Free The Art of Love and Murder by Brenda Whiteside

you.” She took it from his hand and let the khaki bag fall from her shoulder. “I’m tired of lugging this around. I think I’ll lock it in the trunk.”
    “Where would you like to eat?” he asked as he lifted the trunk lid.
    “Unless we go for Mexican at the Kachina, I’ll have to leave the decision to you. You said you hadn’t been there in a while. We could go there. I wouldn’t mind Mexican food again.”
    “I’d rather not, if you don’t mind.” His brow wrinkled and his attention drifted from her. “I used to eat there all the time with my wife.” He closed the trunk and faced her.
    “Oh, no, that’s fine. I just thought, well, it’s close, but if you have another idea...”
    “There’s a new place just across the tracks I haven’t tried yet. It’s gotten great press.”
    “Sounds good.”
    “It’s about four blocks. Do you want to drive?”
    Lacy glanced up at the sky, now sporting breaks in the clouds. “Can we walk?”
    “I hoped you’d say that.” He nodded in the direction they should take. “’Course, that’ll make it that much longer until I get the story.”
    “I don’t know the whole story myself, Chance. Maybe you can help me fill in some blanks.”

Chapter Four
    The doorbell chimed, and Myles looked at his wristwatch. A bit early for Justine. His Top-siders touched down silently on the Carrara marble floor of the entryway. He opened the door to Carol Katz.
    “Hello, Myles.” Her hot pink lips smiled.
    He’d not seen her in at least a year, and only then from a distance. Her white hair suited her more than the yellow-blonde she’d hung on to for so many years.
    “Carol, what a surprise.” She smiled as if he’d complimented her. “What brings you to see me?” Although he guessed why, he felt no desire to extend the courtesy of an invitation into his home, at least not until she volunteered what he already knew.
    “It has been a while, Myles. You may be surprised to see me here, but I’m surprised I haven’t run into you around town in the last...what...year or two?”
    “I’ve become quite a homebody.” As if he ran around town or anywhere near her world.
    “If your home is as lovely as it was so many years ago, I guess I can understand that.” She glanced past his shoulder and into his entryway.
    Ah, the reminder of their brief past. Of course she wouldn’t miss the opportunity to mention a time far more important to her than to him. Still, he didn’t extend the invitation. Impatience played at his nerves, but he waited.
    She sighed and returned her gaze, cocking her head to one side in a flirtatious gesture. “I could’ve called, but I felt what I have to tell you might best be delivered with a personal touch.”
    “Yes?” He knew what personal touch she might prefer. He’d given in to her some years back, in a maneuver to bargain her silence. In exchange, his silence of their adulterous affair had been his counter. Would her husband still care? He could put up with her less than subtle flirtations to get what he now wanted. “Perhaps you should come in then.”
    She traipsed across the threshold, paused, her hip grazed his and she continued past him into his living room. She stopped in front of the fireplace and faced him. For her age, she wasn’t entirely unattractive. Some men his age might find her obvious attempt at seduction inviting. His mind wandered to the last young co-ed he’d had, and to Justine. Maybe money would entice Carol to do his bidding this time.
    “I’d offer you tea, Carol, except I have an appointment shortly, so we’d best conduct our business.”
    Her hand fell from her hip and fisted at her side. “Business?”
    “I made the assumption.” He shrugged. “Forgive me if this is a social visit.”
    “Of course it’s not a social visit.” Her shoulders squared, defensively. “I...I’ve seen some of Kaya’s work, some sketches, and thought you might want to know about them.”
    He crossed the room to stand next