Pregnant on the Upper East Side? by Emilie Rose

Author:Emilie Rose
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Category, Park Avenue Scandals, Lawyers, New York (N.Y.), Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Suspense, General, Pregnant women
ISBN: 9780373769032
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2007-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Seven

“D etective.” Alex extended his hand across the paper-stacked desk and shook hands with Arnold McGray.

“Harper.” The lean but paunch-bellied, fortysomething detective with salt-and-pepper hair and disillusioned green eyes rose and returned the greeting with a firm grip. “Have a seat and tell me what brings you to my turf.”

“I received an extortion note today. I realize extortion is outside of your homicide sphere, but I was hoping you could direct me to someone within the department who could handle this discreetly.”

McGray perked up. “Did you bring it with you?”

Alex pulled the clear plastic bag from his coat pocket and passed it across the desk. Before sitting down in a scarred but sturdy wooden chair in front of the desk, he removed his overcoat and draped it over the back of the second chair.

“If your note’s related to 721 Park, then it’s part of my investigation until I determine otherwise.” Without opening the plastic McGray scanned the text, flipped it over and studied the envelope. “What’s the secret the perp’s threatening to expose?”

Did the detective really need to know?

“Could lead to motive,” McGray said, as if reading his doubts.

True. Alex checked over his shoulder to make sure they wouldn’t be overheard. “Zack is my son and not my parents’.”

“And that’s not common knowledge?”

“No.”

The detective took a moment to scribble on the pad beside him. “Besides you, who’s touched this letter?”

“My assistant, any number of Harper & Associates mailroom employees and Amanda Crawford.”

Without moving a hair McGray suddenly seemed more alert. Tension entered his body and his gaze sharpened. If Alex hadn’t witnessed the change he would have missed it. “Crawford. Leggy blonde. Lives at 721 Park?”

“Yes.”

The detective jotted another line on his pad and then looked up. “And why would she have handled this?”

“She was in my office shortly after I received it.”

“Personal relationship or business?”

“Both.”

“She have an ax to grind with you?”

“Not that I know of.”

“What about with the deceased, Marie Endicott? Anything between the women?”

“I don’t believe they knew each other.”

“What about Endicott’s lover? Crawford know him?”

“Marie had a lover?”

“She was having an affair, and we suspect it was with someone in the building. But Trent Tanford’s been ruled out as a suspect, despite the pictures all over the papers preceding Endicott’s death of the two of them.” He tapped his pen on the desk. “Could Endicott’s lover have been someone Crawford was interested in or believed she had prior claim to?”

Alex didn’t like the turn of the conversation. The protective surge he felt toward Amanda surprised him. He reined it in. “No. Amanda is relatively new to the building. She was seeing someone else before she moved in. Curtis Wilks.”

McGray made a note and then his green eyes narrowed on Alex. “You spend a lot of time at 721. Were you seeing Endicott?”

Alex sat back abruptly, his defenses on full alert. “Are you accusing me of something?”

McGray wiped a hand over his face. “No. And there’s no need to start sounding like a lawyer. I’m just asking questions.

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