6 12 Body Parts by Stephanie Bond

Author:Stephanie Bond [Bond, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, Romance, humour, fantasy
Goodreads: 13506773
Publisher: NeedtoRead Books
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Cooper Craft was all business as he and Jack surveyed the scene. His gaze stopped on Carlotta and her skin tingled.

“Do you know him?” Hannah asked.

“No.”

“Well, he obviously knows you.” Hannah tossed her black and white striped hair. “Here they come. Introduce us.”

Apparently Hannah was crushing on Coop no matter which world they were in.

“This is Dr. Craft, Medical Examiner,” Jack said. “He’d like to ask you a couple of questions.”

Coop stuck out his hand to Carlotta. “Your name?”

“Carlotta Wren.” Hannah bumped her. “Er, Ashford.” She took his hand and warmth suffused her entire arm.

When he released her hand, he flexed his as if he’d had a similar reaction. “I’m sorry—have we met before?”

“I don’t think so,” she murmured.

“I’m Hannah Kizer.” Hannah grabbed his hand for an enthusiastic pump. “I’m the unmarried one.”

Coop gave her a little smile, but Carlotta noticed his eyes were bloodshot. She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, that he was pulling a double shift and operating on little sleep, but she detected the scent of strong mouth wash. Was Coop drinking on the job? It was the reason he’d lost his position in the world she knew. Was he on the same path here?

“Detective Terry said the dead man tripped?” Coop asked.

“We tripped him,” Hannah said, beaming. “With a broom.”

He turned to Carlotta. “He fell on his weapon?”

“That’s right. And it went off.” She wet her lips. “I thought the revolver was empty, but obviously there was one round in the chamber.”

He stared at her mouth. “Luckily the shot didn’t fly wild. Did he move after he hit the floor?”

“No. He lay completely still.”

“Did you notice anything else about him that might be important?”

“No,” Hannah said.

“There was one thing,” Carlotta offered. “I thought he seemed anxious or maybe high on something.”

He nodded. “Okay, thanks.”

“You know, death has always fascinated me,” Hannah said, leaning in and twirling her hair.

Coop’s eyebrows rose. “You don’t say?”

“Maybe I could get a tour of the morgue sometime?”

“Um, we do occasionally have educational tours.”

Hannah grinned. “Sign me up.”

“If we’re done here,” Jack cut in, “Dr. Craft needs to get back to the body.”

“Right,” Coop said. “Thank you, ladies.” He nodded at Hannah, but his gaze lingered on Carlotta until Jack cleared his throat. The men walked away, with Hannah staring dreamily.

“I think I’m in lust.”

Carlotta smiled. “I thought you were into married men.”

“I am, but—” Hannah squinted. “Hey, how did you know that?”

Uh-oh. “I… guessed?”

Hannah frowned. “How about you don’t make judgments based on my appearance, and I won’t make judgments based on yours?”

“Does that mean we can be friends?”

Hannah’s frown deepened. “That remains to be seen.”

Tracey re-emerged from the restaurant, clearly perturbed. “They’re closing for the day.”

“That’s to be expected,” Carlotta said.

“But I’m starving,” Tracey snapped.

“The two martinis didn’t fill you up?” Hannah asked dryly.

Tracey glared, then turned to Carlotta. “I thought we’d go to Spinnaker’s. They have a nice lettuce wedge. And we can discuss your list.”

Carlotta went cold. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss her alleged murder-plot list with Tracey.

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