Lover's Bite by MAGGIE SHAYNE Read Free Book Online Page B

go into, yes. I would prefer to stay dead as far as the rest of the world is concerned.”
    â€œWell, I still have my law license. Give me a dollar.”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œGive me a dollar.”
    Frowning, Topaz set her tiny Coach handbag onto the glass-topped patio table and fished out a dollar bill. She handed it to the older woman.
    â€œThere,” Rebecca said, folding it, and tucking it down the front of the kaftan. “You’ve just retained me. Anything we discuss now is privileged and completely confidential.”
    Smiling, Topaz said, “I get it now.”
    â€œSo tell me why it is you’ve come to see me.”
    â€œYou can probably guess,” Topaz said. “I want to know who killed my mother.”
    The other woman sat back, blinking in stunned surprise. Then, her jaw firming, she nodded. “Well, I suppose that makes sense.” She sat in her chair, arms crossed over her chest, and studied Topaz. “Why now? Why after all these years?”
    Topaz lowered her head, darting a glance Jack’s way as she did. He was sitting in silence, just observing, listening. Probably looking for any weakness he could use later to con her, she thought with a rush of anger.
    â€œI just need to know, that’s all. I’ve never…I’ve never understood who she was, or how she felt about me. I want to know everything about her. But especially who took her life.”
    The older woman nodded slowly, her gaze turning inward. “Your mother was the most beautiful woman I have ever known,” she said softly. “She wasn’t a great actress. But she had this energy, this spirit, that just emanated from her and drew people to her. Everyone who met her fell in love with her. Everyone.”
    â€œWell, maybe not quite everyone,” Topaz said softly. “Someone killed her, after all.”
    Rebecca didn’t let the comment sidetrack her. “She was a free spirit. Couldn’t be tied to one man. She fell in love at the drop of a hat. I think it was the excitement of new love that thrilled her most. Once it got old—well, men pretty much fell into a predictable pattern with Mirabella. Once they had her, they wanted to own her. I mean, you couldn’t blame them. Anyone could see how attractive she was, how many men wanted her. So whichever one she was with tended to feel threatened by that, and inevitably, he’d start trying to control her, manage her, you know? She couldn’t tolerate that.”
    Topaz nodded. “Having a baby must have been the last thing she wanted. I mean, nothing is more controlling than—”
    â€œHaving a baby was the best thing that ever happened to her.”
    Topaz looked up slowly, trying hard to read the other woman’s face, and then her thoughts, in search of a lie.
    â€œShe finally had someone in her life who loved her, without giving two hoots what she looked like or how well her career was going.”
    â€œOr how much money she had,” Topaz murmured.
    â€œShe adored you, Tanya. She so wanted to make everything perfect for you. And she tried, she did. But her life was snuffed out before she had the chance.” Rebecca dabbed at her eyes. “I really loved Mirabella, you know. She was my friend.”
    Topaz believed the woman. There was nothing in her mind to contradict what she was saying aloud. But there was something.
    â€œDo you know who killed her?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBut…?” Topaz prompted, fully aware that there was something else, something Rebecca wasn’t saying.
    â€œThere…was a lot going on in your mother’s life before she died. Let me dig into my files, so I can get my facts straight. My memory isn’t what it used to be. I’ll phone you in a day or two, and we can meet again. If you’re going to be in town that long?”
    â€œI am,” Topaz said.
    â€œGood.” Rebecca nodded. “Good.”
    It