Dying for a Change Read Online Free

don’t stop him. Most women are embarrassed and don’t know what to say. Hank thought that meant they liked his little attentions and kept going. Occasionally he found someone who really wanted to play.”
    “ Umm,” I said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t make him unique. What’s that got to do with Tom and Nicole? Unless...?”
    “ Yes. He’d started in on Nicole. She’s young, wasn’t sure how to handle it. Tom wasn’t amused and, a couple of days ago, he lost his temper. He grabbed Hank by the shirtfront and told him to keep his, well, his hands off Nicole. I had to intervene. Hank was a good client. He bought all his lots through me, and sold all his houses through our office. I couldn’t afford to have some hot tempered agent lose me that kind of business.”
    “ Nicole couldn’t have thought Tom would do something drastic like killing him, though. Could she?” I asked.
    “ I don’t know what Nicole thought,” Sharon said, “but Tom has a terrible temper. I imagine he’ll get asked a lot of questions. Now, I’ve got some. Did the police...”
    The doorbell rang. It was busier around here than Macy’s on sale day.
    “ Hi,” he said, filling the whole doorway. “Aren’t you going to ask me in?”
    “ I suppose so,” I said, and stepped back a little.
    “ You don’t look pleased to see me,” Dan said, hanging his jacket on a peg the same way he used to. “How long’s it been, Ellie? Over twenty years, anyway. You’re looking good.”
    “ What did you expect? Gray hair and rolls of fat?”
    “ I see the years haven’t improved your disposition much. That merlot looks nice. Glasses in the kitchen?”
    Dan grinned at Sharon, who wiggled fingers back at him, pushed open the swinging door into the kitchen, and returned immediately with a glass, which he proceeded to fill.
    “ The place looks great, Ellie. Better than I remembered.” He lowered himself onto the sofa across from Sharon. “These weren’t here before,” he said, patting the flowered print, “neither was that table. Same bookshelves, though. You need to stir the fire.”

    I poked the logs with a little more force than necessary, then retired to my easy chair. “Is this call social or business,” I asked in my nastiest tone.
    “ My, you are thorny,” Dan said. “A little of each. Sharon, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve got a couple of questions for you. Save me the trouble of stopping by your place.”
    Sharon looked surprised, but I didn’t give her a chance to say anything.
    “ Listen, Daniel Boone Dunham.” Dan winced at the “Boone,” which didn’t bother me a bit. “Before we go any further, there are a couple of questions I want answered. Where did you come from? How did you get to be Chief of Police? And why were you so darn cold this afternoon? You were nice for about thirty seconds, and then you turned into an ice bucket. And why haven’t you been over to see me before now?”
    “ Is that why you’re so mad?” he said, with a little smile.
    “ Of course not,” I said, using my most dignified tone. “And I’m not mad.”
    “ You could have fooled me. Anyway, I’ll catch you up on my past history later. I’ve even got a few questions for you. This afternoon, well, I’m a policeman, with a job to do. It wasn’t the time for a chat.” He paused, looked at me over the top of his glass, then looked down, hiding the expression in his eyes before he went on. “I’ve been meaning to come over, thought I’d let you settle in first. I never expected — anyway, I’m here now.” He looked up and grinned. My old playmate was back. Dan, who’d been better than a brother, who...
    “ Never mind all that. Tell us what happened, Dan,” Sharon said. “Was it really Hank Sawyer? Do you know who did it?”
    “ It really was Hank and no, not yet. We’re investigating.”
    I gave a snort. Dan ignored me.
    “ What happened?’ Sharon repeated. “Every time I ask Ellen for any details, we get