Murder Under Cover Read Online Free PDF Page B

shrank back. “I’ve been touching you. You must be totally flipped out.”
    “I’m not.” To be honest, I hadn’t thought about it in a while, but now I shuddered at the memory of touching her bloody hands and feet.
    She shook her head in self-disgust as she stared at her own hands, mostly clean now. “It’s so awful to think . . .”
    “Stop thinking about it.”
    She sighed. “You’re a total hero to put up with all this.”
    “You’d do the same for me,” I said, and resolutely grabbed hold of her hand again.
    “Maybe. But I’m glad I don’t have to prove that right now.” She leaned her shoulder against mine. “And can I say again how glad I am that Derek’s here with us?”
    “Yes, you can. I’m glad, too. He knows what he’s doing, and his connections should get us some answers a lot faster than if it were just you or me.”
    She stared at her front door. “I don’t know how he can go in there, though.”
    “He wants to check everything out before the police show up. Once they get here, he might not have the chance.”
    “Better him than me,” she murmured.
    “Or me,” I said. “I love you a lot, but there’s no way I would go inside your place right now.”
    “There’s no way I would let you.” She shivered again and I put my arm around her. I knew it was crazy, but I was actually dying to know what Derek was doing inside her place. Robin had described a horrific scene. I wondered if it would help if I could see it and be able to relate to what she’d been through last night.
    Who was I kidding? There was no way I could walk in there and not pass out within ten seconds. And wouldn’t that be fun for everyone? No, I just wasn’t a good enough friend. But I could live with that.
    Less than a minute later, two police cars arrived. One of them stopped while the other made a U-turn to grab a parking place. I jumped up and pounded on Robin’s door to alert Derek. I knew he wouldn’t want to be caught at the crime scene. When he didn’t respond, I opened the door ever so slightly.
    “Derek?”
    He didn’t answer, so I pushed the door open a little more and stuck my head inside. I wasn’t about to step beyond the doorway. “Derek?” I called out louder.
    “Right there, love,” he said from the bedroom.
    I could see Derek from where I stood. He was standing by the overstuffed chintz chair in Robin’s bedroom, where it looked like the man had thrown his clothes. Derek held the man’s jacket as he checked the pockets.
    “The police are here,” I said with more urgency.
    “Good,” he muttered. “Be right with you.” He threw the jacket down on the arm of the chair and walked quickly but cautiously to the front door.
    But now that he’d moved, I could see what he’d been blocking before. It was the view of Robin’s bed. And the dead man lying there. And the blood. And his eyes, open, staring at nothing. And the small, dark bullet hole in the middle of his forehead.
    Derek caught me as I slid to the floor.

Chapter 3
    Swearing ripely, Derek dragged me out the door and pushed me back into the chair next to Robin. Then he shoved my head between my knees to keep me from passing out altogether. I knew he did it lovingly.
    “Oh, no,” Robin cried as she grabbed hold of my hand. “What did you see in there?”
    “Nothing, nothing,” I said when I could breathe again, then waved away her concern over my idiocy. “I’m okay.”
    “Why in God’s name did you go inside?” Derek demanded as he paced back and forth in front of my chair.
    I sucked in one big gulp of air and sat up. “I didn’t go inside,” I insisted weakly. “I had no intention of doing so. I looked inside. Big difference. I was just trying to get your attention.”
    “Well, you got it,” he said, scowling.
    “I’m sorry,” I said, humiliated by my weakness. “I was just worried the police would find you and arrest you or something.”
    He gritted his teeth, then drew a heavy breath. “Thank you,