Picture Me Dead Read Online Free PDF

disappointed when she turned down the scholarship that had been offered to her by a prestigious Manhattan art college. But even with the scholarship, the money necessary to live and study in New York—even in a dorm—would have been too much. She could have gotten a part-time job, but it wouldn’t have been enough. Nick would have tried to help, but with tourism suffering, he would probably have just about sent himself into bankruptcy.
    â€œLook, I love art, but I always wanted to be a cop. My dad was a cop, remember?”
    â€œNone of us really remembers, ” Karen said. “It was so long ago.”
    â€œI remember that I loved my folks and admired my dad,” Ashley said. “And police work is fascinating.”
    â€œYeah, real fascinating. You’re going to be in a patrol car, trying to chase down speeders, like Karen,” Jan said.
    â€œCute, Jan, really cute,” Karen said.
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œHonest to God, I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing,” Ashley said.
    â€œSo, horses or dancing tonight?” Karen said.
    â€œLet’s just flip a coin—we’ll fit them both in,” she promised. She crumpled up the wrapper from her sandwich along with the napkin on which she’d been drawing. “Ready to hit the road?”
    â€œWant me to drive?” Karen asked.
    â€œGood God, no!” Jan piped in. “She’ll be arresting you—or giving you a warning speech, at the very least—from the passenger seat. Hey, can you write a ticket if you’re sitting next to someone who’s driving your own car?”
    â€œJan,” Karen said firmly. “I’m going to throttle you in a minute. Your precious little throat will be wounded, and you’ll sound like a dying ’gator rather than a songbird.”
    â€œHey, you heard that—she’s threatening me!” Jan said.
    â€œOh, will you two please stop?” Ashley begged, a smile twitching her lips.
    â€œSeriously, want one of us to drive?” Karen said.
    Ashley shook her head. “No, I’m fine.”
    As far as driving went, she was fine.
    But…
    It felt as if the body on the highway would be etched into her mind forever.

CHAPTER 2
    N ick was behind the bar, washing glasses, when Sharon Dupre returned. She hurried in, hoping he wasn’t going to ask about where she’d been. She had said that she would arrive to help with the lunch crowd, but she hadn’t managed to get back in time.
    He didn’t question her. She should have known he wouldn’t, she thought as he looked up at her with his customary grin. Nick wasn’t the jealous type. If she wasn’t enjoying his company and wanted out, she was welcome to leave at any time. If she was happy with him, well, then, she should be there, and he would be delighted.
    â€œHey, how was your day?” he asked.
    â€œGreat.”
    â€œSell anything?”
    â€œShowed two expensive places, but I don’t have any bites—yet.”
    â€œIt takes time.”
    â€œHas Ashley called? Did the girls reach their hotel yet?”
    Nick shook his head. “She won’t call me today unless there’s a problem. I’ll probably hear from her tomorrow. Hey, she loved the cookies. She’ll tell you herself, when she gets back.”
    â€œGood, I’m glad.”
    She set her purse down behind the bar and gave him a kiss, wishing she didn’t feel so nervous. It wasn’t like her. She was never uneasy. Never. She was always in control.
    She started to leave, but he pulled her back, giving her a stronger, much more suggestive kiss. When he released her, she flushed. “Sandy Reilly just came in, and he’s staring at us!”
    â€œSandy’s as old as the hills, and we’re stirring memories of adventure and excitement and raw sexual thrills for him,” Nick replied.
    â€œChill, you two,” Sandy called out. “And break it