Booby Trap by Sue Ann Jaffarian Read Free Book Online Page B

raised my own bottle in a salute. “No one is hotter than you, my darling. You melt the wheels right off your wheelchair.”
    Greg tilted his head back and laughed out loud. “Let’s not sling bullshit while we’re eating.”
    I laughed and poked around my nearly finished salad with my fork, finally spearing a lone cherry tomato. “Seriously, Greg, a woman who’s deeply in love doesn’t spend time on the computer idly chatting, especially one who is as into exercise and outdoor activities as Laurie seemed to be.”
    Greg took a few more bites of his dinner before pushing his plate aside. “So, when are you going to talk to her sister?”
    It was as if he’d read my mind. As I ate, I was making plans to do just that. “Hopefully tomorrow, while you’re playing basketball. That is, if I can track her down.”
    Greg tossed Wainwright a bit of steak fat. The dog gobbled it up and sat expectantly waiting for more, stopping just short of begging. “I printed out her phone number and address this afternoon for you.”
    My eyes popped open in surprise.
    “You’re not the only one who knows their way around computer research, you know.” He chuckled and patted me affectionately on my arm.
    “I’ll call her right after dinner then.”
    “No need. I called her this afternoon. She’s expecting you tomorrow at ten—at her place.”
    “Just like that, she said yes to having a stranger come over?”
    Greg didn’t answer right away. Instead, he finished his beer. He was teasing me, knowing I was about to burst. Just when I’d reached my limit and was about to strangle him, he answered. “Not a stranger, sweetheart. She said yes to having Odelia Grey come over.”
    I stared at him without understanding.
    “Did you see the photo of Lisa Luke in the pile of stuff I gave you?”
    I shrugged. “I think so, but I was more interested in Laurie.”
    “Tch tch tch.” Greg wagged a finger at me. “Marriage must have dulled your senses. Take another look. Lisa Luke is a big girl—a BBW. I simply told her that Odelia Grey of Reality Check wanted to pay her a visit and see if there was anything she needed.”
    “And she still said yes?”
    “Sweetheart, you and that organization are well known here in Orange County, even among the big girls not involved with it. I just used it to get your foot in the door.”
    “And what about the others? How are you going to get me through those doors?”
    “I’m still working on that.” His eyes were full of mischief. “By the way, do we have any plans for Monday night?”
    I narrowed my eyes in suspicion at him. “Why?”
    He shrugged. “I told Gordon Harper we might like to drop by.”
    “Who’s Gordon Harper?”
    “The ex-husband of Crystal Lee Harper, the stripper. You know, victim two.”
    I had created a monster.

Lisa Luke lived in a spacious two-bedroom condo in Newport Beach, the property situated on a hill just off of Pacific Coast Highway. According to the information Greg provided, she and Laurie were joint owners and lived there together. It wasn’t far from Hoag Hospital or the beach, which must have suited Laurie Luke’s active lifestyle perfectly.
    The door was opened almost before my knock was a done deal. Lisa Luke quietly welcomed me, keeping her head down and her eyes fixed on the floor between us as I entered. Before making the trip, I had looked at the only photo of Lisa that had been among the information about her sister. It was a grainy newspaper photo of a plump woman with her head down. She had long blond hair like her sister, but in the photo it had covered most of her face. The sight of Lisa Luke in person shocked me right down to my freshly painted toenails. I stared openly before I remembered my manners, shut my mouth, and smiled.
    “Thank you for seeing me, Lisa.”
    She nodded and, with a slight wave of her hand, directed me into the living room. I took a seat on an upholstered chair and set my tote bag on the carpet next to me.
    “Would you