The Pied Piper by Ridley Pearson Read Free Book Online

and motioned with her index finger for him to follow. She walked him to the end of the hall and the splendid elevated view of the lake. “Rings come off, you know.” She threw open the door. It was to the master bedroom. “Now this,” she said, returning to her saleswoman voice. “This is a room you can really sink your teeth into.”
    â€œDo tell,” LaMoia said, wondering if he dare follow her inside.
    The bathroom was marble and large enough to park the Camaro. She was wearing a good scent, warm and suggestive. In the close confines it grew stronger. “What do I call you?” LaMoia asked. “Sherry? I keep thinking of the wine.”
    â€œYou can call me anything you like, sweetheart. I answer to Sherry, but I can get used to change real quickly. In my line of work, you learn to adapt.”
    â€œEven four and a half is steep for me. And to be honest, it’s more house than I need. I’m kind of a bedroom and kitchen guy. My needs are small.”
    â€œDon’t underrate yourself.”
    â€œAnd I hadn’t considered the bridge traffic, which was stupid. I’m thinking maybe I should be looking north of town. Above Forty-fifth. Didn’t I see a sign of yours on Fifty-second, Fifty-first?”
    â€œFifty-first.” She sounded disappointed. He had just cut her commission in half.
    â€œWhat’s that one going for?”
    â€œAsking two-thirty. I think they’ll probably get it.”
    â€œCould we see it? Take a look?”
    â€œThis is a steal at four-fifty. It’s worth the offer.” The spark went out of her eye, as if he had pointed out the mole on her neck below her ear, which did bother him. When he failed to reply to her suggestion, she said, “Sure thing. Today?”
    â€œIf you have the time.”
    â€œWell you’re the client, sweetheart,” she said, her engines running again. “What works for you works for me.”

    LaMoia felt awkward turning his back on the Shotz residence as he walked up the short front path to the house. A white van belonging to KOMO News was parked out front topped with all kinds of antennae. The Shotzes had yet to grant interviews. Thank God for small favors, he thought.
    Sherry Daech’s backside kept his attention as she climbed the short steps to the front door. “You know that kidnapping yesterday?” she asked as she worked with the realtor’s combination box to get the key. “Happened right there.”
    She turned around to point, but saw LaMoia’s badge first and it registered with shock.
    LaMoia flipped the badge wallet closed and slipped it into his pants pocket. “It’s Detective Sergeant. Crimes Against Persons division. Homicide. You had an open house last night.”
    She stammered, “The house on Mercer?”
    â€œI tried to make an appointment through your receptionist.”
    â€œYou little shit.” She looked him over. “You come on to me hoping for an interrogation? I ought to file a complaint!”
    â€œI came on to you because you came on to me.”
    â€œIs that so?”
    â€œBecause you’re an attractive woman,” he said, hoping to annul some of the damage. “You know how to talk the talk. I like that.”
    â€œIs that so?” she replied, in a more approving tone, a finger nervously hooking some of the blonde hair and stashing it behind her left ear.
    â€œThe open house was during the time we believe the baby was kidnapped.”
    â€œ Was it the Pied Piper?”
    â€œChances are you may have seen something. A car? A man?”
    â€œSo you tricked me? Is that how you do it?”
    â€œEvery hour that baby is missing means we’re less likely to return her to her parents. There are over thirty of us on this case. Not one of us has slept in the past seventeen hours.”
    â€œI didn’t see anything.” She glanced at the key in her hand. “You don’t want to