Dead Man Falls by Paula Boyd Read Free Book Online Page A

books, including audio versions by Deepak Chopra and Caroline Myss, which I've listened to so many times that I now actually like their voices. I’ve bought videos on yoga and tai chi, pulled a muscle trying to assume the lotus position and regressed myself back to a past life where I was burned at the stake as a witch. Big surprise there. I also toyed with Buddhism for a while, but the odds of ever quieting my mind or embracing that pacifist thing were about as good as winning the lottery, and you can just buy tickets for that. Yes, I do realize I’m not getting it.
    Speaking of which, "Funny you should mention Rhonda," I said, very nicely, although my thoughts had slipped back to the dark side. "I heard she's here and I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you. I need to be going anyway, but first tell me, how are the kids? And Amy?" No, I wasn't being sarcastic, really.
    Jerry raised an eyebrow, looking half amused or maybe half annoyed. "Ben and Rachel are with Amy visiting her folks in Dallas. They’re all doing fine. The whole situation is just fine. And really, Jolene, you know I don’t care anything at all about seeing Rhonda."
    Well, okay, I guess maybe I did, but it was good to hear him confirm it anyway. Rhonda’s vicious lies had incinerated my relationship with Jerry once before and I needed to know if she was in a position to do it again. I’m not playing that game again--ever.
    And yes, I’ll also admit to being glad he didn’t have to rush off and take care of his kids--or his ex-wife, who I actually kind of liked. I think his kids are great, too, but they do present complications, or would, I guess, if we ever got to the point of having a real adult relationship.
    "Here’s Rick," Jerry said, nodding toward a black-suited figure with blond hair and a scowl.
    I am fairly good at finding things to distract myself with, but that was all about to come to a halt as Redwater Falls Detective Richard Rankin--aka Surfer Dude--headed toward us with a highly un-Rick-like glower.
    Detective Rankin wore his standard double-breasted suit, but his hair was cut shorter than it had been in July, with only a few wavy gold locks left on top. The new do compromised his carefree beach boy look and the deep-creased frown on his face made him look older, maybe even old enough for me, not that I was actually thinking about such things.
    Surfer Dude had kind of liked me back in July when we first met, which I would have known even if he hadn’t admitted it. I was flattered to be sure, but once he figured out the thing with me and Jerry--if it indeed can be called a "thing"--it sort of became an inside joke between us. From the grim look on his face now, however, I knew he wasn’t headed over for a round of playful flirting.
    Rick stopped in front of us and nodded, acting all formal and uptight. "Jerry, Jolene." Considering the circumstances, I answered him with a fairly perky "Hi, Rick," but he seemed not to notice. He just stared at me for several more long uncomfortable seconds then turned to Jerry. "This is starting to feel like July all over again, Sheriff."
    I groaned, fully aware of what he was implying. "Oh, no, this has nothing at all to do with me. It is pure coincidence that I’m here."
    "Jolene’s in town for her mother’s birthday," Jerry said easily. "It’s a tradition in her family, I believe."
    It’s a torturous family law with consequences that make lethal injection sound appealing, but who was I to quibble? "That’s right," I said. "And Mother dragged me out here against my will to see the new falls. I was trying to ignore the ceremony, really I was, but the corpse hurtling into the river kind of caught my eye."
    Rick stared at me again, and I couldn’t begin to figure out what he was thinking. Again, he turned back to Jerry. "Sheriff," he said, all stiff and stuffy. "I need you to step over here for a moment. We need to speak privately."
    "Oh, for crying out loud, Richard. Just stop with the scowling and