Lucifer's Lover by Tracy Cooper-Posey Read Free Book Online Page A

began groping inside the back of his pants, his face a tight mask of disgust and dismay. He pulled out a handful of fast melting snow, dumped it and went exploring again.
    Lindsay licked her lips. The results of her scam were more effective than she had hoped for. Otto was oblivious to her presence, or her babbled explanations. Luke stood aside and Lindsay notice him rub at his lips again. Hiding more laughter?
    They were all the focus of a loose group of interested bystanders, who were watching Otto’s strip show with barely concealed amusement.
    It wasn’t quite enough. Lindsay wanted him to know without doubt who it was who had done this to him.
    She stooped a little, as if she was peering at his down-turned face. “Why…it’s Doctor Berenger, isn’t it? Otto Berenger?”
    That got his attention. His head snapped up and he frowned at her. “Do I know you?”
    “Why yes, although you’ve probably forgotten. Lindsay Eden. You attended me once. Fancy running into you here.”
    She saw his memory stir and supply the rest of the details.
    “You,” he said flatly. He withdrew another handful of snow and shook off his hand. He was visibly shivering now. “Well, it would be you.”
    Lindsay spread her hands innocently. “What can I say?”
    Another tall man stepped to Otto’s side.
    “What on earth is going on, Otto?” he asked.
    Lindsay caught her teeth together before her jaw sagged too far. It was Arquette!
    Oh, Lordy!
    “Oh, there you are, Martin. This…woman just managed to dump a ton of bloody snow on top of me.” Otto snapped the bands of his snow pants back over his shoulder and glared at Lindsay. “And as coincidence would have it, we know each other.”
    Arquette turned to her.
    “It was an accident!” Lindsay protested.
    Luke stepped up. “She’s right, Martin. I saw it all. The skis she was carrying caught the bottom of the overhang. Otto just happened to be in the way.”
    Lindsay could feel her eyes opening wide, as she rapidly reassembled facts. Luke already knew Martin Arquette!
    A sick wave of dread spread through her. No, he would not have tricked her like that, surely? But she could see no trick. It didn’t make sense. Something didn’t add up.
    It was the unknown factor that made her deeply uneasy.
    Arquette was picking up Otto’s gloves and hat while the little man struggled back into his coat. People were moving around them, walking into the café with curious side glances.
    “Thanks for waiting, by the way.” Arquette was talking to Otto…and Luke! “I must have a word to the president about the cable car attendant. I know they have safety rules to follow but he was just a bit zealous, I’ll admit.”
    “Not a problem at all,” Luke said, with a dismissive wave.
    “Still, it’s a bit awkward having my two guests wandering around at the top of the mountain unescorted.”
    Luke indicated Lindsay. “I ran into an associate, as it happened. I should introduce you, shouldn’t I? Lindsay, this is Martin Arquette, club member and in real life the current president of the state medical association. Martin, this is Lindsay Eden and as it happens, my boss.”
    Lindsay shook Arquette’s hand, her own hand, her whole body, feeling numb. Somehow, Luke had turned this around on her. Why? What was the payoff? Her mind wouldn’t work well enough to figure it out.
    Luke rested his hand on Otto’s shoulder. Did she imagine it or had his smile grown a little bit broader? “And the victim of your clumsiness, here, is Otto Berenger, a guest of the club just like me. Actually it was Otto who arranged this whole skiing trip for us. He’s a specialist in Seattle.” His smile became incandescent. “Otto is taking over the presidency of the medical association in a couple of weeks’ time.”
    All the spit in her mouth had dried up. She wasn’t sure but she thought she might throw up with only a little more encouragement.
    She managed to mumble a few inane social niceties and all the time