At Risk of Being a Fool by Jeanette Cottrell Read Free Book Online Page A

them.
    “You’re sure he wasn’t the lawyer for your student?”
    “I doubt it. Quinto says his lawyer was a woman. She apparently spent Quinto’s appointments with a cell phone pasted to one ear, arguing with her boyfriend. I suppose there are lots of people who knew about Quinto. The work crew, the company’s administration, even the medical staff who took care of Mr. Wogan.”
    “Bryce Wogan? Construction chief? Dear Lord, what a small world.”
    Jeanie blinked. “You knew Bryce Wogan?”
    “Well, hello,” caroled Nadezda, holding open the door. “Long time no see.”
    “Right,” said Jeanie, “It’s been at least an hour.”
    “Will you be back this evening, or are you taking the night off?”
    “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I thought I’d bring Rita down.”
    “Great. So, Edward, how was your walk? Did you feed the ducks? They look forward to seeing you. Just like your lovely wife does, doesn’t she?”
    “I haven’t seen my wife,” said Edward.
    Jeanie tensed, but Nadezda dove in first. “Of course you have, Edward. She’s been walking with you. A nice long walk, just like when you first got married.”
    “No,” said Edward. “This is the other one. Not my wife.”
    “Well,” said Nadezda, putting an arm around his shoulder, “the other one will be back soon. The visiting nurse wants you all to herself for the moment.”
    Jeanie kissed him on the cheek. “Good-bye, Edward. I’ll see you in a little bit.” She turned quickly and started out the door.
    Behind her, Edward said, “She shouldn’t kiss strangers. My wife wouldn’t care for that at all.”
    “Well, we just won’t tell her then, will we?” said Nadezda. “Hang on just a minute, would you, Jeanie?”
    The door closed with a heavy click. Jeanie waited, sternly controlling the wobble in her chin. Edward’s movements were a little looser with the new medication dosage. In a week or two, with his state more predictable, perhaps she could take him home for another overnight visit.
    Nadezda stepped outside. “Thanks for waiting. Jeanie, your windows lock down, don’t they? So people can’t wedge them open?”
    “What? Oh,” said Jeanie, astonished, “yes, when the boys were here, they cut bars for them. They put about a thousand locks on each door. What’s the matter?”
    “Last night we had a prowler. Nate heard him and scared him off.” Every night, Nate patrolled Oriole’s Nest and the retirement complex next door. “The guy was in the back yard, looking in the windows. Fortunately, none of the residents saw him. He jumped right over the fence when he saw Nate, so hopefully he’s scared off for good. We called the police, and there’s no damage. But Kherra and me, we got a bit worried about you. Your place isn’t even fenced. So you be careful, you hear me?”
    “I’m always careful,” Jeanie said, touched. “Probably somebody’s after your drug cabinet. Maybe a burglar with high blood pressure? I’ll check the windows when I get back, just to be sure. Don’t worry about me.”
    Jeanie left, still mulling over Edward’s recognition of Bryce Wogan. Perhaps he’d remember the name in an hour or so, but probably not. She dismissed Nadezda’s warning. All her valuables were in storage. Who could possibly be interested in her?
    ~*~
    He leaned against the building and gauged the shadows in the darkness. The security fence wobbled. His mouth quirked as he vaulted over it. Maybe there were too many people climbing over it at night.
    There wasn’t much security on the construction site. Since Wogan’s little accident, a couple of guys drove by at night. They got out of their cars and poked around with flashlights, but they weren’t fast on their feet. Too many burgers and fries. They were no trouble. More to the point, Rivera was always the first on the site; poking things with long handles, wearing goggles and hardhat. That was Rivera, all right. He was so fuckin’ conscientious. He was also