Free After the Evil – A Jake Roberts Novel (Book 1) by Cary Allen Stone Page B

her. No one except for the postman knew she lived
there. She never invited anyone into her private sanctuary.
Swinging open the front door, she hoped to sign for whatever it
was, and be on her way. A tall man with a muscular build stood at
the door, wearing a striped tie and a blue button-down shirt over
gray slacks. He had a slight smile, but looked as if he was on a
mission.
    * * *
    She was as beautiful in the early morning, just as
she was in Abrams’s office. I was excited when I was assigned to
interview her for the case.
    “Lori Powers?”
    “Yes.”
    “Detective Jake Roberts, Homicide, I’m sorry to
bother you.”
    I held up my wallet with my department
identification, and shield.
    “I just need a moment of your time to ask a few
questions regarding Dr. Thaddeus Abrams. You were a patient of his,
correct?”
    “Homicide?” Lori says.
    She studied my identification.
    “Yes, I am, I mean, was. How awful, I just this
minute read about it.”
    She looks at the newspaper and shakes as if a chill
has risen up her spine over the tragic news.
    “I’m afraid I missed—”
    She saw I wasn’t following.
    “I’m a flight attendant, and I have been away for
the past few days. I can’t believe it.”
    She looks a little closer at me.
    “Didn’t I see you in his office?”
    “That’s quite a memory you have.”
    “Not really. I deal with people all day long on
airplanes. With the terrorist things going on, we have to pay
closer attention now. I pay more attention than most crewmembers,
because the whole thing frightens me to death,” Lori says.
    She shudders. Her beauty and charm are
disarming.
    Pay attention, Jake.
    “You’re right. I was just leaving when you walked
into his office. Anyway, I got your name and address from his
client list. Again, I’m sorry to bother you. Do you have a
minute?”
    “Sure, I was on my way out, but for Dr. Abrams, if I
can be of any help.”
    She pivots as if working an aircraft cabin, and
invites me into her home. As she walks in front of me, her perfume
inspires me more than questions about Abrams. We stop in her living
room.
    “He was a very good man, well-respected. I hadn’t
been a patient of his for very long though,” Lori says.
    “You were one of the last patients he saw that day,
he was murdered later in the evening. I thought maybe something
might stand out, something unusual, while you were with him.”
    “Unusual? How do you mean?”
    “Did he receive any distressing phone calls, or
interruptions? It appears that he might have known his assailant.
Did he show any signs of stress?”
    I like the dress.
    “No, did he show any before you left?”
    She jams me up. I didn’t expect the question, but
she has a valid point, because I was pretty much there right before
she was.
    “Ah no, he appeared fine to me.”
    Now I feel clumsy, off balance and stupid for
asking. It isn’t easy with her. I’m supposed to be doing the
intimidating. I can’t stop looking into her eyes, and not like a
cop looking for signs of deception.
    “Can I ask you another question, Detective
Roberts?”
    I can’t stop the smile from appearing on my
face.
    “Normally, I get to ask all of the questions, but
under the circumstances of both of us being his patients, I
guess it would be fair.”
    “Why were you seeing Dr. Abrams?”
    With a simple question, she makes me feel
self-conscious and uncomfortable. My emotional state is fragile,
and I’m trying to keep it under control, but for some reason I feel
I can unravel in front of her without any penalties. The hurt
floats to the surface. I can’t keep it under water.
    “That Miss Powers is a subject I really don’t want
to discuss.”
    “I’m sorry, I not trying to pry. I’m just
curious.”
    Detective Roberts you are a handsome man.
    For some reason, I can’t help but feel at ease
around her. She is warm and friendly. Her smile is enticing and
personal. I get the impression it’s only there for me. It’s
probably one of the