Deadly Kisses by Brenda Joyce Read Free Book Online

you left for Daisy’s at half past eleven?”
    Hart faced them from a distance. “Alfred let me in when I returned from the depot. I am sure he saw me go out.”
    Bragg made a note. “And your driver can certainly testify to taking you to Daisy’s at half past eleven, can he not?”
    Hart’s expression was impassive. “I took a cab.”
    Francesca almost groaned. “Rick! Hart was at home for at least three hours! I am sure quite a few staff can testify to that.”
    Bragg looked at her, not responding.
    Francesca felt some panic bubble. Rick did not believe all that Hart had said.
    â€œRick, I want to speak to you alone,” Hart suddenly said.
    Francesca was instantly alarmed. “Calder!”
    â€œNo.” His eyes had become shards of steel. “I wish to speak with my brother privately.”
    Francesca’s worry knew no bounds. She hesitated and Rick said, “I want to speak to him alone, as well. Francesca, it is late. I will finish with Hart and he can take you home, as long as youpromise me you will come in first thing in the morning to give an official statement.” He smiled at her.
    But she did not smile back. If they wished to speak alone, then they were going to discuss her—or discuss something they did not wish for her to hear. When both men united against her, it was a losing battle. She looked at Rick, who was smiling too benignly at her, then glanced at Hart, who was not smiling at all. He appeared ruthlessly determined, but to do what?
    â€œI’ll take you home in a few minutes,” Hart said.
    She knew she could not prevent this private discussion. She sighed and faced Rick. “Of course I’ll come in tomorrow morning. What about Rose?”
    â€œI’m going to interview her in a moment, if she is up to the task. If not, I will send her home with a police escort and speak with her in the morning, as well.”
    Francesca would be shocked if Rose were ever proven to be the killer. She felt very sorry for the woman. “Rick, she is in mourning.”
    â€œI know.” He laid his hand on her back and guided her across the room to the door. “Newman? Why don’t you see Miss Cahill downstairs and begin speaking with Rose.”
    â€œAye, sir,” Newman said.
    Â 
    H ART WATCHED F RANCESCA LEAVE. He was very deter mined, but a part of him almost called her back. Before the door closed she sent him a reassuring look. He knew her so well now, better than he had ever known anyone. Therefore, he had not a single doubt that Francesca genuinely wanted to comfort him, just as he knew she wanted to protect him. It was amazing, and he knew that later he’d be grateful. Tonight, however, he had no use for any emotions whatsoever, not even those engendered by his fiancée. Tonight, he refused to feel anything at all.
    Images of Daisy filled his mind, her anger, her tears, and later, her bloody corpse.
    Hart turned to Rick and said, “I do not want Francesca involved in this investigation, not in any way. She thinks to protect me but it is hardly necessary.”
    Bragg’s tawny brows lifted. “I could not agree more. How noble of you.”
    Inwardly he seethed. “We both know I am not noble, Rick, so don’t even begin. But even I am not rotten enough to put Franesca in the awkward position of defending me in the murder of my ex-mistress.” He did not want his past with Daisy—or any woman—thrown up in Francesca’s face, time and again. In fact, he had regretted his hedonistic past ever since meeting Francesca, or shortly there after. Although he could not change the past, he hoped to keep Francesca as far removed from it as he could. Yet to night, the past had somehow caught up with them both.
    â€œI could almost believe you are putting Francesca first,” Rick said, “except we both know you are not.”
    Hart despised his brother’s self-righteous, judgmental