Marty Ambrose - Mango Bay 01 - Peril in Paradise by Marty Ambrose Read Free Book Online

isn’t
some big-time newspaper, but it’s where I work and I’ve
got to keep my job. Anita told me to cover the story and
that’s what I’m going to do-with or without your help.”
    “Without, I think.”
    “Then I’ll just have to dig for information on my
own” I tossed my hair back in a gesture of defiance.
    His lips thinned with irritation and he ignored my
hair. Damn.
    “This isn’t a game, Ms. Monroe and you’re not
working at Disney World any longer.”
    “You checked up on me? My work history?” I asked,
incredulous.
    “Of course. Standard procedure” He held up the
manila folder and, for the first time, I noted that my
name was written on the tab. Mallie Monroe. Typed, no
less.
    I flinched inside at the thought of my life being an
open book to anyone who happened to pick up that
file-especially Detective Billie. “I thought the police
were supposed to cooperate with the media.”
    “We are, but when the media contact is the person
who found the body, it makes things a little trickyeven though your alibi at Capt’n Harry’s panned out”

    “You already checked that too?”
    He nodded. “I’ll issue a press release when the time
is right.” His voice was firm, final. “But this murder investigation is just starting, and I can’t let anything or
anyone interfere with doing my job.”
    “But I’ve helped you by telling everything I remember that happened on the day Hillman died,” I reminded
him. “The least you could do is fill me in on what you
know.”
    “No deal.”
    I folded my arms across my chest. “Are you always
this rigid?”
    “I’d call it professional.”
    “How about unyielding?”
    “Competent?” he offered.
    “Stubborn,” I came back.
    Surprisingly, he laughed-a warm and full-hearted
sound that came up from his throat like bubbling, rich oil
from deep in the earth. “You’re rather tenacious yourself,
Mallie.”
    “About some things-like keeping my job,” I said,
dropping my hands to his desk, palms down. “If you’ve
got a file on me, then you know I’ve had a problem settling
into something permanent. My last job … uh … didn’t
exactly work out. Before I came to Orlando I was a substitute teacher in Atlanta. Before that, a dog trainer in
Asheville. Before that well, I don’t remember.” Actually,
I did remember. I’d been working as a singing waitress at
the King’s Table Medieval Dinner Club. Unfortunately, I got fired after tripping and spilling a flagon of mead on a
customer. I could only hope Detective Billie didn’t have
that little gem in his file on me.

    “It seems like you’ve been working your way south,”
he said.
    “You could say that. My great-aunt got me this job on
the Observer, and I really want to keep it. I’m thirty-one
years old and all I have to my name is an antique
Airstream trailer and a teacup poodle.” I met his glance
squarely. “I need to show Anita that I can do this job …
so how about giving me a helping hand? Besides, the paper could actually assist you catch the murdererinvolve the entire community. Like those TV programs
where they end up catching the criminal because viewers
call in with information.”
    “You can get a real head of steam going when you
want to”
    “That’s me-the Mallie Express” I leaned forward
even further. “What about the Sunshine Law? Isn’t this
information public record?”
    “Not in an ongoing investigation.”
    I shot him a pleading glance.
    “All right. I understand that we can help each other
here, but I have to be careful not to step outside of police procedure” He picked up his ballpoint pen and
clicked it half a dozen times while a little muscle worked
in his jaw. “I can share only facts that won’t compromise my case.”
    “Thanks” I exhaled in relief as I pulled out my official reporter’s notepad and riffled around in my bag
for a pen. I held it poised, ready for action.

    Still, he hesitated.
    “Come on,