Serial Bride

Serial Bride by Ann Voss Peterson Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Serial Bride by Ann Voss Peterson Read Free Book Online
Authors: Ann Voss Peterson
needed to keep his head straight, remember what he was trying to do, not go off on mental tangents like pondering Sylvie’s smile.
    Next to him, Sylvie focused on Red, nodding understandingly. “It sounds like you would know everything that went on in her life.”
    â€œNot everything.”
    â€œMaybe enough to help us find her. To help us save her.”
    The kid drew himself up. Like any red-blooded guy with a crush, he liked the idea of being a knight in shining armor to Diana Gale’s damsel in distress. And with Sylvie asking for his help, too, how could he refuse? “How can I help? What do you need to know?”
    Bryce had to hand it to her. He’d cross-examined many witnesses successfully in his day, and this wasn’t one of his best performances. But with just a few words, Sylvie had tapped into Louis Ingersoll’s vulnerabilities immediately. He stood back and watched, letting her take over.
    â€œYou said Reed wasn’t good enough for her,” she reminded.
    â€œHe wasn’t. He was there in the room where she disappeared, right? And he didn’t protect her. I would have protected her.”
    â€œHow did you know Reed was there?”
    â€œThe detective last night. He told me.”
    Sylvie frowned.
    Bryce knew what she was thinking. Perreth hadn’t been overly eager to share information with them. Why would he have confided that detail to Diana’s next-door neighbor? A next-door neighbor nursing a serious crush.
    The uneasy feeling resumed its creep up Bryce’s spine. He could see exactly where this was leading. Thanks to Ty’s penchant for helping abused and vulnerable women, he’d seen more than his share of injured male pride and thwarted male desire. This kid had it bad for Diana. And Diana was to marry another man. All the elements for disaster. “You could have done a lot of things for Diana Gale, couldn’t you?”
    The kid stuck out a freckled chin. “Yeah.”
    â€œBut she wouldn’t let you.”
    The chin hardened. “Hey, it’s not my fault if she was fooled by that whole cop thing.”
    â€œYou think Reed fooled her? You think that’s why she wasn’t interested in you?”
    â€œWhat do you know about it? Diana and me were close. We talked all the time. I knew things she didn’t tell anybody else. Not even that cop.”
    â€œLike what?”
    â€œYou think I’d repeat them to you?”
    Sylvie stepped forward and laid her hand on his arm. “Will you tell me? Will you help me find my sister?”
    Bryce watched the kid’s defiance fall apart like a bad court case. First the chin receded. Then his eyes softened from flint to the consistency of that sweet pink creme inside fancy chocolates.
    The unease crept over Bryce’s shoulders and wrapped around his neck like a cold hand.
    â€œDid Diana ever mention the name Dryden Kane to you?” Sylvie asked.
    â€œSure. I used to save clippings for her from the newspaper. She was fascinated with him.”
    â€œDid she say why?”
    â€œShe didn’t need to explain. We have always been on the same wavelength.”
    â€œCan you explain it to me?”
    â€œDryden Kane is powerful, smart…” He shrugged. “A lot of people find serial killers interesting.”
    Sylvie shook her head as if she couldn’t understand the comment and refused to accept it would include her sister. “Do you think he has anything to do with her disappearance?”
    â€œHow could he? He’s in prison.”
    â€œDo you know why he would want to hurt Diana?”
    â€œWhy do you think he wants to hurt Diana?” Shaking his head, Red offered her a reassuring smile. “No one would want to hurt her. Everyone loved Diana.”
    The unease encircling Bryce’s throat gave a squeeze. Maybe everyone didn’t love Diana, but this kid sure did. To the point of obsession. And judging by the way he was

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