Murder on Lovers' Lane (Brody and Hannigan Mysteries) by Paula Graves Read Free Book Online Page A

behind her in time to hear the girl say, "She lives in Phillips." At Hannigan's look of uncertainty, the girl—Jan Neely, Brody's memory supplied—added, "That's the girls' dorm. Up the hill to the left—big red brick building, can't miss it."
    "Thanks," Hannigan said with a smile.  She turned around and nearly bumped headlong into Brody.  When she put her hand on his arm to steady herself, sparks of awareness zinged all the way up his arm and down his chest to settle low and electric in his belly.
    She lowered her gaze immediately, but not before he saw the fire licking behind her gray eyes. 
    She dropped her hand away and nodded for him to follow her out of the classroom.
    She didn't speak again until they were in the car.  "I think we should try to find Danielle," she said.
    "You think she's in danger?"
    "I think it's possible."  She cranked the car and pulled up to the exit onto Partridge Road.  Instead of going left toward the campus exit, she turned right and headed up the hill toward the dormitory Jan Neely had told her about.
    "How are you going to find out which room?"
    "Ask," she answered, pulling into the only empty guest parking place near the front of the dorm.  Brody started to get out, too, but she shook her head.  "I'll get farther without a guy around," she said firmly.
    He settled back in the passenger seat, resigned to wait.
    It didn't take long.  Within ten minutes, Hannigan emerged from the front door, her brow furrowed.  She slid into the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel in white-knuckled fists.  "Her roommate said it's her six-month anniversary with her boyfriend, so she cut class to go out with him."
    "Please tell me they're going to dinner at a nice restaurant, surrounded by lots and lots of people."
    Hannigan grimaced.  "Fast food takeout and a beautiful view of the full moon at the Magnolia Park Overlook."
    Brody uttered a low profanity.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    "Nobody thinks they'll die when they're twenty," Brody murmured as Hannigan steered her Chevy Impala onto the access road into the park.
    "If we're not too late, maybe they'll be right." She peered up the hill toward the parking area near the scenic lake overlook.  From any point on the mountain ridge hemming in the city from the east, the view could be spectacular, but few areas offered such an unobstructed panorama.  Magnolia Park Overlook had been one of the parking spots Hannigan herself had gone to back in her distant youth. 
    At the top, two other cars had parked near the metal barrier delineating the treacherous edge of the overlook.  One of the vehicles was the green Ford pickup truck Danielle Brubaker's roommate had described to Hannigan.
    "That's Danielle and her boyfriend." Hannigan nodded toward the Ford.
    He peered out the Impala's window.  "They're moving around, so I guess everything's okay for now."
    "Russian roulette," she murmured. 
    Brody nodded, apparently following her thoughts with his usual ease.  "No bullet in the chamber this time."
    She settled back against the car seat.  "Do you mind if we stay here awhile?  Keep an eye on her?"
    Brody's gaze slid over to meet hers.  "Taking it kind of personally, aren't you, Hannigan?"
    "I guess she reminds me of myself ten years ago," she said quietly.  "Not in looks, but—she was really taking notes Monday.  Not just playing at it.  I watched her.  She cares about learning."
    "Not enough to postpone her six-month anniversary with the boyfriend."
    "Boyfriends are important, too."  Hannigan felt the bitter sting of irony in her words, considering the decision she'd made during her two days away from Brody.  "She thinks she can have it all.  Jan was taking notes for her, so she wouldn't miss anything when exam time rolls around."
    Brody was silent for a few moments.  Then, when Hannigan had just started to relax, he said, "I think Dr. Flanders was coming on to me tonight."
    Hannigan turned to look at Brody, trying