The Wife of a Lesser Man (LA Cops Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

other’s shoulders and huge smiles brightening their faces.  Shelley had taken the picture that day.  The pride in her face was unmistakable.  Richard wished he could have seen that pride in Wendy’s face; but he never did.  He looked down at the floor and frowned. 
    “Why so glum chum?”  Lisa asked.
    Richard gasped, he was startled but wasn’t sure why.  He had already noticed her office light was still on.  “Ah, just tired I guess.”
    She looked in Mark’s office and directed her head in the direction of his door.  “Do you miss Mark?”  she said in a soft voice.
    He wiped his nose unconsciously “Yeah, I guess.  It sure isn’t the same staying late without him.”  He felt his face flush slightly.
    Sensing his embarrassment, Lisa looked at Richard and asked, “Is there anything you need help with?  Misery loves company.” 
    He faced Mark’s office again.  “Well, if you haven’t got anything else I could use a key to get those files off his desk.  He forgot to leave them with me.” 
    She put her hand in her pocket and brought out a large key ring with about twenty keys attached.  The ring was affixed to a bright pink curly cord, the kind that used to belong on telephones.  Richard moved to the side and she opened the door with one turn of the key.  He followed her in as she switched on the light.  His eyes went immediately to the picture on the wall he had been looking at earlier. 
    Lisa looked at the pile of files and commented, “It looks like they’re all here.  He didn’t take any home.”  She sat down in one of the guest chairs and began thumbing through the files.  “Andy’s been working on these, too, but I think he’s gone as far as he can.  He gave his copies to Noonan yesterday.  They’re doing some follow up on the break and enter from last week.  Hobbs is helping Noonan canvas for that one.  Giles and Morgan are working on the theft and domestic disturbance from the week before, and I think the only other ones are the DUI and grand theft auto from that same week.”  She cleared her throat, “I know Mark wanted the Reed murder file in particular.  That one is right on top.”
    Richard nodded in acknowledgement as she read off all the cases.  “Has any of the evidence come back from the crime scene?”  he asked. 
    “No, just what’s in the file.  We should be getting something back tomorrow or the next day.  Trace is dragging their ass this week since Bob’s been on vacation.  No surprises there.”  Bob was the lead pathologist and he took two weeks of vacation a year, somehow the morgue never seemed to plan for it.  They had a rookie pathologist on staff and were ill prepared for the murder.  “Have we gotten the pictures back from the scene?”  Richard asked, in disbelief,  “No, we don’t even have those yet.  No wonder Mark was pissed off and went home early.”  Richard nodded.  He paused, looking down at his hands interlaced above his knees. 
    “Hey, you okay?”  Lisa asked, looking directly at him.
    He hesitated for a moment and answered “Do you want to go out for dinner?”
    …
     
    Mark’s face was surprised exasperation when I presented him with his plate filled with pretend beef stew.  I playfully smacked him on his shoulder and walked over to the switch plate to dim the lights.  He had his fork in hand and he was carefully lifting up morsels of food and looking under them. 
    “ What are you doing?”  I asked, trying not to appear upset.
    He laughed “Nothing, nothing.  I’m just horsing around.  Don’t worry, it looks delicious, I promise.”  His hands were outstretched in front of him, as if to ward off any confrontation.
    “I worked really hard to prepare this meal, Mark.  You have no idea how frustrating it is to have to cook such challenging meals for such a challenging ….. palate .”  I said, forcing out a laugh to soften the reality but at the same time make him aware of my bruised