Web of Deceit Read Online Free PDF Page B

crises.”
    “I don’t think she
cares at all.”
    “Exactly!She’s
perfect for the job.” Beth agrees.
    “Let me guess;
Sarah Perkins introduced you.”
    “Yep.”
    “She has a
record?” Elliot asks.
    “Yep.”
    “Beth, do you
really think …” Elliot says.
    “Quit being so
judgmental!” Beth opens her office door.“Good morning, Mrs. Freedman.We apologize for any inconvenience.We are normally punctual, and I
assure you the emergency was unavoidable.”
    “Yes, good
morning, Mrs. Doyle.You should get one of these cell phones they make
nowadays.It’s quite a handy little object,” Mrs. Freedman says with a
sugar-sweet voice, accenting her obvious sarcasm.
    “It’s Miz … but
please feel free to call me Beth.And this is my partner, Elliot
Synclair.”
    “Oh,he’s
not your husband?I thought you might be married.”
    “No, what gave you
that impression?”
    “I heard your
receptionist tell someone your home numbers were the same.So I assumed
you were married.But, silly me, it is apparent with the bickering, you
must be brother and sister.”
    “No—we’re not.”
Beth says, while studying Mrs. Freedman.
    Without grasping
the situation, Elliot says, “We just live together.”
    “Oh … well, I
wasn’t aware.”
    “It’s not like
that.” Beth says.“We’re roommates, but I wouldn’t think that pertainsprofessionally.”
    “Yes, you
wouldn’t,” Mrs. Freedman says.
    “Excuse me?” Beth
asks.
    “I’m not the judge
… today.I’m just the client.”
    Beth regards her with
uncertainty.
    “Why, isn’t that
what you call us?Clients?”Mrs. Freedman asks.
    “Well,yes,
of course. OK, we’ll be following you to your granddaughter’s house then?” Beth
asks. What’s up with this lady?
    “Do you need any
more information before we go?” Mrs. Freedman politely asks, as if oblivious to
her spectacle.
    “No, we have
enough information for now.Elliot took time to review it as well.Ready
to go?”
    Mrs. Freedman
smiles and reaches from the chair to grab her pursewhich is resting on
the floor to the right of her.With her left hand, she grasps tightly to
the arm of the chair while lifting her weight up and out.Now standing,
she proceeds to smooth any wrinkles that may have formed in her black skirt
during her long wait.Next, she pulls on the bottom of her suit jacket
as if to make certain she is completely covered with no skin showing
whatsoever.Finally, she touches the white collar of her blouse making
sure each button is securely fastened.With that, she is ready to go.
    “After you.” Beth
motions to the door.
    Beth watches the
slender, petite woman walk gracefully towards the waiting room down the hall. She’s so sweet with her round face and silver hair all up in a perfect little
bun. Yet when she uses that sarcasm, her ice-blue eyes pierce through to my
inner layers like a fierce-cold chill. Beth bites the inside of her lip,
causing wrinkles to form between her eyebrows. Hmm …
    “Thank you for the
kind hospitality, Symphony.” Mrs. Freedman leaves the building.
    As Beth passes
Symphony, she notices her big brown eyes are uneasy.“Is everything all
right?”
    “Uh-huh.” Symphony
seems to be intrigued with the little old lady getting into the large gray
Cadillac.
    “We should be back
after lunch.If Frank calls, tell him I have my cell,” Beth says.
    “’K.”
     
    *   *   *
     
    Elliot is standing
by the Corvette with the passenger door opened, and Beth gets in.“Wow.”
He settles in behind the wheel.Mrs. Freedman is already leaving the
small parking lot.His Vette’s tires chirp as he punches the gas to
catch Mrs. Freedman before she pulls into the street.“Didn’t you say
Mrs. Freedman was a sweet old lady?If I was her daughter, I would come
up missing too.Judge Freedman gives me the creeps.We need to
keep our eyes open on this one.”
    “I agree.
Something doesn’t feel right,” Beth says as her phone rings and she checks the
caller ID.“It’s Frank.” She