Always Love a Villain on San Juan Island by Sandy Frances Duncan, George Szanto Read Free Book Online

you’ve dealt with a Wisely, the next case tends to look skewed even if it’s completely honest. It’s like your eyesight’s been muddied.” She shook her head, as if weary of the job. “All our investigators say that’s how it is. You need to prove two or three clients are making honest claims, and then you see clearly again.”
    â€œRight. And then you get another Wisely, and the cycle starts again.”
    Kyra ordered Chicken Orloff, Margery pepper steak. More stories. The food came, chicken in cubes under a tomatoey sauce with cheese-mashed potatoes and pilaf rice, the rare steak surrounded by young fresh beans and tiny potatoes. Kyra said she’d be away for a few days, a case on San Juan.
    â€œCan you talk about it?”
    â€œDon’t know much.” She forked a piece of chicken. Lots of tarragon in the sauce. “Delicious. Noel’s there now. He’ll fill me in tomorrow. Plagiarism at that university there, Morsely.”
    â€œWell, at least we don’t have to deal with plagiarism at the company.”
    â€œRight,” said Kyra. “Just parallel crimes. Cheating is cheating, however you slice it. They really get to me, the frauds.”
    â€œSo,” said Margery watching Kyra’s face, “you’ll be spending time with Noel.”
    â€œYeah.” Kyra concentrated on her food.
    Margery cut into her steak and took a bite. “Mmm. Good and spicy.” A piece of potato. With mouth half full, she asked, “How’s your project going?”
    Kyra took some of the cheesed potato on her fork and stared at it. “It’s not.” Margery was the only person she’d mentioned it to.
    â€œYou’ve talked?”
    â€œNot really.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    Kyra wrinkled her brow. “Hard to. On the phone.” She finally put the forkful into her mouth.
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œAfter that case on Quadra we spent five days together. There was a true connection between us. Not sexual, but a real closeness. The best of friends. Friends who’d do anything for each other.” An ironic little laugh. “Nearly anything.” She shook her head. “He just said, No. And all the good stuff we’d had for the previous few days, it sort of shattered. I nearly cried.” She sighed. “I got into my bedroom and flopped onto the bed and didn’t know if I was more angry at myself or just embarrassed. I felt like from now on he’d look at me and see a fake, a woman who kept on being his friend just to get his sperm. I finally apologized, we had a drink, we went out for dinner. We talked about old cases, we laughed a couple of times. Back at his condo, he put both his hands on my shoulders and looked me gently in the eyes like he was trying to see into me. And he said, ‘Kyra, I just can’t.’ I took a sleeping pill and woke up when he knocked on my door, time to get me to the seaplane. I don’t want to hear him say ‘No’ ever again.”
    Margery nodded. “You’ve sounded so tense since you came back. Thanks for telling me.”
    â€œIt’s hard. Trying to make it happen without losing what I have with Noel.”
    â€œHow hard can it be to give you a small vial of sperm?”
    Kyra could feel her eyes tearing.

    Peter slowed as they drove decorously through town to a restaurant named Coho and parked. “I try to spread my business around the eateries and this is mine of the month. Hope you’re not a vegetarian. I forgot to ask.”
    â€œNo.” Noel, very hungry, got out of the car. The mussels had been excellent but not filling.
    Roast lamb, with salad and new potatoes, was featured; Peter ordered that. Noel asked for the steak, rare. Peter requested a bottle of Washington State Pheasant Bluff Merlot. When it came, they sipped and nodded approvingly. They talked about Peter’s courses, his students, his department. Till Peter shifted.