Murder Past Due by Miranda James Read Free Book Online Page B

at him.
    Justin nodded. He opened his door and got out.
    I followed him into the house, and sure enough, Diesel was waiting near the kitchen door. Justin knelt on the floor beside the cat and rubbed Diesel’s head.
    “You talk to Diesel for a few minutes,” I said. “I’ll let Godfrey in. I want to have a word with him first if you don’t mind.”
    “Yes, sir,” Justin said. Diesel climbed into his lap and was butting the boy’s chin with his head.
    For a moment Justin looked much younger than eighteen, and I worried about the burdens piling up on those boyish shoulders.
    Godfrey was waiting on the doorstep. I motioned him inside.
    “Hi, Charlie. Where have y’all been?” As he stepped past me into the hallway, he showed no signs of his fight with Ezra.
    “At the hospital,” I said, closing the door behind him. “Julia called and asked Justin to come.”
    “The hospital?” Godfrey shook his head. “Man, I didn’t hit Ezra that hard, did I?”
    “They wanted to make sure his nose isn’t broken,” I said. I led the way into the living room and motioned for Godfrey to sit down in one of the two overstuffed armchairs. I sat in the other, and we regarded each other for a moment.
    “Ezra will probably be fine,” I said. “Though I don’t think Julia’s very happy with him at the moment. Or with you.”
    “Julia.” Godfrey leaned back in his chair. “I wouldn’t have recognized her, she’s changed so much since the last time I saw her.” He was frowning.
    “We’re all fifty years old,” I said, my tone deliberately harsh. “You don’t look like you did thirty years ago either, you know.”
    Godfrey scowled at me. “You think I don’t know that? I wasn’t criticizing Julia, anyway. It was just a bit of a shock.”
    “Forget about Julia and Ezra for the moment. Let’s talk about Justin.”
    “Where is he? I really want to see him.” He turned in his chair, half rising, and looked toward the door.
    “He’s in the kitchen with Diesel. He’ll be here in a minute. I wanted to talk to you first, though.” I held up a hand, and Godfrey sat back.
    “So talk.” Godfrey folded his arms across his chest. “What are you going to lecture me about now?”
    “I’m not going to lecture you,” I said, wanting to add an epithet or two but restraining myself. “Julia has entrusted Justin to my care, and I simply wanted to tell you to move slowly with him. He’s had a rough day so far, and he doesn’t need you charging into his life like a bull in a china shop. You need to focus on what Justin needs, and not so much on what you want.”
    “Yes, Mr. Harris. Thank you for telling me what to do.” Godfrey’s tone mocked me, but I ignored that.
    “I have no reason to expect that you’ve changed much in thirty years, Mr. Priest,” I said just as mockingly. “You never did think much about anyone but yourself. But you have a son now, and that has to change.”
    Godfrey stared at me. “Lord, I had no idea you despised me so much. What did I ever do to you?”
    I almost laughed in his face. The man had a colossal ego. “We don’t have enough time to go into that. Just stop and think for a moment about what you did to Julia nineteen years ago. Walking away and leaving her pregnant, knowing she would probably marry Ezra. You have a lot to answer for.”
    Godfrey’s face whitened, and I knew I was right. He had lied about not knowing Julia was pregnant when he left her. To his credit, he didn’t try to deny it now.
    “I’ll go get Justin,” I said, rising from my chair. “And you take it easy with him.”
    Godfrey didn’t answer. I left him gazing at the wall.
    In the kitchen, Justin and Diesel were still on the floor. Justin’s face was buried in Diesel’s neck, and Diesel was muttering away. “Are you okay?” I stopped a few paces away from the pair.
    Justin looked up at me, his face slightly tearstained. “Yes, sir.”
    “Why don’t you wash your face and hands?” I said. “Do