Dead Run by Erica Spindler Read Free Book Online Page B

woman asking someone named Becky if Val was available. As she listened, she stared blankly at the worn vinyl seats, struggling to get a grip on her runaway nerves. She understood cops because professionally she had crossed paths with quite a number of them over the years. That tended to happen when counseling families in crisis and delinquent teens. She had even done a stint at the St. Charles County juvenile detention center. Those six months had been a trial by fire—and had convinced her to go into private practice.
    What she had learned during those months, however, had been invaluable. Including the best way to deal with police officers. They were a proud breed, independent, sometimes arrogant, often stubborn. She had to play this just right. Lieutenant Lopez could make what shehad come to Key West to do easy for her…or extremely difficult.
    â€œLieutenant Lopez said you should come on up.” Liz turned to face the receptionist. “You know where his office is?”
    â€œNo, I—”
    â€œIt’s a piece of cake. Take the stairs.” She pointed. “Top of the stairs, take a right. His is the one with the Dutch door. And don’t worry, sugar. Unless you’re one of the bad guys, Lieutenant Lopez is a real sweetheart.”
    Unless she was one of the bad guys. Why didn’t she find that comforting?
    Liz followed the woman’s directions. As promised, finding Valentine Lopez’s office posed no difficulty. The upper half of his door was open and she tapped on the casing. “Lieutenant Lopez?” she asked.
    Valentine Lopez looked up and smiled. Liz was struck by two things: how handsome he was, and the fact that his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
    The man stood and motioned her in. “Ms. Ames, this is a surprise.”
    â€œI’m sure it is.” She crossed to him. They shook hands, then sat. “Thank you for seeing me.”
    â€œWhat brings you to Key West?”
    â€œThat should be obvious.” She heard the angry edge in her voice and worked to quell it. “My sister, Lieutenant.”
    He settled back in his chair. Its aging springs creaked with the movement. “How can I help?”
    â€œI’d like you to reopen your investigation into her disappearance.”
    â€œI can’t do that. I’m sorry. Ask me something else.”
    â€œShe didn’t suffer a mental breakdown and run off, Lieutenant. I’m positive she didn’t.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    The wording of his question caught her off guard. His slightly confrontational tone didn’t. “I know my sister, Lieutenant Lopez. She’s not given to emotionalism or flights of fancy. In fact, she’s the most stable person I’ve ever known.”
    â€œThat’s an awfully confident claim.”
    â€œIt’s true.”
    â€œSo, you believe her to be alive?”
    â€œPardon me?”
    â€œYou’re referring to her in the present tense. But if she’s alive and didn’t run off, where is she?”
    Liz felt his words like a blow to her gut. She went cold, then hot. Tears stung her eyes. “No, Lieutenant, I…I’m afraid she’s…”
    She cleared her throat, struggling to find her voice, to speak clearly and confidently. She had to convince him. “I’m afraid she was murdered, Lieutenant Lopez. I’m afraid she uncovered some sort of illegal activities on the island and was murdered because of it. I wish I didn’t think this.”
    For a long moment he said nothing. When he finally spoke, his tone was patient. “If she had uncovered illegal activities on the island, why didn’t she call me?”
    â€œI don’t know. Perhaps she called one of the other detectives?”
    â€œShe didn’t.” He softened his tone. “The most grounded of people can suffer a mental breakdown, it happens all the time. One can be precipitated by extreme stress, uncertainty, even