Fatal Trust by Diana Miller Read Free Book Online Page B

and was already nearly arrested.”
    “We’ve still got time.” Ben took her arm.
    She dug in her heels. “Sorry, but I have no desire to see
the inside of a Minnesota jail cell.”
    “I was kidding,” he said. “This time we won’t do anything
remotely illegal. On the way back, I thought we’d stop and check out the curve
Grandfather’s car missed.”
# # #
    Even riding wasn’t helping tonight, Ben acknowledged as he
sped over the deserted blacktop. Usually there was nothing better than flying
through a summer night, especially with a woman plastered against his back.
Lexie might not be a double D, but she was more than adequate in that
department, and the legs that were currently pressing into his hips were
world-class. She was attractive enough that under normal circumstances, he’d be
enjoying having at least a little trouble keeping his thoughts on his driving. But
he still felt as lousy as he had when they’d left Nevermore.
    Lexie’s arms tightened, and Ben checked the speedometer, saw
he’d accelerated, and slowed. He felt bad about the way he’d pushed her so hard
to ride with him in the first place. He’d dismissed her objections because he’d
assumed she was a snob like Olivia, thinking that riding a motorcycle was
beneath her. He’d been so upset about everything that they’d nearly reached the
impound lot before he’d realized Lexie’s crushing grip meant she was scared.
She wasn’t hanging on quite so tightly now—as long as he didn’t speed up—so
hopefully she’d gotten over the worst of her fear.
    The Ferrari had plummeted off a downhill curve three miles
from Nevermore. Ben pulled onto the grassy shoulder and parked his bike. Then
he and Lexie walked along the gradual uphill. The sun was down, but a half-moon
provided some light.
    “This doesn’t look that dangerous,” she said. “I assumed it
was an S curve, or something a lot sharper.” The curve in question was more an
elongated “C.”
    “The road plunges into a ravine, and the shoulder’s so
narrow that if you lose control, you don’t have much recovery room.” He pointed
down the hill. “It’s too dark to see, but it’s a long way down, and there
aren’t many trees to stop you. The Ferrari hit the bottom, then flipped over
and started on fire.”
    “How horrible.”
    The waver in Lexie’s voice confirmed what Ben had recognized
at the impound lot. He’d misjudged her about one thing—she wasn’t here solely
because of her job or the fees the trust would pay her law firm. She’d honestly
cared about Grandfather.
    “You’ve got that right,” he said. “Let’s sit for a few
minutes.” He plopped down on the grass at the edge of the ravine.
    Lexie sat beside him, hugging her knees to her chest. “Could
Max have had a heart attack or stroke?”
    “It’s possible, although he had his annual exam last month
and was declared healthy as a horse,” Ben said. “And I guarantee he wasn’t
drunk. He believed in drinking and writing, but drinking and driving was an
absolute no. Especially in his precious Ferrari.”
    She rested her chin on her bent knees. “Was he upset about
anything? Not that I can imagine Max committing suicide, but—
    “No way. He loved life too much.” Ben stretched out his
legs, bracing his hands behind him, and shifted to a subject easier to discuss.
“Trey saw Grandfather earlier that day, and he was in a terrific mood. His
latest book had just knocked Stephen King’s off the top spot on the New York Times’ hardcover bestseller list.”
    “Was he working on anything new?”
    Ben looked up at the moon. A couple of stars had joined it.
“He was always working on something new. He claimed this one was going to be
his best ever.”
    “What’s it about?”
    “Don’t know.” He shifted his gaze from the sky to Lexie.
“Grandfather considered talking about a work in progress bad luck.”
    “I thought he wouldn’t tell me because he was afraid an
attorney would rip him off.