Free Dead by Midnight by Beverly Barton Page A

We were…uh…friends when I lived in LA. How…? Why…?”
    “He was shot several times,” Maleah said.
    “Poor Dean.” Years ago, she had loved him.
    Mike looked at her, studied her face, and for a split second, she saw genuine concern in his eyes. But he glanced away hurriedly, as if he couldn’t bear to look at her. Why did he have to act this way? Even if they could never be friends again, did he have to go on hating her forever?
    “But you say you didn’t know Hilary Chambless. Is that right?” Maleah asked.
    “No, I didn’t—Oh my God! Was her maiden name Finch?”
    “That’s right. And she had a stage name, too. Dewey Flowers.”
    Lorie wished that Mike wasn’t here, that he was not involved in this, that she didn’t have to talk about her sordid past in front of him. But what did it matter really? It wasn’t as if her past was a secret. He knew what she had done, who she had been, how she had lived those last few years in California.
    “I knew Dean and Hilary,” Lorie admitted. “Hilary was just an acquaintance. Dean and I were…” She cleared her throat. “We lived together for a while.”
    “Then you know they made several porno movies together,” Maleah said.
    “Yes, of course I know. I told you that I had a bit part in one of those movies.” Lorie glared at Mike, who lifted his gaze from the floor and glared at her.
    “When was the last time you saw either of them?” Mike asked.
    “Not since I left LA and came home to Dunmore.”
    “Heard from either of them since then?”
    “No.”
    “You’ve had no communication of any kind with either of them?” Maleah asked.
    “None.”
    “Do you know of anyone from the time y’all worked together who might have wanted to kill them?”
    “No. I have absolutely no idea why anyone would want to kill either of them or kill me. And my only connection to either of them is in the past, nearly ten years ago.”
    “I figured you’d have no idea who the killer might be,” Maleah said. “It could be something as crazy as an unbalanced fan who for some reason has decided to kill the actors from his favorite films.”
    “Great. I had a bit a part in one adult movie ten years ago and now I’m targeted by some nut job who happened to like that stupid movie.”
    “Karma’s a bitch,” Mike said, his voice a low grumble.
    Lorie and Maleah snapped around and stared at him.
    “That was a damn cruel thing to say,” Maleah told him.
    A red tinge crept up Mike’s neck and quickly darkened his face. “You’re right.” He looked at Lorie. “I shouldn’t have said what I did.”
    “No, you shouldn’t have,” she said.
    He snorted and then looked at Maleah. “I’ll have a patrol car drive by Jack and Cathy’s every hour once Lorie’s staying with you and by Treasures when Lorie’s at work. If I had the manpower, I’d assign someone to her, but she’s got you so she really won’t need police protection on a twenty-four/seven basis.”
    “Thanks.” Maleah grabbed Mike’s arm. “Let me walk you out, Sheriff.” She shot Lorie a quick glance. “I’ll be right back. Why don’t you go pack a bag?”
    Lorie hated the thought of being forced to leave her home. But what if the person who had killed Dean and Hilary really did intend to kill her? Her best chance of survival could well be having Maleah Perdue as her bodyguard.
     
    Maleah gave Mike a well-deserved tongue-lashing, reminding him that his actions toward Lorie Hammonds were completely unprofessional and most decidedly uncalled for.
    “I don’t believe you’re naturally a cruel or vindictive man,” she said. “But you’ve treated Lorie as if she doesn’t deserve even common courtesy. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you enjoyed hurting her and that you don’t give a rat’s ass if somebody does kill her.”
    “That’s not true. At least the part about my not caring if somebody kills her. I don’t wish Lorie dead.”
    “Are you saying that you enjoy hurting