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

me approach and smiled.  “Hey, Dev.  Give me a hand?”
    I stopped and grinned.  I couldn’t resist.  I began applauding.
    “Very funny.  I mean help me.  Rocky went out for donuts, and this thing’s too big for me to handle by myself,” Jason complained.
    I stepped up to the big appliance.  “Okay.  What do you want me to do?”
    “Just get on the other side and push the top over when I tell you to,” he instructed.
    “Okay,” I said, placing my hands against the refrigerator.
    Ever since leaving the library, I wondered how I would convince Jason to help me.  He’d never go along if he knew what I was up to.  As we maneuvered the big refrigerator through the doors, I started my pitch.  “Can you get away from the shop for a little while?” I asked.
    “What for?”
    “I need you to help me with something,” I replied.
    We rolled the dolly around a corner and Jason stopped.  “This is good, right here.  Let’s let her down,” he instructed.  “Help you with what?” he asked as he untied the straps around the appliance.
    “I want to go check out something at Point Loma.  You know that area pretty well, don’t you?”
    Jason eyed me suspiciously.  “Yeah.  What is it you want to check out?”
    “Just something I saw in the paper.  I know there are cliffs and rocks out there.  I’m not sure about the tides.  I don’t want to get stranded or fall off a cliff or anything,” I explained.
    “What about your hero, Craig?  Can’t he help you?”
    “He’s busy at the hospital, saving lives.  You’re just here fixing refrigerators.”  I winked at him, knowing he wouldn’t be offended by my remark.  We’ve been friends too long. 
    “Uh huh.”  He squinted at me.  “I can’t leave the shop till Rocky gets back.”
    I nodded.  “Right.  With the donuts.  Thought you were gonna give those up.”
    “No.  I said I’d cut back on the donuts.  I never said I’d give them up.”
    I shrugged my shoulders.  “Whatever.  So you’ll come with me?”
    Jason folded his arms across his chest.  “Will I regret it?” he asked.
    “Will you regret seeing my body being fished out of the surf because I fell off a cliff or got caught in the tide?” I retorted.
    Jason screwed his face up into a painful-looking contortion.  “God I hate it when you do this.”
    “Do what?”
    “You know what.  I know you’re up to something, otherwise you’d come out and tell me what’s out at Point Loma,” he complained.
    “I’ll tell you the whole story on the way.  Hey, you want to drive?  You haven’t seen my new Ford yet,” I baited.
    “Yeah?  You picked it up at that auction?” he asked.
    “Yep.  Explorer.  Got a good deal.”
    The bell on the front door rang and Rocky came strolling into the shop with a pink bakery box.  I followed Jason out to the show-room floor.
    “Watch the shop for me, Rocky.  I’ve gotta help Dev with something,” Jason said.
    Rocky stuffed half of a glazed donut in his mouth.  He nodded, unable to speak.  His mouth was so full he could barely close his lips.  Jason peeked in the pink box and grabbed a maple bar.  He motioned to me.  “Help yourself,” he offered.
    I smirked at him.  “No, thanks.  Wouldn’t want to deprive you of your sugar fix.”
     
    I handed Jason the keys as we stood next to the Explorer.  He gawked at the writing on the door, then laughed.  “The Sunkist Mobile.  You bought this?”
    I walked around to the passenger side door.  “It was a great deal.  You want to drive or not?”
    Jason started the engine and stepped on the clutch.  The awful grinding sound pierced the air as he put it into reverse.  “Jeez.  I think you better have the transmission checked out,” he said.
    I nodded.  “I thought it was just me.  I’ll take it into the shop when I get a chance.”
    I waited until we were nearly to Point Loma before I pulled the printouts of the newspaper articles out of my purse.  I read