Send Out The Clowns (Frank River Series) Read Online Free Page B

their
venture capital. Then we would renegotiate the agreement."
    "What's the catch?"
    "There are two, actually. One is I would lose my
exclusivity of The Fashion Center. If the new shops go belly up, I'd end up as
an employee in my own business. Of course, if one or both of the new stores
take off, eventually I would expand my leverage and have a much larger piece of
a bigger pie. Most of the market indexes suggest that consumer spending is on
the upswing, but the reality is that I have a lot more lookers than buyers
lately."
    "The bigger the risk, the bigger the gain."
    "Oh yeah, and the bigger the loss."
    Frank knew he had no way to identify with how stressful her
decision was; everything he knew about business, she had taught him. He decided
that he had said all he could to help her in her quandary.
    "And the second concern?"
    Paulette turned her head, looking at him directly.
"You. Us. If I enter into this venture, I will be three times as busy as
now. It would require travel and negotiations and more time going over
statements and policy determinations. It would make major changes in our time
together."
    That had been Frank's first thought when she mentioned
expanding her business. He was pleased she rated it as a high priority.
    "Pauley, nothing stays the same. It would be a mistake
to avoid changes for the status quo. If you turned down an opportunity to do
what you love for 'us,' we'd shrivel and die."
    "That might happen anyway."
    "It might, but it would be for reasons other than
mutual self-sacrifice. It would be more palatable."
    Pauley looked down and turned the beer can in her fingers.
Neither of them said anything for several minutes. Finally, she looked back at
him and smiled. "Okay, Cisco, now tell me what drug you from my clutches
at four o'clock this morning, and what you did with the blue and white. I
didn't see it in the parking lot when I came home."
    Frank gave her a quick rundown on the clown case. "I
thought it was a kid at first and that made me anxious."
    "You think it's a serial don't you?"
    Frank looked astounded. "Why did you say that?"
    "I can read upside down. When I came in, I got a good
look at what you were writing."
    "Yeah, I do. We'll see."
    Pauley leaned back and snuggled under his arm again, even
closer than before. "Oh, Cisco. I don't have much trouble when you're
investigating domestic violence or routine shootings in some bar, but a serial
killer is a different matter. These kinds of cases can be dangerous. Please be
careful."
    "Oh, crap. You sound like Miss Kitty talking to Matt
Dillon. Don't patronize me."
    She put her hand on his chest and looked him in the eye.
"You love this sort of investigation, and don't try to deny it."
    He grinned. "You're right. These serial killers always
think they're too smart to get caught by dumb cops. I really enjoy bringing
them down. I just hope I can get to this guy before he kills again."
    "What makes you so sure it's a guy?"
    He shrugged. "It may not be, but most serial killers
are men."
    She settled back. "What happened to the car?"
    "Gerry's got it."
    Paulette pushed herself farther away. "Who the hell is
Gerry?"
    "My new partner, Geraldine Gardner, a transfer from
vice in Kingwood. Lieutenant Barker assigned us this afternoon."
    "A woman?"
    "A very foxy, intelligent, unmarried woman with a witty
personality, and an ex-Marine. Just my type." He was grinning.
    "When do I get to meet this harlot?"
    "What about in the morning? She's picking me up at
7:30."
    Pauley slapped him on the chest. "You know I can't be
ready to meet someone that early on Saturday." She stood, and headed for
the kitchen. "Why tomorrow?" she said over her shoulder.
    "We have a date." She stopped and turned, hands on
her hips. "With Al Shuman at the morgue."
    "How romantic." She relaxed. "But I have to
meet her."
    "I'll try to set something up."
    Pauley ate her snack and headed for the bedroom. Frank
followed. They made love, but it was less fulfilling than usual. Pauley