An Unacceptable Death - Barbara Seranella Read Online Free Page A

Caroline's on her way over."
    Munch blinked at him, not understanding for a moment
the meaning of his words or what they had to do with anything.
Caroline, Mace's wife, was Munch's former probation officer and
Asia's godmother.
    St. John rubbed the back of his neck. "You want
me to call anyone else?"
    Munch massaged her forehead in an effort to get her
brain to work. A question needed answering. "His daughter,
Angelica. She lives with his ex-wife." Angelica was going to be
devastated. She loved her daddy. They all loved her daddy.
    " Someone's going to the house," St. John
said gently. "I know you go to work early and I didn't want you
hearing about it on the radio."
    They had arrived in the kitchen. She looked down at
the table where the "Metro" section of the Times was spread
open. "It wasn't in the paper," she said stupidly, feeling
as if she were underwater and pedaling desperately for the surface.
    " Not yet," he said. "And I meant is
there anyone you want me to call for you?"
    Munch thought of her AA sponsor, Ruby. Ruby would
want her to go to a meeting and "share her feelings." She
wasn't up to sharing shit. The last thing she wanted now was another
dose of reality.
    " No. There's no one."
    What next? She crossed the thin carpet of her living
room toward the nook she used as her office, thinking to grab a pen
and paper, start a list.
    Her eyes refused to focus. The lined pad before her
remained blank. She clutched at her scalp, pulling her
shoulder-length light-brown hair as if she might literally draw out
the needed answers. She thought of the expression "pulling out
her hair" and wondered with  detachment if this very sort
of action/reaction was the origin of that phrase.
    Make a note, idiot.
    The teapot whistled. She went back into the kitchen
and turned off the flame. She didn't want to be more awake. St. J0hn
stood in the doorway.
    " You want some coffee?"
    " You got any decaf?"
    He'd given up caffeinated coffee after his heart
attack over a year ago.
    " No, sorry. Strictly leaded."
    " That's all right," he said. He looked
uncomfortable. She didn't know what she was supposed to do now
either.
    " Help yourself to whatever," she said. "I
need to hit the head."
    He nodded. His sad eyes waited.
    She went into the bathroom. Jasper followed her. She
closed the door gently behind them, crossed to the sink, and opened
the cold water tap.
    Now , the voice in her head
urged, do it now.
    She slumped to the floor, covered her face with both
hands, and sobbed. Jasper came to her. He was shivering, upset by her
emotion. She hugged him to her and cried into his fur, staying that
way until there was a soft knock at the front door, and she knew the
world was about to intrude.
    Rico was dead and it was all her fault. Her universe
was divided into two time zones—before and after this terrible
news, and the inescapable fact: If he had never met her, he would
probably still be alive.
 
 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    CAROLINE ST.JOHN VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE ASIA TO school.
Munch had found it surprisingly easy to act as if nothing had
happened. Asia accepted the St. Johns's presence without question,
relieving Munch of the necessity of lying—a skill that came back
all too easily when she needed it.
    She kissed Asia good-bye and then returned to the
kitchen, where St. John was working on his second cup of herbal tea.
    " You'll be getting some calls today," he
said. "The criminal investigation team will want to interview
you, and a few guys from IA."
    IA. Internal Affairs. The cops who policed the cops.
    " IA? What's that about?" Munch asked. She
grabbed for the box of Raisin Bran, then realized she wasn't the
least bit hungry and put it back on the shelf.
    " They investigate all officer-involved
shootings." St. John looked uncomfortable. "Just be
up-front with them. You have nothing to hide, right?"
    "Oh yeah, my past is a matter of public record."
    " Are you going to be around today?"
    " I thought I'd go over to Rico's dad's house and
see what I