Not Quite an Angel by Bobby Hutchinson Read Free Book Online

going on between the two of you? Jeez, Bern, what the hell got into you, anyway?”
    Bernie was singularly unperturbed by Adam’s tirade. “My nose tells me that spending any more time investigating Sameh is a big fat waste of time. She’s no criminal, Hawk. Anything but. She’s sweet and honest and…I don’t know, I just felt real brotherly toward her back there. I vote we give this Temple woman her money back and tell her she’s way off base.”
    Adam shot his partner an incredulous look. Bernie’s nickname in the LAPD had been Wrench, because once he got hold of a case, he never let go until he cracked it. “So how do you explain all this stuff about Smith not having an identity until last April? I thought we agreed that was weirderthan hell. And she was pretty damned evasive today when I tried to pin her down, too.”
    Bernie flicked the radio on and settled more comfortably into the leather seat. “You want to investigate her, you go ahead. In fact, you can work on it tomorrow night at dinner, my place, five-thirty. It’ll give you a chance to be around her on a casual basis, maybe practice some of that lethal charm of yours, Hawk. Looks to me like you could use some practice, too. Sameh was pretty underwhelmed by you, far as I could tell. You losing your touch with the females or something?”
    Bernie was dead-on about Sameh’s reaction to him, Adam concluded. She’d taken Bernie’s hand in both her own at the door when she said goodbye. She’d folded those same hands behind her back when she turned to Adam, and there was a peculiar expression on her face, as if she’d assessed him and found him seriously wanting.
    Now why should that even begin to bother him?
    Â 
    A DAM WAS NO LONGER a guest at the Methot household; he’d long ago become one of the family. When Bernie answered the doorbell that Saturday evening, three-year-old Kate spotted Adam from down the hall and came charging to meet him. “Unca Adam, Unca Adam’s here.”
    Adam bent and caught her in full flight, lifting her high over his head and obliging her with the usual airplane ride before he set her back on her feet. She ran down the hall and into the kitchen. “Mommy, Unca Adam’s here. Corey wants to see him, too. Corey wants plane ride, too.” In a moment she was back, pushing the specially padded stroller that held her baby brother.
    With familiar ease, Adam loosened the straps that held the little boy in the chair and gently lifted him up, just as he had Kate. Corey’s legs were scissored, his back arched,his finely shaped dark head unsteady on his fragile neck. A wordless, high-pitched squeal came from his throat, and his body moved spastically as he did his best to convey his delight at being in Adam’s arms.
    As always, the child’s fragility was terrifying to Adam. He supported the thin baby on his shoulder, oblivious to the drool that trickled down his shirtsleeve. No matter how often he held Corey, the impotent rage and unbearable sorrow he’d felt from the first threatened to overwhelm him, and he had to struggle for control as he gave him a gentle hug and settled him again in his padded chair.
    â€œHow you doing, Tiger? You holding your own with that big sister of yours?” It took immense effort to grin down into the beautiful chocolate brown eyes as he fumbled with the straps and adjusted the pillows. Corey cooed at him, head bobbing as he favored Adam with his sweet, heartbreaking smile.
    â€œGo on into the living room, I’ll get you a beer,” Bernie said. “The women are holed up in the kitchen doing something to the roast. Fran says we’re going to eat as soon as she feeds the kids.”
    Adam wheeled the stroller into the large, colorful room. Soft music played on the sound system. Sunshine streamed down through a skylight, and couches and chairs covered in poppy-strewn black cotton formed