The In Death Collection: Books 26-29 Read Online Free PDF Page A

a pedestal, a handheld golf game, a couple of trophies, a sponge-weight toy football. Photographs and posters of sports figures or sports products juggled for space along the wall.
    Chairs were leather, deep, and looked comfortably worn.
    Forrest himself stood about three inches under his admin’s height. He wore a shirt open at the collar, casual khakis, and trendy gel-skids. There was a friendly, just-one-of-the-guys look about him with his tousled sandy hair, easy smile, cheerful hazel eyes.
    â€œYou’ve been waiting. Sorry. I had to wrap things up. Ben Forrest.” He crossed the office as he spoke, shot out his hand. Eve shook, studying him as he offered his hand to Peabody.
    â€œLieutenant Dallas, Detective Peabody.”
    â€œHave a seat. What can we get you? Coffee, bottled water, a sports drink?”
    â€œWe’re fine. We’re hear to speak with you about Thomas Anders.”
    Humor danced over Forrest’s expressive face. “Don’t tell me Uncle Tommy’s in trouble.”
    â€œUncle?”
    â€œMy mother’s brother. Please, sit.” He gestured, then dropped down into a chair. “More, really, as he basically raised me after my mother died.”
    â€œHow did she die?”
    â€œEaten by a shark.”
    Intrigued, Eve sat. “Really?”
    His grin flashed. “Yeah, really. I was about six, and don’t remember her that well, so it’s more interesting than tragic for me. Scuba diving off the coast of Madagascar. Anyway, what about my uncle?”
    Sticky now, Eve thought. “I’m sorry to have to tell you Mr. Anders was killed this morning.”
    Amusement snapped into shock that leached the healthy color out of his face. “What? Killed? How? Are you sure? Wait.” He rose, dug a ’link out of his pocket.
    â€œMr. Forrest, we’ve just left your uncle’s home, and his widow.”
    â€œBut…we’re going to the Knicks game tonight. We—we played golf on Sunday. He…”
    â€œBen.” Leopold moved across the room. After taking the ’link out of Ben’s hand, he laid a hand on Ben’s shoulder, eased him down into the chair. “I’m very sorry. So very sorry. I’m going to cancel the rest of your appointments for the day.” He walked to a cabinet, tapped the door. When it opened, he took out a chilled bottle of water, unscrewed the top. “Drink some water.”
    Like a puppet, Ben obeyed. Eve made no objection when Leopold ranged himself like a guard behind Ben’s chair.
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œHe was strangled.”
    â€œThat can’t be right.” Ben shook his head slowly from side to side. “That just can’t be right.”
    â€œDo you know anyone who wished him harm?”
    â€œNo. No.”
    â€œWhere were you this morning between one and four A.M. ?”
    â€œJesus. Home. Home in bed.”
    â€œAlone?”
    â€œNo. I had…a friend.” He rubbed the cold bottle over his face. “Gatch Brooks. She was there all night. We got up about six, worked out together. She left—we both left around eight. You can check. Just check. I wouldn’t hurt Uncle Tommy. He’s like a father to me.”
    â€œYou were close. How would you describe Mr. Anders’s relationship with his wife?”
    â€œGreat. Good. Ava’s…you said you’d talked to her. Told her. God. Leopold, get the number where she’s staying. I need to—”
    â€œShe’s home, Mr. Forrest,” Peabody told him.
    â€œShe…Oh, she came home. She came home when you told her…” Ben pressed his fingers to his eyes. “I can’t think straight. I need to get over to the house, to Ava. I need to—Where is he? Is he still home, or…”
    â€œHe’s been taken to the morgue.” He didn’t bother to fight tears, Eve noted. He let them come. “You—your family—will be