Free Corpse in the Crystal Ball by Kari Lee Townsend Page A

had given me a ride home. By the time I arrived there, Mitch and Selena were gone. Somehow I’d thought she’d be staying in a hotel, but it was obvious she needed a shoulder to cry on.
    Mitch’s shoulders were certainly big enough.
    That alone didn’t make this any easier. Why couldn’t he be scrawny? Why couldn’t he be ugly? Why’d she have to be so nice? I pasted on a smile as I entered the redbrick apartment building, bumping the door shut behind me with my hip.
    “Hi, Selena. Please, call me Sunny.”
    “Here, let me help you.” She took one of the take-out bags and headed to the kitchen. I followed and set the rest of the food on the counter. She chewed her bottom lip, looking at me like she didn’t know what to say next.
    “I am so sorry for your loss,” I said.
    She crossed her arms. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
    “I, um, brought along a peace offering. I’m sure you heard what happened with Detective Stone being suspended. I just want you to know that I know he didn’t have anything to do with your sister’s death. I promise you I won’t stop until I find out who did.”
    “I like you, Sunny,” she said so sincerely that I felt like crying as well. “I know Mitch doesn’t believe in your abilities, but I do. If anyone can figure this whole mess out, I really believe it’s you.”
    “Thank you for that. Now, if the detective …” My voice trailed off and my mouth hung open. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the sight before me.
    “If the detective what?” Mitch asked as he stood outside the bathroom door.
    He wore only a white towel wrapped around his waist. Wet strands of his thick black hair stuck out in a messy style that was sexy beyond belief. His dark five o’clock shadow, which didn’t quite cover the scar along his jaw, revealed he hadn’t shaved. His tanned skin gleamed as it was stretched taut over broad shoulders, bulging biceps, a beautifully sculpted chest, rippled abdominal muscles, and strong toned legs.
    Even his feet were masculine and perfect, dammit.
    “Uh, Tink? You having a spell again?” he asked, puckering his forehead and looking impatient. “What are you doing here anyway?”
    Oh, I was having a spell, all right, and it had just been broken, thankfully. Grump Butt was sooo not Prince Charming, and I was a fool to keep forgetting that. “I am here to get started on this case whether you like it or not.” I lifted my chin a notch and crossed my arms.
    He just grunted at that and retreated to his bedroom to hopefully get dressed in something that covered every inch of him.
    “Don’t mind him. He’s all bark and no bite. He’ll come around,” Selena said, pulling out the bags of takeout. “Do you mind? I’m a little hungry. I couldn’t eat anything that Granny cooked for me earlier because I was worried sick. Now I’m just sad. She’s such a sweet lady, your grandmother. You’re lucky to have her. Isabel and I only had each other, but now …” Selena swallowed hard and tried not to cry as she pulled out some paper plates.
    “You’re right. I am lucky, and I don’t tell Granny nearly enough.” Life really was short, and I needed to start appreciating all that I had and forget about all that I didn’t.
    Selena filled her plate and so did I. Then we both headed to the ultramodern living room and sat on the black leather furniture. The white painted bookshelves, photos of New York City on the walls, and marble statues on the tile-and-glass end tables never ceased to amaze me. How a barbarian could have such great taste and class I’d never know.
    “Are you up for talking about your sister?” I asked her.
    “Absolutely.” She nodded. “It makes me feel like she’s still here.”
    “Good.” I pulled out a pad of paper and pen from my loose, baggy sweatpants, which were not nearly as cute or flattering as her yoga pants. Then again, her
parts
weren’t any jigglier than her sister’s. I sighed. “Can you tell me what your