The Dark of Day by Barbara Parker Read Free Book Online Page B

days.”
    â€œWouldn’t that be dandy?” Noreen said.
    Diana touched her husband’s arm. “Paul, hadn’t you better go talk to Ms. Dunn?”
    â€œWe can talk here,” he replied. “Everyone knows the situation. Ms. Dunn—C.J., we’re all sorry about Alana Martin, and equally so for her parents. Diana and I have two boys, Mike and Matthew, and if something happened to one of them—I can’t imagine. Of course the police have to question anyone who was at the party that night. They even talked to me, and that’s fine. I’m happy to cooperate, but there wasn’t much I could tell them. I don’t know Ms. Martin, and neither does Rick Slater. That’s what he tells me, and I believe him. Rick was in the Army, and I hired him, or one reason I hired him, was to give a fellow veteran a break. Between college and law school, I served as a lieutenant in the Navy for four years, so I feel a kinship to some extent. What I don’t do is get rid of people on my staff, good people, just because the police ask to interview them.”
    Noreen broke in. “You know my position. I’d have fired his ass already. His background is spotty. I don’t trust him.”
    â€œOh, Noreen, you can’t mean that,” Diana protested. “He’s wonderful with the boys. He’s reliable and courteous. I agree with Paul. Rick had nothing to do with that girl’s disappearance.”
    Shelby said, “I’m not going to fire him.”
    His mother smiled tightly. “Then you’re definitely going to need Ms. Dunn.”
    C.J. said, “Whether I take this case or not is up to Mr. Slater. Have you spoken to him, Mr. Shelby?”
    â€œIt’s Paul. Please. I haven’t talked to Rick about you yet. He’s going to pick us up after the concert. I’ll have a few words with him then. As a lawyer myself, I believe I can explain to him how important it is to have representation, even when you’ve done nothing wrong. He’ll make the
right decision. Should I give him your phone number? Or would you rather call him?”
    â€œTell him to call me in the morning. I can make myself available this weekend.” C.J. put her folded napkin on the table. “I’m going to leave now, but first I’d like to offer a couple of suggestions. You don’t have a chauffeur; you have a driver. Miami traffic is terrible, and you’re concerned about the safety of your wife and children, so you hired someone to help out.”
    â€œIt’s true, I hate to drive,” Diana Shelby said. “When I was a little girl, someone crashed into our car, and ever since then—” She gave a little shudder.
    â€œYou see? It’s dangerous out there. Mr. Slater drives your boys to school and you and your wife to your various appointments. He is always there when you need him. But he’s not a bodyguard, no. That has negative connotations. He’s a loyal member of the staff. He’s gentle, good with the kids.”
    â€œHe’s a golden retriever,” Donald Finch said.
    C.J. ignored him. “You trust Rick Slater because he’s a veteran, a brother in arms. He served his country, and now he is serving a United States congressman and his family.”
    â€œExcuse me.” C.J. felt a tap on her arm and turned. Noreen said, “Were you at the party at Guillermo Medina’s house, the night that girl went missing?”
    â€œNo, I wasn’t there. Why do you ask?”
    â€œI thought you would be. There’s been photos of you and Guillermo Medina in the local pages. Are you a couple? I’m only asking because if you are, it’s one more thing for the media to get their grubby little hands on.”
    After a second, C.J. said, “Mr. Medina and I are friends.”
    A chilly smile was returned to her. “Well, let’s just keep everything low-key. The first priority is to protect