Wish You Were Here by Rita Mae Brown Read Free Book Online

policewoman off the ladder.
    Rick reached up and held Cynthia around the waist as Diana ran over to help. They got BoomBoom to the ground.
    Diana broke open the amyl nitrite.
    Cynthia snatched it from her hand. “All she’s got are these few moments before this hits her again. Let her have them.”
    Rick cleared his throat. He hated this. He also hated that BoomBoom might throw up when she came to and he fervently hoped she wouldn’t. Blood and guts were one thing. Vomit was another.
    BoomBoom moaned. She opened her eyes. Rick held his breath. She sat up and swallowed. He exhaled. She wasn’t going to throw up. She wasn’t even going to cry.
    â€œHe looks like something in the Cuisinart.” BoomBoom’s voice sounded flat.
    â€œDon’t think about it,” Officer Cooper advised.
    â€œI’ll remember the sight for the rest of my natural life.” BoomBoom struggled to her feet. She swayed a bit and Rick steadied her. “I’m all right. Just . . . give me a minute.”
    â€œWhy don’t we go over to the office. The air conditioning will help.”
    Officer Cooper and BoomBoom walked over to the small office and Rick motioned to Diana and Clai to get the body pieces out of the mixer. “Don’t let BoomBoom see the bag.”
    â€œKeep her inside,” Diana requested.
    â€œDo what I can but she’s a wild one. Been that way since she was a kid.” Rick took off his hat and entered the office.
    Marie Williams, Craycroft Concrete’s secretary, sobbed. At the sight of BoomBoom she emitted a wail.
    BoomBoom stared at her in disgust. “Pull yourself together, Marie.”
    â€œI loved him. I just loved him. He was the best man in the world to work for. He’d bring me roses on Secretary’s Day. He’d give me time off when Timmy was sick. Didn’t dock my pay.” A fresh outburst followed this.
    BoomBoom hit the chair with a thump. Behind her a huge poster of a sitting duck slurping a drink, bullet holes in the wall behind him, gave the room a festive air. If Marie kept this up she’d throw her in the mixer. BoomBoom loathed displays of emotion. Circumstances did not alter her opinion on this.
    â€œMrs. Williams, why don’t you come into Mr. Craycroft’s office with me. Maybe you can explain his daily routine. We can’t touch anything until the prints men come in.”
    â€œI understand.” Marie shuffled off with Officer Cooper, shutting the door behind her.
    â€œYou don’t really know if that’s my husband in there.” BoomBoom’s voice didn’t sound normal.
    â€œNo.”
    She leaned back in the chair. “It is, though.”
    â€œHow do you know?” Rick’s voice was gentle but probing.
    â€œI feel it. Besides, his car is parked here and Kelly was never far from that car. Loved it more than anything, even me, his wife.”
    â€œDo you have any idea how this could have happened?”
    â€œApart from someone pushing him into the mixer, no.” Her eyes glittered.
    â€œEnemies?”
    â€œPharamond Haristeen—well, that’s old. They aren’t enemies anymore.”
    Rick knew the story of Fair making a pass at BoomBoom at last year’s Hunt Club ball. Much liquor had been consumed but not enough for people to forget the overture. He’d need to question Fair. Emotions, like land mines, could explode when you least expected them to . . . years after an event. It wouldn’t be impossible for Fair to be a murderer, only improbable. “What about business troubles?”
    BoomBoom smiled a wan smile. “Kelly had the Midas touch.”
    Rick smiled back at her. “All of central Virginia knows that.” He paused. “Perhaps he got into a disagreement over a bill or a paving bid. People get crazy about money. Anything, anything at all that comes to mind.”
    â€œNothing.”
    Rick placed his hand on her shoulder.