Hit and Run by Sandra Balzo Read Free Book Online Page A

would have no claim on him in the first place. And, I might add, Bobby would be here with us.’
    â€˜I’m sure he’ll wish he was by the time Grandpa Roy leaves. I can’t imagine how they’re going to occupy themselves all weekend. From what Kathleen tells me, the only thing the Smoaks men know how to do is drink, shoot and screw. Generally in that order.’
    â€˜Lovely,’ AnnaLise said with another sigh. ‘Poor Kathleen.’
    â€˜Hey, Kathleen was stupid enough to marry into the family, but at least she’s learned her lesson. She’s spending the holiday with her mom.’
    â€˜Poor Bobby then,’ AnnaLise amended, glancing back toward Hart’s circular driveway. ‘I guess there are worse places to be than here.’ Anywhere with Roy Smoaks being one of them.
    â€˜You bet there are, and besides, you need to protect your turf,’ Joy said. ‘If all goes as my loving ex-husband plans, you stand to lose a shitload of money this weekend.’
    â€˜I don’t want his money.’ AnnaLise was feeling simultaneously anxious and weary and it was only late afternoon on Wednesday. She’d still need to get through tonight and Thanksgiving Day itself before she could even hope to extricate herself.
    â€˜Listen.’ Joy’s free hand clamped on AnnaLise’s shoulder and she brought her face close – not all that difficult, since they were bookends at five feet tall. ‘I don’t know about the other people who are coming, but you
are
Dickens’ daughter and you deserve his fortune, whatever’s left of it when he turns up his toes. Claim it here and now and stop this whiny “I don’t want it” crap before the gravy-train passes you by.’
    AnnaLise tried to shrug her friend off without spilling any wine over the rims of their glasses. ‘Passes me by?’
    The hand dropped. ‘There’s Boozer. He’ll give you an earful on what he thinks of all this.’
    â€˜I already know, thank you very much.’ AnnaLise waved at Bacchus, who appeared to be coming from the garages on the other side of the main house. In contrast to his usual uniform of khakis, Hart’s right-hand man was wearing a pressed, dark suit. Raising his hand in response to AnnaLise’s greeting, he hesitated, using the hand to shade his eyes as he peered up into a tall tree.
    â€˜What’s he—’ Even as Joy started to ask the question, there was movement in the tree – a bending almost like a leafy springboard and then a gigantic bird emerged, wings beating, but nearly silent against the air currents.
    â€˜Holy shit!’ AnnaLise ducked involuntary despite the distance. ‘I’d forgotten how big our owls are. That thing must have a six-foot wingspan.’
    â€˜Very nearly.’ Joy tipped her head to watch as the bird gained altitude. ‘Amazing how quiet they are for their size, too, isn’t it?’
    â€˜I’m sure it comes in handy for sneaking up on a snack,’ AnnaLise said dryly.
    â€˜They have to eat, you know. And I bet the out buildings here are Mickey and Minnie-free.’
    â€˜Mice don’t bother me so much. It’s more the squirrels and cats.’ She shivered and returned to their earlier subject. ‘Boozer is the one who had to track down Dickens’ tootsies.’ She looked at Joy. ‘Present company excepted.’
    â€˜â€œTootsies”?’ Joy repeated. ‘God, you
are
a throwback.’
    â€˜What do you want me to call you all?’
    â€˜Wait a second.’ Joy devolved into mulling mode. ‘We need to define our terms more specifically for this lollapalooza of a weekend. The women he fooled around with can be Bimbettes; the ones, like me, who married him, Fools.’
    AnnaLise’s jaw was set. ‘My mother’s not a Bimbette.’
    â€˜Relax,’ Joy said, punching her in the shoulder. ‘Daisy is, and