Organized to Death by Jan Christensen Read Free Book Online

partner’s desk, although she’d never seen one like it before. She knew they had been used by bankers and lawyers who were partners and sat across from each other at one big desk. This one had built-in ink wells, scrolling along the drawer edges, and claw feet.
    The black leather desk chair was ultra-modern, though, making her wonder if the good doctor had back problems. Two red leather wingback chairs stood in front of the desk. She sank down into one of them, suddenly realizing she’d been on her feet all morning.
    “What an incredible office,” Tina said.
    “Yes,” Dr. Ted said. He didn’t sit down, and suddenly she became uncomfortable.
    The bookshelves were full. “Are all those books yours?” she asked.
    “Only a few. Most were here when I took over the practice, and Dr. Stevenson didn’t want them, so we just left them there.”
    “What do you want to do about them?”
    He shrugged. “I guess I’d rather have my own, but that’s a lot of shelves to fill up.”
    Tina laughed. “You can buy books by the yard, you know. You can buy them to match the colors in your room. Or by size.”
    “You’re kidding. You mean for decorating purposes.”
    “Exactly.” She stood up and went to look at the books. Just behind the desk were many older, probably out-of-date, medical texts. But on other shelves were biographies, histories, and novels. These must have been the books Dr. Stevenson actually read. Tina didn’t think buying them by the yard or just to decorate, if Dr. Stevenson had ever entertained such an idea, had happened here. “Do you read fiction, biography, history?” Tina asked.
    “Yes. And philosophy, psychology, cookbooks.”
    “Cookbooks?” Something went off in her brain. That little buzzer that says something isn’t quite right. What was it? Oh, yes. Most people who loved to cook could not have stood seeing that kitchen the way it was.
    Dr. Ted wouldn’t meet her glance. “Yes. Why is that so surprising? Lots of men like to cook nowadays.”
    She couldn’t tell him the reason she doubted him. “Sure. What do you like to cook most?”
    “Italian.”
    She looked at him more closely. Yes, he still looked Scandinavian, through and through. Tall, blond, blue-eyed.
    He must have seen her surprise.
    “My best friend growing up was Italian. His mother made the best food…. Well, anyway, we can leave the books for last, I think. It’s the desk and files that need work. I suppose we should discuss your fees.”
    Discussing her fees had made Tina nervous when she had been a clinical psychologist. It was no different now. She named a price, and Ted didn’t flinch, so she guessed it was okay.
    They seemed to have nothing further to discuss, and they stood there, looking around the room, avoiding each other’s eyes.
    Brenda’s voice, raised in a shout, reached them. “Dr. Ted, come quick! A man’s been shot!”

CHAPTER 8
    Tina and Ted ran to the reception area. Tina didn’t know what she could do, but the impulse to see what was happening was strong. Since she’d been closest to the door, she arrived first.
    Rachel and Nicky stood in front of Sylvia’s window, Rachel propping up her husband and gasping for breath. She could hardly speak but managed to say “He’s been shot” over and over again. Blood seeped down Nicky’s left arm, and he was so pale, Tina was sure he was going to pass out.
    Ted took one look and said, “Call an ambulance.”
    Nicky looked at him and shook his head. “Can’t you take care of this?”
    “No. You need to go to the hospital. This has to be reported to the police. I’ll look at it and do what I can until the EMTs arrive. Can you walk a few steps to a treatment room?”
    “Sure,” Nicky said and collapsed to the floor, almost dragging Rachel with him.
    She knelt next to him, sobbing. Ted hunched down opposite her and examined Nicky’s arm. He shouted for Brenda to bring bandages.
    Tina grasped Rachel by the shoulder and helped her stand. “Come,