Free Nickeled-And-Dimed to Death by Denise Swanson Page B

his cupboard. As a child, his mother had never allowed sugary cereals in their house, and Noah’s loathing for dry, nutritional twigs and flakes hadn’t abated in the years he’d been on his own. This was his secret indulgence and he wasn’t giving it up any time soon.
    While he ate, Noah flipped through the Sunday paper. The local news would be on in ten minutes. He opened the comics section, but as he tried to find humor in the cartoon strips, the radio played Freddy Fender singing about some woman making him blue, and Noah crumpled up the funnies and threw them across the room.
    Lucky, thinking it was a game, ran over to the corner, fetched the paper ball, and laid it at Noah’s feet. When his master didn’t immediately respond, the Chihuahua nudged the ball closer and whimpered.
    Glancing at the little dog, Noah patted his head and said absently, “Good boy.”
    Lucky quivered with happiness.
    “Hey, if you weren’t fixed and you wanted to get a girl dog to like you, what would you do?”
    The Chihuahua barked.
    “So you think I should talk to her.” Noah took a drink from his mug. “But what if she refuses to talk to me? In fact, what if she runs away?”
    Lucky moved closer to Noah, leaned against his leg, and barked again.
    “I should be persistent?” Noah reached down and scratched the dog behind his ears, then straightened and took another thoughtful sip of coffee.
    The Chihuahua’s expression was mournful, and he leapt up on Noah’s lap.
    “I shouldn’t let her avoid me.” Noah quirked his mouth. “I figured as much.”
    The dog exhaled noisily.
    “But if she doesn’t want to see me, maybe I should honor her wishes.” Noah’s tone was stubborn. “After all, I’ve showed her I’m interested. If she’s not, maybe I should just back off and leave her alone.”
    Lucky yipped, jumped to the floor, and sat facing away from Noah.
    “Okay.” Noah thought back to the good parts of the previous evening. “You’re right. I should try at least once more. She probably still doesn’t trust me, considering the way things ended last time.”
    Noah rose from his seat, took a Frosty Paws from the freezer, and flipped the treat to Lucky. While the Chihuahua devoured the doggie ice cream, Noah put his cereal bowl and mug in the dishwasher.
    As he was closing the appliance door, the local news came on the radio and the announcer said, “Last night, Shadow Bend resident Elise Whitmore was found dead in her home. Police Chief Eldridge Kincaid stated that it’s believed foul play was involved and a suspect is in custody.”
    Noah froze in shock. Elise had been a patient of his. Had she interrupted a burglar? She’d mentioned that she was getting a divorce and her husband wasn’t taking the situation well. Could her soon-to-be ex have killed her?
    Before Noah could speculate further, the newscaster continued. “Although Chief Kincaid refused to reveal the suspect’s name, an inside source claims that local attorney Boone St. Onge found Ms. Whitmore’s body and has been detained, pending further investigation.”
    “Well, damn!” Noah hit the counter, startling Lucky, who ran from the room.
    That was why Dev had left so abruptly last night. St. Onge must have called her down to the police station, which also explained why she hadn’t answered her phone. Chief Kincaid was notorious for his rule that all personal cells be silenced inside the PD.
    Dev was fully aware that Noah and St. Onge had never been friends. She was probably afraid that Noah wouldn’t be sympathetic. But was she right? Noah didn’t like St. Onge, but he couldn’t imagine him killing anyone. And if he had, he was too smooth an operator to get caught.
    Noah smiled, snatched up the kitchen phone, and punched in Dev’s number.

CHAPTER 9
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    C lutching my cell, I escaped into my bedroom before answering Noah’s call. I closed the door just as Gran’s curious face appeared on the other side of the threshold. Figuring she would