Baby Girl Doe (Stephanie Chalice Thrillers Book 5) Read Online Free

nine o’clock,” he said powerlessly.
    “Let’s find a hotel room for the night. We can look for a new place in the morning.”
    “If we find one, it won’t be cheap.”
    “Don’t worry about it, Ebenezer.” I scowled at him and clenched my fist. “Consider it an investment in your personal wellbeing.”
    Gus laughed and tried to speak with his mouth full. “That’s big talk for a sex crazed—” His eyes bulged, and then he began to choke. The technique for the Heimlich maneuver raced through my mind. I was already out of my seat when the girl at the next table stood and smacked Gus squarely between the shoulder blades, dislodging the food that was stuck in his throat.
    “Oh God,” she said. “Are you okay?”
    Gus covered his mouth.
    I could see that he was no longer in distress.
    He nodded. It took a moment before he was able to speak. “Thanks,” he said. “That did the trick.” He stood up to thank her. “I should know better than to talk with my mouth full.”
    “Hey, it’s okay,” she said. “Glad I could help.”
    Most cops aren’t overly cordial to strangers, and generally speaking, Gus was no exception to that rule, but . . . the woman had just saved his life after all. “I’m Gus.” He pointed to me. “This is my wife Stephanie.”
    “Hi.” She flashed a quick, energetic smile, a real go-getter smile, and then turned her attention to Max. “And who is this?” she said with a nurturing voice and a broad smile. “Who is this handsome little man?”
    “That’s Max.” I think she overwhelmed him. Max’s chin quivered, and he started to cry.
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to—”
    “Don’t give it a second thought. It’s way past his bedtime.” I lifted him out of his booster seat and bounced him in my arms to quiet him down. “It’s okay,” I told him. “Daddy’s all right now that he’s not gagging on cow parts.” I sensed that Max was really pooped—he nodded out in mid-cry. I had him in my arms but managed to extend my right hand so I could shake hands with my husband’s savior. “Thanks for the assist.”
    “No problem,” she said as she glanced at Gus. Her eyes lingered a moment longer than I liked before turning back to me with an expression that said, I helped your husband, and you didn’t.
    Yes, Gus is a catch and he’s my catch. I narrowed my eyes at her a little, not a scathing glance just more of a step-off-beeatch sneer.
    “I was closer. I’m Camryn Claymore,” she said introducing herself. “What a handsome family. I’m glad I was able to help.” Camryn was slightly built and professionally dressed, in slacks, a silk blouse, and loafers. She wore a lot of makeup: face powder, concealer . . . the whole enchilada, much more than most young women customarily wore.
    “I’m glad too,” Gus said. “Thanks again, Camryn.”
    I’m a student of body language, and Camryn’s body language indicated that our conversation had limitations and we had reached the end of ours. She had been thanked, and thanked, and thanked again. I thought our introductory exchange was over, but I was wrong. I guess I misread the signals—it was merely an awkward pause.
    “Hey, I’m not a nosey body or anything, but I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation.”
    She overheard our conversation? Jesus! The last thing Gus uttered was, “That’s big talk for a sex crazed—” A little embarrassing, ya think? Anyway, at least she knew that I was taking care of business in the bedroom.
    “So your cabin burned down?” she asked. “Was that Bill Alden’s place?”
    Gus nodded with large eyes. “Yeah. How’d you know?”
    “I just got a call from my office—I’m in real estate,” she said. “Montauk’s really a pretty small community. The whole town will know about it before it makes the local news broadcast.”
    “I know,” Gus said, “I’m from around here.”
    Camryn’s eyes sparkled. “Oh really, where