Free Dying to Get Published by Judy Fitzwater Page A

had no clue what murder was all about, knew nothing about how murderers feel?
    She couldn't actually harm Penney Richmond, but she could go through with her plan. She'd simply omit that annoying murder part. She'd walk through her plot down to the very last detail, establishing an alibi, and somehow gaining access to Penney Richmond's home. At last she would know how a killer thinks. And she'd be able to write it, to bring stark reality to her work, to find that missing element. At last she would find success.
    And no one would ever know how she'd done it, not even Sam, who was destined to play a part in all this. It had to be that way.
    Jennifer settled back against her pillow. Everything was going to be just fine. She and Sam would find out what happened to Kyle Browning, and she would finally discover that secret that her books had been lacking. She could do it. She would do it. And Penney would be just fine. Everything would be just fine. She patted her tummy. Just fine.
     
     
     
    Chapter 15
     
    "Mr. Moore said I was to call this number first thing this morning."
    "Look, whatever your name is—"
    "Jennifer Marsh."
    "Look, Ms. Marsh, you're going to have to go through Human Resources no matter what Mr. Moore told you. You'll have to put in an application, take some computer tests, supply references—the whole shebang. That office is open Monday through Friday from…"
    Suddenly Jennifer felt a surge of power, power fueled by anonymity and by the knowledge that she had nothing to lose. This was Sam's investigation. She was only along for the ride—and a publishing credit. Of course, her power was tempered by the fact that the phone line could go dead at any minute if the person on the other end of the line caught on and decided to take control of the situation. The trick was to attack so quickly that the woman would never consider hanging up. After all, Jolene Arizona would never allow herself to be pushed around, particularly not when she held a power card: the boss's infatuation with her.
    "Is Moore in the office?"
    "Yes, he is, but he's busy."
    "Tell him I'm on the phone."
    "I'm afraid you don't—"
    "Tell him, or once I get in that office—and believe me, I will be working there—we may have to review the status of all of the employees. All ! Have I made myself clear?"
    "Just a moment please."
    Jennifer thought she detected a note of amusement in the woman's voice, but most likely it was her imagination. This telephone stuff was actually pretty easy. As long as she didn't die of embarrassment when she finally met the secretary face-to-face, she might even be able to carry it off.
    She'd simply have to imagine going into that office the way Maxie Malone would. She would be playing a part, the part of a fearless undercover detective investigating a brutal murder made to look like suicide.
    "Jennifer," Moore purred.
    How could he make her name sound almost obscene? She might have to change it after this was all over.
    "I'm so glad you called. Don't worry about all that red tape Edith was telling you about. After we lost Kyle Browning, the administrative assistant he and I shared quit. We need someone to replace her. We've had temps filling in ever since. I'll take care of everything. Could you start Tuesday morning, let's say about nine o'clock?"
    She was a detective investigating a crime. She had to keep telling herself that. She was not being thrown into the Roman Colosseum; she was not . But she had never felt more Christian in her entire life.
     
    "You want to know how to seduce someone? Just what are you planning?" Leigh Ann asked, her small, dark-haired head peeking up from among the deep cushions of Monique's sofa.
    Jennifer had known this was a bad idea as soon as she opened her mouth, but it was too late. She'd asked the question from her rigid perch on Monique's other sofa, and now she'd have to live with the group's response.
    "OOOO-eeee, you go girl!" Teri declared from her place on the floor, one