SEE HER DIE by Debra Webb Read Free Book Online Page B

fine. Why do you ask?”
    “You mentioned she was having some trouble a couple of months ago, and I keep forgetting to ask how she’s doing.” Gloria seemed put off by the subject. The two of them usually talked about everything. Her niece, apparently, was as touchy a subject as Ned.
    “You know how it is when you’re eighteen and a freshman in college,” Gloria said dismissively. “You think nobody knows anything but you. Since her father’s death last year, she’s sort of withdrawn from everyone, especially her mother. It hasn’t been easy, but she’s managing.”
    Elizabeth remembered that terrible night Gloria had called. Her brother-in-law, an NYPD fireman, had been killed in the line of duty. His wife and daughter were devastated. Not long after that, Elizabeth’s father had died. God, that had been a lousy month.
    “I’m glad she’s doing better,” Elizabeth said, feeling bad for bringing up the subject, yet knowing she’d feel guilty if she hadn’t. “It’s tough to lose your father, especially at that age.” At any age, Elizabeth thought. She still missed hers.
    Gloria picked at her salad. “She’s all my sister has left.” Her tone was somber. “We have to protect her at all costs.”
    Elizabeth paused, a forkful of salad halfway to her mouth. Her friend’s swift mood changes were disturbing. So unlike Gloria. “Of course you have to protect her,” Elizabeth agreed gently. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
    Gloria smiled, but the expression didn’t reach her eyes. “Just keep me up-to-date on what’s going on with your fed.” Her faint smile widened to a genuine grin. “And remember, if things get too hairy, you can always seduce him.”
    Elizabeth almost choked on a cherry tomato. “Yeah, right,” she muttered when she’d stopped coughing. “I don’t think MacBride is seducible.” She remembered vividly his steely gaze and precisely controlled responses. He wasn’t the kind of man a simple girl like her could get to... even if she wanted to.
    “Oh, honey, that’s the country girl in you talking,” Gloria scolded, the words and the tone so very Gloria. “They’re all seducible. Trust me.”
    “I’ll bear that in mind.” Elizabeth refused to analyze the warm glow that accompanied the ridiculous suggestion. Gloria had no business putting ideas like that in her head. An affair with another man she couldn’t trust was the last thing she needed. Especially since this one suspected her of murder.
    And had seen her naked having sex with another man.
    Elizabeth blushed to the roots of her hair. How would she ever face MacBride this afternoon? She had to find a way to keep him from getting to her.

Chapter Four
    “I’ll have to see your ID, sir,” the guard posted in the entry hall of the penthouse announced as Mac stepped off the elevator.
    It wasn’t as if he hadn’t flashed his ID in the lobby before he boarded the only elevator in the building that went all the way to the top floor. Rather than informing the rookie of that, Mac fished in his pocket for his badge and showed it again.
    The rookie cop, whose badge read Ledbetter, flushed. “Sorry, sir, but a reporter managed to get inside last night before the homicide detectives got here and we’ve all been instructed to double-check IDs.”
    “No problem.” Mac ducked beneath the police tape that marked the penthouse apartment off-limits to anyone other than authorized NYPD personnel. He hadn’t needed Officer Ledbetter to tell him the perimeter had been breached sometime shortly after the discovery of the body. The morning’s headlines had shouted that loud and clear. It only made bad matters worse that the breach had occurred before the arrival of the crime-scene techs. No telling what the eager reporter had contaminated in his haste to get the story.
    Mac paused long enough in the doorway to slip on gloves and paper shoe covers. As he prepped for entering the crime scene, he noted the