Cinco de Mayhem by Ann Myers Read Free Book Online Page A

leaving,” I said with more resolve.
    â€œYou’re more than welcome to leave, Rita,” Manny said, stepping aside so I could get in my car. “Linda’s coming with us. She needs to answer some questions.”
    Linda’s politeness instincts kicked in full force. “Of course,” she said. “I’m happy to help. You go back home and get some sleep, Rita. I’ll go with the police. They’ll sort this out.”
    I looked from Manny to Bunny and feared they were sorting it out. All wrong.
    â€œIf Linda’s going, I’m going too.” I reattached myself to Linda’s elbow. She patted my arm as ifI was the one who needed comfort. I left her side only for a minute. She waited in the back of Manny’s car while I dialed Jake Strong. I wasn’t calling to discuss a dinner date menu. I feared that Linda might need the services of Santa Fe’s top criminal defense attorney.

    S tanding outside the police station, I watched Jake get out of his silver Audi. He looked good. Who was I kidding? He always looked good. This morning, though, he looked good in a way I hadn’t seen before. Instead of his usual Western lawyer getup of dark, trim blue jeans, cowboy boots and hat, and finely tailored suit coat, he wore running shorts, a blue windbreaker, and a sweaty T-shirt advertising one of my favorite ice cream shops, Taos Cow. I sighed, both at the handsome man and the thought of ice cream. I wished we were meeting for a road trip to the creamery, up the Rio Grande to the cute, artsy village of Arroyo Seco. I knew what I’d order. Cherry ristra , rich cherry ice cream dotted with piñon nuts and dark chocolate chunks. Or maybe the chocolate malt with Oreos. Or anything with salted caramel.
    I shook these fantasies away and greeted Jake and the drooling companion who followed him. Winston the bulldog panted up at me. I patted his wrinkly head, causing his entire behind to wag and his head-heavy front half to wobble off balance.
    â€œSorry to call you so early,” I said to Winston’s handsome human, taking a line from Linda’s politeness handbook. I no longer worried that I’d woken Jake up. Judging from his attire, he’d been up for a while, burning calories. I knew Jake belonged to a club basketball team and I assumed he worked out. I hadn’t known he was an early morning runner.
    Frankly, I found this a little intimidating. Don’t get me wrong. I try to be healthy. I eat fruits and vegetables, and I often walk to work, where I spend my days on my feet lifting weighty burritos. I have weaknesses, though, in the form of cheese, French pastries, salty snacks, and, well, food in general. I’m also a reluctant exerciser. When my gym membership expired in January, I told myself I’d save money and jog. I’ve yet to jog more than a handful of times, mainly because I’m too tired after work and too lazy in the morning. I eyed Jake, wondering if sportiness was going to be a relationship problem. Let’s see, so far I didn’t dance, I didn’t run, and I wasn’t a statuesque blonde like his ex-wife and the women he’d dated before me. Hadn’t he noticed by now?
    Winston flopped at my feet, all legs splayed outward, his lips draped over my left sandal. Warm doggy drool reached my foot, and Winston sighed in contentment.
    â€œI’ll apologize on his behalf,” Jake said, frowning down at man’s drooliest best friend. “I was taking him for his morning walk after my run when you called. We ran back home and jumped in the car. He’s not a runner.”
    A creature after my own heart. “Good boy,” I assured Winston, who groaned as if he understood. I quickly filled Jake in on Napoleon. Once againproving how nice he was, Jake didn’t point out my involvement with yet another dead guy.
    â€œWhere’s Linda, and why are the police so interested in her?” he asked, focusing on