost got smashed by a speeding sports car this afternoon? Maybe she was upset and felt she couldn’t teach. Near-death experiences affect people differently.” Greg sipped his coffee.
    â€œLeave it to you to see the other side of things.” I sighed.
    Greg shrugged. “It’s not always the easy answer, sometimes things just are.” He waved a fork at me. “I’d like to give this Ted guy a lecture about safety and speeding in a small town. From what others have told me, the guy was going way too fast.”
    â€œI don’t know, he said she ran out in front of him. He didn’t say he was speeding.” I bit into the pumpkin square. Sadie’s Pies on the Fly was branching out, and this scrumptious tidbit was one of her successful experiments.
    â€œFrom what I’ve heard from the mayor, this guy’s a piece of work. He probably thinks everyone should just stay out of his way.” Greg finished off one square and grabbed another. “These are great.”
    â€œSadie’s.” I cocked my head and watched him. “Funny, you didn’t let me dog on Marie for playing the disappearing card tonight, yet you have no sympathy for Ted. Did you dig into his history for the mayor?”
    His face reddened just a bit. “After we talked, I figured there might be some fire to all this smoke, so yeah. Let’s just say, you need to never be alone with the guy. He’s got a short fuse when it comes to interactions with women. All kinds of reports filed against him, nothing sticks, though.”
    I shook my head. It was typical. As a family law attorney, I’d seen it time after time. Abusers tended to get away with it, mostly because they made their victims too scared to report. “I kind of got that vibe today. I thought Toby was going to shoot him.”
    Greg chuckled. “Wouldn’t have been the worst idea.” He took my hand and rubbed his thumb over the top. “Just stay clear, and if you do have to meet, stay in the front of the shop. I’ll feel better about it.”
    â€œAre you telling the mayor what you found?”
    â€œProbably not. Marvin has an underhanded way of using information against people. And I’m not going to be part of his game.” Greg stood and took his cup and plate to the sink, rinsed them, and put them into the dishwasher. He then leaned in to give me a quick kiss. “I’ve got to go. Tomorrow’s going to