Obsession by Kathi Mills-Macias Read Free Book Online

awkward three-way meeting earlier that day. She needed to call him but hadn't yet gotten around to it. She made a mental note to do so before the evening was over.
    “No,” she sighed. “It's not Brad.”
    “Then, what is it?”
    “You go first,” said Toni. “What's on your mind?”
    Melissa paused. “Well… I was just wondering… have you thought anymore about that baby-sitting job I told you about? I'd really like to do it. Please, Toni. I need something to do, something to… get me away from here. And I need to let Mrs. Johnson know—soon—before she gets someone else.” The pleading look in her eyes faded to relief when she saw Toni smile.
    “Sure,” Toni answered. “I've thought about it. In fact, that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I called Mrs. Johnson this afternoon and discussed it with her. We thought it might be good if we all got together sometime tomorrow morning over at her house, just to get to know each other a little better before making a final decision. What do you think?”
    Melissa's eyes sparkled as she loosed the strand of hair and leaned forward expectantly. “I think that would be great! What time? Did she say? Is her little boy going to be there? His name is Tyler. I've seen him before, and he's really cute. Does this mean I can do it? I can start baby-sitting for her on Monday?”
    Toni laughed. “No, she didn't specify a time, but I imagine around ten or so. I told her I'd call her in the morning and we'd figure out the details then. I don't know if her son will be there, but I imagine he will be. And we'll work out the rest at our meeting tomorrow. Fair enough?”
    The phone rang before Melissa could respond. Beaming, the excited teenager reached over to the end table and grabbed the receiver. “Hello?”
    Toni wondered briefly if it might be Brad, but then she heard Melissa say, “Yes, she is. May I say who's calling?” Toni watched her sister's face change from mild surprise to a puzzled frown as she handed her the receiver. “It's Abe Matthews, the detective from the police department. He says he wants to talk to you.”
    Taking the receiver from Melissa, Toni's thoughts raced in several directions at once. Had Abe already learned something about herfather's death? If so, did she really want to hear what he had to say? And if it turned out that there was more to Paul Matthews's death than just a simple heart attack, what would she tell Melissa? Would this fragile teenager be able to handle such devastating news on top of the loss she had already sustained? Then again, how could Abe have found out something so quickly? But why else would he be calling? And regardless of his reason for calling, how was she to explain this call to Melissa? Brushing the questions aside, she took a deep breath, reminding herself not to call him by his first name.
    “Detective Matthews,” she said, trying to sound as impersonal as possible. “Hello. What can I do for you?”
    A pause on the other end of the line confirmed that her impersonal touch had been convincing. “‘Detective Matthews’?” he repeated. “What happened to ‘Abe’ and ‘Toni’? Did I miss something, or aren't you the same lady I went on a cinnamon-roll-eating binge with today?”
    Toni's smile sneaked out before she could catch it, and she glanced at Melissa from the corner of her eye. The look on her face was not an approving one.
    “Yes, I… of course,” she stuttered. “I just—”
    “Ah, caught you at a bad time. Sorry.”
    “No, no, it's not a bad time. Not at all. Really. Melissa and I were just… talking.”
    “Well, I won't keep you, ‘Miss Matthews.’” Toni couldn't tell if the slight hint of sarcasm in his voice was real or just a tease. She concentrated on looking disinterested as he went on. “It's just that I have to catch up on some paperwork tomorrow morning, but after that I thought I'd take a run up to Eagle Lake and do a little preliminary sleuthing. Any chance you