Dying to Know by T. J. O'Connor Read Free Book Online Page A

dream. We both think
    it’s stress. I can relate to that.”
    Angel opened her door and stepped out, glaring at Bear over
    the hood of his cruiser. “So you think it’s all in my head.”
    From the backseat, I said, “I don’t.” Neither cared.
    “Honey, listen. There’s no trace of anyone getting into the
    house. Nothing. If my deputies find someone, I’ll let you know
    right away.”
    “Forget it,” she snapped, and ran into the house.
    50
    We both watched her go. I said, “Can’t say I blame her. Some-
    thing scared her. Dream or not. Something scared the hell out of
    her.”
    He shot a glance into the rearview mirror and then around
    the driveway. “Shit—right, it’s just stress.”
    Angel’s cry reached us as Bear shut the front door. He looked
    up to the second floor landing just as she slammed a closet door
    in our bedroom. “Damn. Damn them.”
    “Bear, hurry,” I yelled.
    He took the stairs three at a time. On the second bound, he
    tugged his automatic free. At the top of the landing, he pivoted,
    scanned the hal , and ran to the bedroom door and hesitated.
    Hercule was standing beside the door, wagging but refusing
    to enter. He’d been around Angel before when she was mad. He
    took a defensive position, just watching.
    She was standing in front of her dressing table. Her hands
    were folded across her chest. “Someone’s been in here.”
    Bear looked around. “What’s wrong?”
    “Someone’s been through my room.” She waved her hands in
    a flutter. “All my drawers have been rifled. Even my closet and
    clothes drawers. Someone’s dug through everything.”
    “You sure?” Bear said. “It looks all right to me.”
    “I just know.” She gestured to her notebook computer on her
    dressing table. “That was in my briefcase. It wasn’t strapped in
    and it was replaced upside down. I never leave it that way. Some-
    one was snooping in my computer.”
    51
    Bear holstered his handgun. “Maybe you left it that way in a
    hurry. Things have been crazy.”
    “No, and stop telling me that. Someone’s been through every-
    thing since I left yesterday.”
    I watched Bear snoop around the room. He checked the
    closet, nightstand, and pulled one or two of her dresser drawers
    open. “Crime scene boys might have …”
    “No. I straightened this room up before I left. They were done
    in here.”
    Now, why wasn’t he coming clean? As he disappeared into the
    walk-in closet for a second time, Bear-The-Detective didn’t seem
    like Bear-My-Partner and best friend. We never kept secrets
    from each other. At least I didn’t think so. Now, he was playing
    his cards very close. Just today, I learned he had my house key,
    and Tommy, a snitch I never knew. And earlier, he’d searched this
    house top to bottom. That was apparently a secret, too.
    Were there others?
    “What’s on your computer?” He asked. “Anything, you know,
    that shouldn’t be?”
    I hoped he was referring to porn, evidence she was a serial
    killer, or perhaps the missing Watergate tapes. Deep down, I
    knew he wasn’t.
    “No, of course not.” Angel went to her dresser and checked
    each drawer, opening them and examining the contents. She did
    the same with both our nightstands. “Someone’s been rooting
    through these, Bear. I’m sure of it. Everything’s moved.”
    “Crime lab.”
    52
    “I told you, they were done up here.” Angel’s face paled. “Or
    maybe not.”
    “Don’t worry, Angela. I’ll take care of it. I promise.”
    I went to him. “What’s going on, pal? Tell her you searched
    the house. Tell her about Spence and Clemens, too.”
    He didn’t. “What’s on your computer, Angela?”
    “Nothing. Just office work, emails, and some household bil s.
    I do bil s online. Tuck couldn’t figure any of that out, so I do it.”
    “Yes, I could. I chose not to.” Even dead, Angel was needling
    me about the bil s. “I’m a cop, not a computer geek.”
    “Are you sure?” It was not a question.