Some Like It Lethal by Nancy Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

"Really?"
    "I'm worried about my sister. And upset about Rush Strawcutter, of course."
    Bloom opened his notebook but didn't need to refer to his scribbles. "Rushton Strawcutter was killed by at least three blows to the head from a blunt object."
    Oddly enough, I didn't find death by blunt object nearly as horrifying as death by gunshot. Calmly, I asked, "Could he have been kicked by a horse?"
    Bloom shook his head. "It was something small."
    "Libby said you found a riding crop in the straw."
    "Is that what it's called? It was a small whip. I was surprised that it had such a heavy handle. Like there's steel in it."
    Years ago when I'd done a little riding myself, I had carried a crop—sometimes known as a riding stick—and knew it had a loaded grip on one end and a light tasseled whip at the other. "But surely it wasn't heavy enough to kill someone."
    "Maybe not," he agreed. "The injuries were severe."
    "Do you know when it happened?"
    "Early this morning—probably between three and four A.M."
    "Before the fox hunt began."
    "Yes."
    "Why didn't anybody see them earlier?"
    "It was an empty stall, not used for a horse lately. Somebody went looking for extra straw after the hunt and found him."
    "Have you started questioning everyone at the hunt breakfast?"
    He nodded. "We took names and will be in touch with most everyone eventually."
    "You didn't keep everyone at the club? When Rory Pendergast was killed, you didn't allow people to leave for hours."
    "This situation is a little different."
    I took a deep breath. "You believe Emma did it."
    "Now, let's not start—"
    "Please don't patronize me. She was found nearby and was covered with blood, I know. And that was her riding crop."
    "We're doing everything according to procedure. Everything's going to the city forensics lab, and we've got a team going through the barn now. But suddenly looking for a needle in a haystack doesn't sound so funny." He hesitated. "I won't lie to you, Nora. It looks pretty bad for your sister."
    I didn't realize I'd been weeping until he passed the handkerchief from his pocket. I pressed it to my eyes and tried to think sensibly.
    At last, I said, "What about the envelope found with Rush's body?"
    "How— Did you touch it?"
    "No, Libby saw it."
    He frowned. "Well, we're looking at it, of course."
    "What was inside?"
    He hesitated, then obviously decided not to answer my question. "Let's focus on what you know. What can you tell me about Strawcutter? How come he goes by that name?"
    "His father-in-law insisted when Rushton married Gussie Strawcutter. It's not as uncommon in certain circles as you think, especially when a family line is going to die out. Gussie is an only child. There's a dynasty to consider."
    "A dynasty, huh? How did Rushton feel about changing his name to join a dynasty?"
    I pictured Rush in my mind. He had been tall and a little gawky, with floppy brown hair and a ready smile. "I didn't know him well, but Rush always seemed happy."
    "Marrying into several hundred million dollars, who wouldn't be happy? Except his wife isn't exactly the prettiest girl on the block. Or the smartest."
    "You're wrong. She's brilliant," I corrected. "Don't be fooled. Gussie has been her father's right hand for many years and can read a bottom line better than most thousand-dollar-an-hour tax attorneys, which I believe is what she studied in college. She's extremely smart, just not good with people."
    "You have to be good with people to run a big company."
    "Her father had social grace in spades. Now that his role in the company has diminished, I think Rush was starting to supply the people skills. He was sweet and even-tempered. He genuinely loved animals, and people respond to that—especially in their business."
    "Maybe that's what drew him to his wife," Bloom said dryly.
    "Are you calling her a dog, Detective?"
    "Take it easy. Does your sister Emma know the Strawcutters as well as you do?"
    I stiffened.
    Emma and Rush were undoubtedly acquainted