Sleeping with the Fishes Read Online Free PDF

swim. She had no time to play Nancy Drew. "Uh, that's not really my field, Dr. Pearson. I'm just in charge of the big fishie tank." At Dr. Barb's frown, she added, "Main One."
    "I could help you, Dr. Pearson!"
    Pearson ignored Madison, who had begun to bounce again.
    "Oh, come on. I looked you up. You've got just as much book learning as me."
    Fred gaped. "Book learning?"
    "And I could really use the help," he coaxed, twinkling at her with those amazing dark eyes yet again.
    "Yeah, but—"
    "And we'd make a great team."
    "But—"
    "It's settled, then," Dr. Barb commanded.
    "What is?" Fred felt like the planet had started spinning faster.
    "I could help both of you," Madison announced. Just then, Fred's cell phone trilled the Harry Potter theme.
    Saved by the bell
. She flipped it open and practically barked, "Yes?"
    "Fred, dear, it's Mom."
    It was? Her morn sounded rattled. Really rattled. Missing her yoga class three times in a row rattled.
    "What's wrong?"
    "There's, uh, we have a visitor."
    "Okay."
    "And he wants to see you."
    "Okay."
    "Very badly."
    "Okay."
    "Very badly."
    Fred puzzled it out. Her mom hadn't been this upset when Fred had caught her on all fours. Who could be visiting? A Republican? After Sam had run the last one off with an empty shotgun, you'd think they would have—
    "Well, I'm at work now, but—"
    "Yes, I know, but I think you should come home
right now
."
    Fred lowered her voice. "Mom, are you in danger?"
    "I don't… think so."
    "Is this stranger standing right there?"
    "Yes."
    "Put him on."
    "I don't think—"
    "Mom. Right now."
    There was a short silence, and then a deep, gravelly voice said, "Yes?"
    "Chum." It wasn't an affectionate nickname. She meant it literally: the fish guts and heads you feed sharks with. "You're scaring the shit out of my mom. Cut it out, unless you want to find out what your colon looks like."
    " Fredrika , darling. So nice to hear from you after all this time. Your mother is a charming hostess, but I really insist on speaking with you."
    "Oh, we'll speak, chum. You've got my word on that one. But if I get there and she's still freaking out—if she's so much as got a hair out of place—you and I will talk for about thirty days. And you won't like it. At all."
    "Looking forward to it," the deep voice purred, and then there was a click.
    " Gotta go," Fred said, dropping the clipboard on her desk with a clank and grabbing her purse.
    "But—" Dr. Barb and Thomas butted at the same time.
    "It's rilly rilly important," she said, and walked out.
     

Chapter Nine
     
    She didn't bother with the front door. Went around the back, by the kitchen entrance (where her mother's phone was, and where she entertained, and where she was the most comfortable), and kicked in the glass door.
    Everyone at the table—Sam, her mother, and the redheaded stranger—froze, then looked up at her. Fred brushed glass out of her hair and stepped into the room.
    Dead silence.
    "I'm here," she said unnecessarily. Damn. How had glass gotten into her jeans? She wriggled for a second and said, "On your feet, Red. Let's go outside and dance."
    "Dance?" the redheaded stranger said blankly. He was looking at her with the oddest expression: admiration, and annoyance, and a little awe.
    "Dance. Fight. Smackdown . I'll beat the shit out of you, and you'll go away. Then I'll go back to work before my parents—never mind. Step up. Right now."
    "Fred, it's not exactly what you—" Sam began.
    "I was a little startled at first," her mom added.
    "I apologize if I upset your family," the stranger rumbled. "That was not my intent." He stood up. And up. And up. He towered over all of them, even Fred. Towered
. He had shoulder-length hair the color of crushed rubies, and eyes that were—okay, were those contacts?—about two shades lighter than his hair. Cherry cough drop-colored eyes.
    His shoulders were so broad, she wondered how he'd gotten through the front door. He was dressed in a white shirt, open at the