K is for Killer Read Online Free Page A

breath and changed gears. “Anyway, I decided if I hired an investigator, that’s the person I’d give the tape to. I guess now I have to ask if you’re willing to help, because if you’re not, I’ll have to find someone else.”
    I thought about it briefly. Of course I was interested. I just wasn’t sure about my chances of success. “An investigation like this is likely to be expensive. Are you prepared for that?”
    â€œI wouldn’t have come up if I wasn’t.”
    â€œAnd your husband’s in agreement?”
    â€œHe’s not wild about the idea, but he can see I’m determined.”
    â€œAll right. Let me nose around first before we sign any contracts. I want to make sure I can do you some good. Otherwise, it’s a waste of my time and your money.”
    â€œAre you going to talk to the police?”
    â€œI’ll have to do that,” I said. “Maybe unofficially at first. The point is, I need information, and if we can get their cooperation, it will save you some bucks.”
    â€œI understand that,” she said, “but you have to understand one thing, too. I know you feel the police here are competent, and I’m sure that’s true, but everybody makesan occasional mistake, and it’s just human nature to want to cover it up. I don’t want you to decide whether or not you can help on the basis of their attitude. They probably think I’m crazy as a loon.”
    â€œBelieve me, I’m capable of making up my own mind about things.” I could feel a crick in my neck, and I took a look at my watch. Time to wind it up, I thought. I asked for her home address, her home phone, and the number at the coffee shop, making notes on my legal pad. “Let me see what I can find out,” I said. “In the meantime, can you leave that with me? I’d like to get myself up to speed. The meter won’t actually start ticking until we have a signed contract.”
    She glanced down at the paper sack beside her but made no move to lift it. “I guess so. I suppose. I wouldn’t want anybody else to get their hands on the tape. It’d kill Mace and the girls if they knew what was in here.”
    I crossed my heart and held my hand up. “I’ll guard it with my life,” I said. I didn’t think there was any point in reminding her that pornography is a commercial venture. There were probably thousands of copies of the tape in circulation. I tucked the notes in my briefcase and snapped the lid down. She stood up when I did, hefting the bag to one hip before she passed it over to me.
    â€œThanks,” I said. I picked up my jacket and my handbag, setting them on top of the bag, juggling the armload of items as I turned off lights. She followed me across the hall and watched me uneasily as I locked up. I glanced back at her. “You’re going to have to trust me, you know. Without that, there’s no point doing business together.”
    She nodded, and I caught a glimpse of tears in her eyes.“I hope you remember Lorna really wasn’t like what you see.”
    â€œI’ll remember,” I said. “I’ll get back to you as soon as I know anything, and we’ll work out a game plan.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œOne more thing. You’re going to have to tell Mace about the tape. He doesn’t have to see it, but he should know it exists. I want complete honesty among the three of us.”
    â€œAll right. Anyway, I’ve never been good at keeping secrets from him.”
    We parted company in the little twelve-car parking lot behind the building, after which I drove home.
    Once in my neighborhood, I had to circle the block before I snagged a semilegal spot half a block away. I locked my car and walked to my place, toting the paper sack like a load of groceries. The night was downy and soft. The street was darkened by trees, the bare branches woven overhead in a