Free Dead Wrong by J. M. Griffin Page A

Jeez.”
    Dinner ended with delightful lemon squares glazed with thin icing, accompanied by steaming coffee. Each of us ate more than we should have, laughing over the exercise it would take to work it off.
    A yawn and stretch meant I needed to call it a day. Rising from the table I stretched my leg, easing weight onto my knee. It wasn’t as bad as usual and I wondered if I’d been duped into believing the injury was worse than it actually was.
    â€œI’m headed downstairs. Thanks for picking up dinner. I appreciate the fact you guys didn’t yell at me. Whatever you do, don’t tell my father or I’ll get a sermon out of it.”
    â€œRight, we’ll keep it to ourselves.” Marcus murmured. Aaron glanced at him and nodded.
    â€œI’m serious. Especially now that Giovanni has arrived. Things will get tense enough without anyone adding to it. Just give me a break.”
    The two men nodded and made the Boy Scout sign of honor. I had to laugh, I couldn’t help it. The image of them as Boy Scouts was too ludicrous to consider.
    I hugged them both and went down the stairs one step at a time, keeping my balance. I wasn’t dancing with the stars or skipping down the steps like Fred Astaire, either. Not yet, anyway.
    The apartment was dark when I entered. Wandering around, I flicked on soft lights and lit the fireplace. The remote for the television sat on the sofa and I flicked through the channels in search of news on the murders.
    Channel 12 had a spot on local happenings that outlined the investigation into the two bodies found. No comments were issued from the Providence Police Department as yet, and no names were given. I switched the channel to a classical music station and let the sound flow over me.
    A sketch pad and pencil lay on the coffee table nearby. Idly, I picked the pad up and leafed through the drawings. Sketches of the local stray cat, Evergreen, and his snooty countenance stared at me. Then Aaron and his smile came into view. A good likeness to Marcus covered the third page. I flipped through the rest, stopping at the pictures of Nurse Crisp and Gristle. When I found a blank page, I set the pencil to the paper and let my imagination take over.
    It wasn’t long before I had some rough sketches of the deli, Lola, and her new counter helper in small thumbnail sketches. I sat back and stared at them, a smile on my lips. This was the most relaxed I’d been all day.
    Footsteps ran down the stairs and a knock sounded at the door. I yelled, “Enter,” and settled back in front of the fireplace. I slouched in the soft chair, my leg propped on the ottoman as Marcus rounded the doorway.
    â€œComfy?” He smiled.
    â€œYes indeed.” I tossed the sketch pad aside. “It’s been a long day and I know tomorrow will be even longer. What’s your opinion of the whole thing, Marcus?” I asked.
    He settled in the chair opposite me. His glance slid toward the drawing pad, but he didn’t pick it up.
    â€œI think someone set you up, Vin. I don’t know why, but that’s what appears to have happened. Maybe we’ll find Crisp dead somewhere, too.”
    Shivers ran down my spine. I shuddered at the thought of Crisp as a corpse. I didn’t like her, but she shouldn’t die because of it, either.
    He leaned forward and grasped my hand. Bringing it to his lips he kissed it softly. I enjoyed the tender treatment and wondered what was coming next. Call me leery, but I suspected this visit was a prelude to something serious.
    â€œWhat are you doing over the weekend?” he asked.
    â€œNothing planned so far, why?”
    â€œI thought we’d go to The Spain for dinner and take in a jazz club in the city. What do you say?”
    â€œIs this an official date, Marcus Richmond?” I smiled while my heart beat faster and faster. We’d known each other since June and hadn’t done more than sex, meals at my