Borrowing Death Read Online Free Page A

job.”
    She held up her right hand in the Boy Scout salute. “I promise not to impede his investigation.”
    Michael squeezed her fingers. “That isn’t the same thing as staying out of it.”
    Charlotte eased her hand out of his and rose up on her toes to peck him on the cheek. “I wouldn’t want you to call me a liar. Let me know when you want me to type up your report for Juneau.”
    As his sometime secretary, Charlotte helped keep his patient files and official reports organized. Sending copies to the territorial capital was one of the tasks she helped with.
    â€œAbout that,” he said, cheeks pinkening under his new beard. “I’m getting someone to help me with paperwork and some interpretation issues.”
    Charlotte couldn’t help the surprise widening her eyes. “You are? Since when?”
    They saw each other every day, or just about, and he’d never mentioned getting help.
    â€œWell, it’s not official yet, but with more of the Natives coming into town for work and whatnot, I thought it would be a good idea to have someone with me who knew them better.”
    That made sense, but it didn’t explain why he’d never mentioned it to her.
    â€œAnd I’ve been busy with the newspaper and unavailable,” she said.
    Michael’s mouth quirked into a crooked grin. “That too. But mostly because Mary can really help me communicate with her people. And she needs the job.”
    â€œMary?” Charlotte wasn’t nearly as familiar with the local Eyak population as he was, and there were a number of Marys around.
    â€œMary Weaver. You might have heard her called Old Creek Mary. She’s worked at the grocer off and on.”
    â€œOh, yes.” Charlotte recalled a young Native woman stacking shelves or behind the counter at McGruder’s. A lovely girl. Well, not a girl. She was probably the same age as Charlotte. “She has a couple of kids, doesn’t she?”
    â€œThat’s right. A boy and a girl, five and around three. The grandmother watches them when Mary’s working.” Michael returned to his seat at the desk. “Her husband died last spring.”
    â€œHow terrible.”
    â€œIt was. When she mentioned she was looking for something more challenging than stacking shelves, I sort of offered her a job.” He winced. “You don’t mind, do you?”
    â€œOf course not. In fact, I’m looking forward to talking to her.” Charlotte crossed the room and retrieved her coat and hat from the peg on the back of the door.
    Just as she lifted the mackinaw, the door opened and she quickly stepped out of the way to avoid getting hit.
    James came in and shut the door behind him. Removing his hat, he said, “Shoulda known you’d be here before me.”
    Charlotte grinned. “Early bird gets the worm.” The deputy shot a questioning look at Michael. “Don’t worry, James, I promise not to write or say anything until you give me the go-ahead. I won’t compromise your investigation. But you’ll inform me of any developments, right?”
    James and Michael exchanged glances. After the terrible situation with Darcy Dugan, they knew Charlotte couldn’t help but get herself involved. But they could also trust her to keep her word and not spoil the case.
    â€œYou’ve told her how Fiske died?” James asked Michael. There was a hint of irritation in his voice.
    â€œShe’s my current secretary of record,” Michael said. “I trust her with keeping pertinent evidence and case information to herself.”
    He’d just told her that a different person would be performing that task, yet here he was, covering for her, practically lying to James. Though it was possible Michael wouldn’t want to frighten his soon-to-be assistant Mary with the horrible details of an autopsy.
    Charlotte suppressed a grin of appreciation. Not only for him