Free Death of a Chorus Girl (The Delacroix Series Book 1) by P. M. Briede Page A

to have comprehended your inference correctly?”
    Oh, no!  No, no, no, no, no!   “You misunderstood!”
    “So Tom doesn’t have sex in his office with women who work for him?”
    Oh, this is bad!  Very, very, very bad!   “I shouldn’t have said that.  Especially with you here.  It wasn’t fair to him.”  The walls of my life begin closing in on me.  Tom doesn’t deserve what I inadvertently just did to him.  He’s been really good to me and while he has his faults, that isn’t an accusation I have the right to fling at him in front of a cop.
    “Easy there, Em.”  My vision fills with Richard’s face.  His hands cup around my cheeks and our noses are mere millimeters apart.  “I’m not going to go out there and arrest Tom.  As long as the adults are consenting and no one is claiming sexual harassment, I can’t, even if I wanted to.  But,” he pauses dramatically and I don’t breathe, “has Tom ever made unwanted advances on you?”
    “No,” I answer emphatically and without hesitation.  His brow knits together.  “Tom’s hit on me from time to time, similar to your partner.”  Richard stews on that.  “But he’s harmless.  We’re friends and business associates.  He knows that is how it’s going to remain.”
    His eyes search mine as if gauging the truth of my statement.  “You two have never …”
    “Oh, God, no!  Tom’s not my type at all. ”
    A flash traverses his eyes and a smile slides onto his face and into his eyes.  The intensity of his labored breaths becomes obvious when he speaks.  “Well, that’s good information to have.”
    We are silent for some time, both unsure what to say or do.  The damn vision keeps flashing in my mind, and I can’t stop from imagining the feel of his caress or the press of his hips.  I want it.  My face flushes and I drop my eyes only to lose control of my mouth. “How do I go about getting off the suspect list, Richard?”
    An audible inhale answers me, drawing my eyes.  I find that his are full of surprise.  “Why do you ask?” stumbles off his tongue.
    I shrug and sigh.  The complete truth isn’t something I’m ready to admit to him.  “Why not?  Would you want to be on a suspect list if you had a way to get off it?”
    Richard closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.  “Your financial records, personal and business.  Give us access to them.”
    I’m about to ask “why” when it dawns on me.  “You think I paid to have her killed?!” I expel in shock.
    “I don’t,” he immediately clarifies, “but it’ll prove you had no hand in it.”
    I’m desperate to get away from this case - but not this detective - so I nod my head in agreement.  “What do you need?”

Chapter 5
     
     
    Richard Giordano: The Brooklyn Bridge
     
    M y mind reels from the events that just occurred.  Am I reading too much into Em’s words and actions?  Can she possibly be attracted to me?  What is the full extent of her relationship with Worthy?
    All the cast, when we ask about the horrible Thomas Worthy, rave about the sleaze, almost as if they are beholden to him.  None act intimidated, but Em stood up to him, threatened him if he made an attempt to ruin my career.  And he backed down, well, so far.  The next few days at the precinct will be the ultimate test.  If that guy can maintain a strong friendship with her for years, maybe I stand a better chance than I thought.
    Then there was her question about getting off the suspect list. It came out of nowhere.  I’ll have her financials tomorrow after I send her the form.  It won’t get us closer to Worthy’s but at this point I don’t care.  It is becoming harder and harder to resist Em when we are together, and I am no longer willing to avoid her and let Steve try to connect her to a murder she didn’t commit.
    My mind wanders as I drive home.  What I’d give to know what she sees when her eyes cloud over.  So far it is the only mystery about her and the