Two Guys Detective Agency Read Online Free Page B

held was shredded. In the melee of
    exiting Sullivan’s room, she’d lost the stupid box of Kleenex. Oakley removed a snowy handkerchief from
    his back pocket and pushed it into her hand.
    She blew her nose, feeling self-conscious about abusing such a personal item. “Don’t you have to work
    today?”
    He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    Klo and Stone, too, stayed close. Linda made a mental note to tell Sullivan how supportive his friend
    and coworkers had been during the crisis.
    There was so much she wanted to tell him, she realized, so many things she’d left unsaid recently
    because of trivial resentments. Her behavior now seemed so petty, she was ashamed. She would fix things
    between them, fix their family. They would be happy again.
    They would.
    After what seemed like an eternity, Dr. Kozac appeared at the doorway, looking weary — and holding
    the missing box of tissue. Linda surged to her feet and strode toward her, the others following behind.
    “How is he?”
    The doctor maintained a poker face. “Your husband suffered a massive heart attack and his heart
    stopped beating. We tried to revive him, but despite our best attempts…”
    Everything shifted into slow motion as Linda recognized the “death talk” that was obviously required
    training for every physician. She braced for emotional Armageddon.
    “…we couldn’t save him. I’m sorry, Mrs. Smith.” The doctor floundered, then handed Linda the dented
    box of Kleenex.
    Chapter Three
    “POOR LINDA.” Octavia Guy Habersham flipped down the visor mirror and smoothed her finger over
    the crease between her eyebrows she’d had filled yesterday with an injectable…again. It was the one area of
    her face that refused to respond to treatment. She checked her dark hair and her teeth, then flipped up the
    mirror and sat back. “What will she do now?”
    From the driver seat of the Mercedes, her husband was quiet.
    “Richard?”
    He looked over. “Hm? Oh…she’ll figure out something. Linda’s a smart girl.”
    Octavia scoffed. “You couldn’t prove it by her life choices. I’ll never know why she married that
    clodhopper in the first place.”
    “I thought you said she was pregnant.”
    “She was, but she didn’t have to marry the man. Now she has two rugrats, and no husband. And I
    doubt if Sullivan made any provisions for his death.”
    “Surely he had life insurance.”
    “When he was a police officer, maybe, but remember, he quit to become a private dick. What a joke.
    They’re probably flat broke.”
    “You don’t know that.”
    “Would you look at this?” She held up her right hand. “The polish on my pinkie nail is positively
    lumpy. It’s impossible to find a good manicurist these days.”
    “It’s like living in a third world country,” he agreed.
    “We have to help Linda out, you know. I’m all the family she has. Mother’s gone and Father’s…
    useless.” She swallowed the bad taste in her mouth.
    Richard pinched the bridge of his nose. “Has it occurred to you that you might offend her if you offer
    her money?”
    Octavia gave a dismissive wave. “She’ll have to swallow her pride. I won’t let my nephew and niece
    grow up in squalor. Jarrod and Mary deserve better.”
    “I thought the little girl’s name was Maggie.”
    “Maggie — right.”
    “Linda will be fine. She’ll probably get a job.” He arched an eyebrow. “Some women do that, you
    know.”
    Octavia sniffed. “You would hate it if I worked — who would take care of everything?”
    “Gee, I don’t know — maybe the maid or the cook or the gardener?”
    “Very funny. I meant who would take care of our social life? Your firm has prospered because of all
    the contacts I’ve put in your path over the last few years.”
    “Yes, that’s the only reason.”
    “You know what I mean.” She pulled a checkbook out of her Gucci bag. “I’m going to offer her twenty
    thousand dollars.”
    “Twenty