Hot Enough to Kill by Boyd Paula

Author:Boyd, Paula [Boyd, Paula]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: mystery
ISBN: 9780967478609
Publisher: Diomo Books
Published: 1999-10-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

After a long and pleasant chat with Jerry, I hung up the phone and stared at the ceiling. There was no way this could work out--no way--but darned if it wasn't fun pretending it could.

The phone rang, jumping me out of my musings and my skin. By the fourth ring, I had to assume that Lucille was still enthralled in storytelling and couldn't be bothered, so I picked up the receiver. "Hello."

"Is this Jolene Jackson?" a steady feminine voice said.

I didn't recognize the voice, but I scooted up in bed to clear my ears, my voice and my fantasies. "Yes, this is Jolene."

"You don't know me, but I'm Amy Parker's friend."

She paused and let that information sink in. It did, like a floating fifty-five-gallon oil drum shot full of holes. As various interesting thoughts and questions trickled in, the biggest one bubbling to the top was: Why would Amy's lover be calling me?

"My name is Susan Miller, and I take it you've heard about me."

"Well, yes," I said, always quick with the clever replies. I mentally stuttered for a few seconds, but nothing tactful leapt to my tongue, so I just blurted out, "Why are you calling me?"

"I realize this seems odd, but there's something I hope you can help me with."

Odd? You think? And why did she think I could help her--or would? Getting involved in the personal affairs of Jerry Don's ex-wife's girlfriend did not seem like a good plan, and more than a little weird on any level.

"Amy said you'd be the best person to contact," Susan said, unperturbed by my silence. "I couldn't very well ask Jerry Don for help, even if he wasn't in the hospital. Under the circumstances, I don't have too many options."

I mumbled in a noncommittal way and waited for her to get to the point.

"I know this is awkward," she said, stating the obvious yet again. "But I'd like to meet you in person and talk about a few things."

This was becoming stranger by the second. I certainly didn't want to meet Amy's girlfriend, but what was I supposed to say, "No, go away and leave me alone" or "Sure, I'm happy to do whatever I can for the woman who broke up my best friend's marriage, not that I'm all that sorry he's divorced?" Geez.

"I really don't know what else to do," she said. "I can be there in fifteen minutes."

Now? She wanted to come now? "Well, I'm not sure the guard dogs out front would let you in. This place is swarming with cops at the moment."

"Really? Did something else happen?"

"Well, it seems--" I caught myself. The shootings were common knowledge now, but the reappearing shotgun was not. "It seems the deputies and other law officer types just can't get enough of us over here. I've answered the same questions at least thirty-five times, and yet they keep asking."

"I know you've been through a lot, but I really do need your help. Do you think they'll be leaving soon?"

I leaned over to the window by the bed and pulled back the curtain.

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