2 The Judas Kiss by Angella Graff Read Free Book Online Page B

into the kitchen to find something greasy to fry and to start a pot of strong coffee.  He popped a couple of pain killers and fried a couple of eggs, trying not to gag at the smell filling up the apartment.
                  It was starting to warm up, as the months raced toward summer, and Ben decided to take his breakfast out onto his small balcony.  It felt odd, being home on a Thursday, but without the pressure to race to the office and bury himself in cases, he felt a little bit of relief.  He pushed the thoughts of his sister away as best he could, and forced all of his breakfast down.  A desperate, feeble attempt to chase away the heavy hangover that, in all honesty, he completely deserved.
                  The eggs seemed willing to stay put and for a moment he had a strong urge to pick up a cigarette, but the moment he’d stepped foot in his apartment after Abby died, he’d vowed not to touch another.  Smoking was something she’d always hated, and quitting was something she’d always been on him about.  Four months now, and he hadn’t slipped.  He set the plate down near the railing and watched as a brave bird came to peck at the leftover toast crumbs.
                  Ben kicked his feet up on the empty second chair and closed his eyes.  The pain in his head was starting to recede slightly and the sun on his face felt good.  It was going to be a particularly foggy day, but he was in the mood for it.  He sat there quietly, thinking of everything and anything besides his sister, the funeral, and the fallen priest, until the buzzer from the door downstairs startled him.
                  Ben hurried inside, confused as to who would bother to visit him unannounced and pushed the intercom.  “Yes?” he asked, a sinking feeling in his gut when he realized it might be Mark.
                  “Ben, it’s Stella,” came the quiet, husky voice of the woman who should be his girlfriend. 
                  “Uh come on up,” he said.  He was almost violently surprised that she, of all people, would be at his door, especially without calling first.  He pressed the button to release the door and paced a little as she climbed the stairs.  When he heard her footfalls on the landing, Ben opened the door and stood aside as she walked in.  He hadn’t seen her much, and frankly had assumed he wouldn’t see her again.  But here she was, standing in front of him, staring back at him with her heavy, brown eyes.
                  She was dressed casually, in jeans and a light sweater.  She wasn’t armed, which meant she was off duty, but her face bore the expression of someone holding on to bad news.  She gave him a tense smile as he shut the door and they walked into his living room.
                  “Sorry to just drop in,” she said, giving a short shrug.
                  “Not a problem,” he said and gestured for her to sit.  He kept a few paces away from her out of respect.  They’d shared a kiss, and some heavy innuendo, but nothing had gone further than that.  But being physical wasn’t the first thing on Ben’s mind.  Frankly he just wanted to know why she’d popped by out of the blue.  That was unlike her, and something Ben didn’t exactly appreciate.
                  “I went by the station, but your captain told me you had the weekend off,” she started, sounding awkward.
                  “Funeral was yesterday,” he said gruffly.  “He figured I could use some space from works stress.”
                  “He’s probably right, though I know that’s the last thing I would want,” she said.  She smiled and looked really pretty right then.
                  Ben gave her a half-smile and sat back against the sofa cushions.  “Part of me wants to bury myself in work so I don’t have to think about Abby.  The other part of me wants