Murder on Olympus Read Online Free Page A

me.”
    “Sounds simple enough.” I sipped my soda, put it on the coffee table, and then took out my pad and pen. “Why do you think he’s cheating on you?”
    “The past few months, he’s been acting strangely. Collin used to be very affectionate. I couldn’t take three steps without him coming after me. Now he barely looks at me.”
    “That is strange,” I commented, still trying not to stare at her legs.
    Bellanca blushed. “That’s not the only problem. He comes home late. I’m usually in bed by the time he gets here. Whenever I ask him where he’s been, he gives me the same excuse: ‘I was at the office, finishing up a project.’”
    “What does your husband do for a living?”
    “He used to be a Major League pitcher, but a shoulder injury ended his career. Now he works at Minos Advertising.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “A former pro athlete . . . I can see why you’re suspicious.”
    “I’ve asked him a million times if he’s cheating on me. He tells me I’m being paranoid, but I know he’s lying. I just can’t prove it. Can you help me?” She crossed her arms tightly, and her breathing was shallow. I could tell she was holding back tears.
    I held up my hand. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Stone, I handle this sort of thing all the time.”
    “Call me Bellanca.”
    “Bellanca,” I said. “Do you have a picture of Collin I could hold onto?”
    She nodded and hurried out of the living room, her high heels clacking against the tile floor. This time I ditched the chivalry and took a peek at her backside. Perfect.
    She came back with a wallet-size snapshot. I examined the picture. Caucasian. Mid-fifties. Graying brown hair. Brown eyes. No distinguishing features.
    “The picture’s a bit old, but it’s his most recent one.” Bellanca sat back down and crossed her long legs again. “Collin’s been a little camera shy as of late.”
    “Why’s that?”
    She pushed a few strands of loose hair out of her face. “There was an incident several months ago. It left a scar on his right cheek.”
    “What sort of incident?”
    “He said he was mugged.”
    Mugged. Right. I’d seen this a dozen times before. Guy cheats on wife with mistress. Mistress gets tired of being a mistress. Wants to marry guy. Tries to convince guy to leave his wife. Guy refuses. He and mistress argue. Mistress gets pissed and goes after guy with a butcher knife . . . And scene. Cut and print.
    “That’s unfortunate.” I slipped the photograph into my wallet.
    “Is there anything else I can do?” Bellanca asked.
    “Yes. I need to know a little more about Collin. Where he works. What time he leaves for work. The names of places he likes to go. You know.”
    “Of course.” She gave me the information, and I scribbled it down.
    “Thanks.”
    Bellanca let out a deep breath. Her hands trembled. Light reflected off her diamond ring, splintering into multicolored shards.
    “You alright?” I asked.
    She flashed me a nervous smile and nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. Just a little nervous. That’s all.”
    “Don’t be. The truth is nothing to be afraid of.”
    Bellanca was quiet for a time. Then she said, “Mr. Jones . . .”
    “Plato,” I corrected her.
    “Plato. You said you do this all the time?”
    I put the notepad and pen back into my pocket. “Yes.”
    “Does it usually end badly?”
    “Depends on your definition of badly.”
    Bellanca’s smile died, and some of the light faded from her eyes. I should have said something, but I was terrible at cheering people up. Still, I couldn’t stand to see a woman look so sad, especially one with a pretty face, a tight bottom, and a great rack.
    “Don’t worry about it too much,” I said. “This could all be a big misunderstanding. Happens all the time.”
    Some of the light returned to her eyes. “Really?”
    “Sure.”
    She smiled at me. “I hope you’re right.”
    For a long moment we sat in awkward silence, not looking at one another.
    “I should probably get