Free Razzamatazz (A Crime Novel) by Sandra Scoppettone Page A

happen then? But no one was going to rake up the whole thing and bring it to the attention of the people in Seaville. As long as he kept his cool, didn't pass out every time a body turned up, he'd be all right. No one would ever have to know that his wife and two children had been murdered and their killer never found. No one ever had to know that.
     

TEN
    Colin was twenty-six when he met Nancy Michelle. She was twenty- four and studying for her Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Chicago. Colin had been on the crime beat for a year. At first, each of them had thought the other was just another date. He had always been attracted to tall, slim blondes, and Nancy was short and dark. But he liked her and asked her out again.
    They dated for over a year before they realized that they were in love. Another year passed before they married. By then Nancy was teaching at the university, and their combined salaries made them feel rich. And then Todd was born and Nancy left her job. Money got a little tighter, but they managed. Nancy wanted to be at home with her child and said she would go back to work when Todd went to school. But Alicia was born two years later, and Colin and Nancy could see that it would be another five years before she'd be working again. It was rough, money-wise. Still, they loved each other and the children, had a good life—most of the time.
    The fights about money were frequent. It was almost impossible for Nancy to budget. She'd grown up in a wealthy family and worrying about money was new to her. She tried, but if she wanted steak for dinner she'd buy it, or a new sweater, or some trinket for the kids, a book for Colin. She'd forget that these things weren't on the budget and give in to impulse.
    It had been one of those impulses that had started the fight that last night.
    Colin said, "Jesus Christ, Nan, you just don't get it, do you?"
    "I thought you'd like it," she said, hurt.
    "Like it or not liking it is beside the point. We can't afford it."
    "Well, why don't you ask for a raise, then?"
    This pissed him off. He knew asking for a raise was a matter of timing and the time was not right. "I'll ask for a raise when I think it's right."
    "Oh, the hell you will."
    "What's that supposed to mean?"
    "Nothing."
    "No, come on, what's that mean, the hell I will?"
    "I think you're afraid to, that's all."
    Colin stared at her, wanting to slap her silly. He'd never touched Nancy in anger, never even felt like it before. But this really made him mad. It was the first time she'd accused him of being cowardly. Usually she'd just hold him up against her father. He wondered when that would come, how long would she take before throwing Alex Michelle in his face. He decided not to wait. "Not like dear old Dad, huh?"
    "Leave my father out of this."
    "Why? You never do."
    "Well, why should I? When he and Mother were our ages they already owned a house and had plenty in the bank."
    "Your fucking father was not a newspaperman, Nancy. He was a business man. There's a difference."
    "You bet there is," she shot back.
    "Oh, that's terrific. Just great. I suppose you think I should give up writing and join the great Square C Company of Philadelphia, huh?"
    "You've always acted as if my father offering you a good job in his company was some kind of insult."
    "It was. I'm a writer, goddammit. You don't go offering a writer a job selling spark plugs or whatever the fuck he makes."
    "A writer, a writer," she mocked. "You'd think you were Hemingway or something."
    "Hemingway or someone," he corrected.
    "Oh, who cares?"
    "I care."
    "Well, hell, Colin, maybe you should start caring about other things besides proper English."
    "Like what?"
    "Like providing for your family."
    "Since when haven't I provided for my family?"
    "Since always. I haven't been able to buy a new dress for myself without a fight since I quit working. Do you know how damn guilty I feel if I buy the kids a toy or myself a new lipstick?"
    "I haven't noticed your