Gina Cresse - Devonie Lace 03 - A Deadly Change of Heart by Gina Cresse Read Free Book Online

was a building contractor up in L.A. County.  I used to give people two versions of every bid.  One price to do the job — another price, doubled, to do the same job if the customer wanted to help.”
    I studied his face.  The red flush crept up from his shirt collar.  “You need to relax, Detective Wright.  Take it from someone who knows.  You’re on your way to a massive coronary.”
    He reached into his desk drawer again and pulled out a bottle of aspirin.  He popped two in his mouth and washed them down with a swallow of Pepsi from an aluminum can.  “Just tell me about your conversation with Willy Mendenhal.”
    “Well, first of all, he didn’t kill Diane Parker,” I said.
    “You’re kidding.  He told you that?” Wright interrupted, not hiding the sarcasm in his voice.
    “Can I finish?” I asked.
    “Go ahead,” he allowed.
    “He also thinks Bradley Parker pushed Diane off the cliff.”
    “Well, there you go.  Mystery solved.  Let’s all go home.  The drug dealer answered all our questions and did our job for us.”
    I glared at the arrogant man across from me, rocking back in his swivel chair.  I’d have given a hundred dollars to see that chair go all the way over, knocking the wind out of his sails.  “It’s a wonder you can solve any crimes at all, considering how narrow minded you are,” I said.
    He forced a smile.  “I have half a mind to arrest you for interfering with a criminal investigation.  You won’t like spending the night in the lockup.”
    “According to you, there was no crime, so how can there be an investigation for me to interfere with?”
    Snap.  The new pencil was now two short stubs.  “I’ve re opened the investigation.  Stay out of my way.  Let me do my job.  Do not help.  Is that clear?”
    “Perfectly,” I replied.
    “Good.  Now tell me what Mendenhal said.”
    I stared at Wright for a long moment, but didn’t say anything.  I glanced down at my jeans and noticed a loose thread.  I tugged at it to break it free.
    “What are you doing?” Wright demanded.
    “Not helping.  Isn’t that what you want?”
    “Jeez Louise!  You are the most exasperating woman I’ve ever come across.  Do you irritate everyone this way, or am I just lucky?”
    I smiled at Detective Sam Wright.  He would be a challenge, but eventually, I’d get to him — if he didn’t kill me first.  

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    I scanned through microfiche records looking for all the newspaper accounts of Diane Parker’s death.  Her body was found on the rocks at the base of a cliff near Point Loma.  A young couple discovered her when they were climbing over the rocks trying to get back to the trail that led up to higher ground before the tide came in.  The reports didn’t provide many details.  She was wearing running shoes and appeared to be a jogger.  It was the fall that killed her, not a stroke or a bullet.  She was covered with bruises, but those could have come from the fall.  She had been dead two days before being discovered.  Her vandalized car was found shortly after she was.  The location where her car was found was described, and a picture of it, with its broken window and open trunk, appeared in the lower corner of the page.  I printed out the last article and gathered up my things.
    I slid into the Explorer and slammed the door, then checked my watch.  Craig was working at the hospital and wouldn’t be finished with his patients until later in the evening.  I didn’t want to do what I was considering doing by myself.  I slid the key into the ign ition and started the engine, then cringed when I heard a loud grinding as I shoved the gearshift into reverse.  I resolved to practice my clutching skills before I did some real damage.
    I parked in front of Jason’s Appliance and Repair Shop.  Jason was busy attaching the canvas strapping around a large side-by-side refrigerator so he could dolly it into the shop.  He saw