For Better or Worsted by Betty Hechtman Read Free Book Online Page A

giving Mason and Jaimee a dark look.
    “Stop them from what?” I asked, wondering how it was that I had so totally lost control of my own house. Mason came up to me.
    “I’m sorry, Sunshine, but when Jaimee saw the cats and dogs she got hysterical. She said she felt faint.” Mason rolled his eyes and grinned. For a moment, he became the Mason I was used to as he took my arm and led me to the kitchen. He glanced back toward Barry. “No more questions until I get back.”
    Once we were in the kitchen, Mason leaned against the counter and let out a tired sigh. “I’m sorry for all this. Thursday called and said that Barry had come over supposedly to give her an update on the investigation. So, I came over to make sure that was all he did. I had no idea Jaimee was following me. She seemed to think we were trying to keep Thursday’s whereabouts a secret, and she thinks Thursday should come home with her. That woman is too much. She could have just asked.” Mason let out another sigh.
    “What about the other guy?” I said. “Is he a detective associate of Barry’s?”
    “Not even close. He was following Jaimee while she was following me. He’s Jackson Kingsley’s lawyer. Apparently now that Jackson’s son is dead, he doesn’t want Thursday to be a Kingsley.” When I didn’t understand, he explained more. “The only thing I can figure is that he’s afraid that as his son’s widow, she might make some claims on the family business.” Mason threw up his hands in hopelessness. “He’s trying to get Thursday to sign something saying the marriage was a fraud so they can get it annulled. I understand he’s grief-stricken, but it’s a terrible way to treat my daughter.”
    There was a sudden uproar in the next room, and Mason was there in a flash with me close behind. The Kingsleys’ lawyer had taken the opportunity to wave a check in front of Thursday, along with the papers he wanted signed.
    “She’s not going to sign anything,” Mason said, intercepting both items and pushing them back at the man.
    “It’s been a long day, and if you are all finished,” I said, making a not-too-subtle sweeping gesture toward the door. Before I could remind them that it was my house, and my animals were supposed to have the run of it, a bunch of conversations erupted. The attorney had been instructed that once he found Thursday, he was not to leave without the papers being signed.
    “Thursday isn’t signing anything, and unless you want him to arrest you for trespassing,” Mason said, pointing his shoulder in Barry’s direction, “you should leave.” The attorney shoved the papers in his leather briefcase and angrily went to the door.
    With the lawyer gone, Barry started to talk to Thursday. “For now, we’re following up on the idea that someone slipped in dressed as a server, did what they came for, and then left before anyone realized what had happened.” I noticed that he didn’t mention that my finding the bloody shirt probably had a lot to do with them coming up with that scenario. “We think the motive is some kind of revenge—”
    Mason interrupted, “And Kingsley is trying to say the revenge motive is aimed at me. He thinks it’s because of some client I got off.” Mason shook his head in disbelief. Most of Mason’s law practice was involved with keeping celebrity types out of jail. Their crimes were usually relatively minor, so it was hard to think of someone being worked up enough to want revenge.
    Barry retook the floor. “Fields, don’t be so quick to dismiss it. Someone could be blaming you for getting someone off who they think ruined their life.”
    Mason looked at his daughter. “You should know cops don’t really like lawyers.”
    Barry shook his head. “Nobody likes lawyers, Fields.”
    Jaimee got up, insisting that her daughter should be staying with her rather than her father’s girlfriend. Barry flinched at the girlfriend remark and said he just wanted to ask Thursday a few