Free Before She Dies by Mary Burton Page A

her, the smile faded. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes and tossed back her reflection. A slight ripple of tension moved through his body as he took a step toward her.
    She hesitated, managed a professional smile, and quickly riffled through the endless small talk topics at her disposal. Weather was safe. Cases were not, even if she was tempted to ask what had summoned him away this morning.
    Sooner Tate stepped into Charlotte’s line of sight, cutting off her view of Rokov. “Hey, thanks for what you did in there. I know I was a bit of a bitch and I’m sorry.”
    She glanced beyond the girl to Rokov. He tossed a questioning look her way and then turned his gaze back to his partner.
    Charlotte focused on the girl and was grateful he hadn’t approached. “It’s okay.”
    An awkward silence settled as they stared at each other. Sooner rubbed long fingers, sporting rings and black nail polish, over worn jeans. “I need a little help.”
    “Are you in more trouble?” It was like Grady not to tell the whole story.
    Annoyance flashed in Sooner’s green eyes. “Why do you say that?”
    “Look where we are, Sooner. I just got you off a theft charge.”
    Sooner’s jaw tightened. “I don’t need your elitist bullshit.”
    Charlotte didn’t rise to the bait. In fact, she found the girl’s flare of temper amusing. “Sounds like you do need my elitist bullshit.”
    “I don’t need you or anyone else. I can do what I need to alone.” Her tone had risen and a few folks around them glanced in their direction.
    “Sooner,” Charlotte said in a softer tone. “What do you need?”
    Sooner flexed her fingers and then with a conscious effort released the tension from her body. “I want to open a shop. A place where I can put down roots. Read fortunes. Crystals. I’m tried of traveling with the carnival.”
    The ambition didn’t really surprise Charlotte. In fact, she was proud of it. “Does Grady know about this?”
    “No, and I’d like to keep it that way. He can be controlling.”
    Charlotte couldn’t disagree. “He doesn’t want you to leave.”
    “No.”
    “According to the papers, this is the last season for the carnival,” she said.
    “Don’t believe it. Grady uses the last season angle to get us more press. He’s been playing that card for a couple of seasons.”
    So like Grady. Always playing an angle. “And when he hits the road again next year?”
    “He’ll come up with something. He always does.” She rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. “The thing is, I’m tired of the road. I want a real life.”
    She’d felt the same way at that age. “And a shop is the answer.”
    “I’ve got money saved. And I’m good with the cards. I get a lot of repeat customers.”
    “That doesn’t mean you can make a living.”
    “I’m the biggest draw at the carnival.” Sooner spoke directly with no bravado. “I can turn this into a business.”
    She admired the girl’s ambition. She might be naïve, but she wanted to go places. She was Charlotte eighteen years ago. “So what do you need from me?”
    “I don’t know much about leases. And I don’t want to put my name on a contract without someone reading it.”
    “You want me to read the lease agreement.”
    “Yes. And I’d like you to see the space.”
    “Why me, Sooner?”
    “You’re all I got, Auntie Charlotte.” No missing the edge. “Nobody at the carnival could help me, and if they did, they’d tell Grady. And he’d do something to screw it up.”
    “Nobody gets out unmarked.” Mariah had voiced those same words often.
    “You know Grady well.”
    She swallowed. “I know his type.”
    “If you’re my mother’s sister, he’s what, your stepfather?”
    “Not anymore.” Her grip on her briefcase handle tightened. “I’ll help you with the lease. When do you want to meet at the site?”
    Sooner’s eyes narrowed. Clearly her curiosity of Charlotte and Grady warred with her desire for help. Desire and ambition won.