Bury Me When I'm Dead Read Online Free Page B

spotted a few missing tiles and water-stained concrete and took a deep breath. She leaned back in her seat and distracted herself by thinking about the gun incident Jack had mentioned. It had happened three years ago but pink rose on Don’s cheeks when Jack brought it up again today.
    â€œPenny for your thoughts,” Don said.
    Charlie opened her eyes, they were almost at the tunnel’s end. “Believe me, you don’t want to know.”
    â€œHey, Nelson looks pretty good, don’t you think?”
    â€œYeah he does. The work seems to suit him. We really should invite him out for a drink sometime,” Charlie said.
    â€œSo, what’s the game plan with Dietrich? Do you want me to take the lead?”
    â€œLet’s play it by ear, Don. She’s a woman, so maybe it should be me.” Charlie checked her notes. “Abrams says she’s remorseful about her role in this thing and has returned all of the money she received. About five grand.”
    It took forty minutes to arrive at the Dietrich house because they got lost and Don wouldn’t stop to ask directions. Judy had been after them for months to buy portable navigation units, but Don would have none of it. When it came to guns and cars Don was a geek, but somehow cell phones and GPS units got the best of him.
    Rona Dietrich answered the door as they stepped onto her porch. She was attractive and would have been considered pretty excepther nose was tilted slightly left. She wore a white blouse with a round collar, gray tweed slacks and brown slip-on shoes. Her brown hair was cut short with bangs that hung almost down to the rim of her tortoiseshell glasses. She offered coffee and Danish and Don accepted.
    â€œRona, I appreciate your seeing us,” Charlie said. “I know you’ve spoken to the police and we may ask you some of the same questions.”
    â€œI understand,” Rona said, shifting her direct stare from Charlie to Don and back.
    â€œSo, our main goal is to find Joyce. Mr. Abrams wants to talk to her and he feels that she has to pay for what she’s done. I’ve known Mr. Abrams a long time and he didn’t deserve this.” Charlie was looking for a chink in Rona’s armor, but she didn’t flinch from Charlie’s gaze or judgmental tone. “You didn’t spend the money. Why?”
    â€œI didn’t mean to hurt Mr. Abrams but Joyce asked me for a favor and I did it. I really like her. She understood what I was going through taking care of my mother; that’s something we have in common.”
    Charlie jotted a note. “You didn’t answer my question.”
    â€œI didn’t really need the money. Mother has social security and Medicare and with my salary it was enough to take care of our needs. This house is paid for and my dad made sure we wouldn’t be burdened with a lot of debt.” Her eyes drifted to a photograph of a man and woman on a corner bookshelf.
    Don rose to examine the photo and Rona watched as he held the framed picture. She returned her attention to Charlie.
    â€œJoyce wasn’t so lucky. She never knew her father. Growing up, it was just her mother and her brother, Paul. Paul’s father wasn’t around either. I did it because Joyce asked me to. I feel bad about it now, but at the time I just wanted to help her out.”
    â€œWhat kind of help did you give her, Ms. Dietrich?”
    â€œYou can call me Rona,” she said with a shy smile. “Well, there was some kind of family trouble. I never knew exactly what it was, but Joyce said her mother was depending on her to take care of whatever it was.”
    â€œWhat Ms. Mack is asking is, what exactly was your role in this stealing business, Dietrich?” Don, who was still standing near the bookcase, decided to insinuate himself into the questioning.
    Rona squirmed and looked at Charlie for help. When she didn’t get any, she turned back to Don, finally