...after the revealing video of the defendant, an obviously defiant boyfriend of Shawna Welk’s testified for the defense, opening up questions regarding his own motive for her murder…
Milt’s evening news report flowed through his head as he pulled into the parking lot of Tracey’s seedy apartment building.With his recent scoops about the case, no doubt his number of viewers had increased significantly.And when he’d privately told his news director, Ron, about the story he was working on, the guy nearly choked.
Milt jerked off his tie and smoothed his hair.He’d phoned Tracey, saying he wanted to see her again. His gut told him she was holding out on him about the money. By the time this night was over, he expected to have a few more answers.
As Milt started to open the door, a familiar spike-haired figure stomped into the parking lot from the direction of Tracey’s apartment. Lynn Trudy’s head was bent, her arms pumping as she hissed what had to be curses under her breath. Milt ducked down in the seat. Seconds later he heard a car start. Cautiously he raised his head in time to see her screech out of the lot and in front of an oncoming truck. The driver’s horn blared.
Milt sat a moment, puzzling.
At Tracey’s door he rapped twice and heard the scurry of approaching feet. “I told you I’m not going to talk to you anymore!” Tracey yelled from inside.
“Tracey? It’s me,Milt.”
Immediately he heard the door unlock. Tracey opened it and stood breathing hard, clad in a clingy black dress, her legs and feet bare. “Oh, I’m so glad it’s you.”Her eyes closed in relief.
Milt took her in his arms.“Did I just see your aunt scorch out of here?”
“Yes.”Tracey laid her head against his shoulder, still trembling in her anger. “I kicked her out.”
“What did she want?”
Silence.
Milt pulled back and looked at her. “Come on, what is it?”
Tracey backed out of his arms, her face darkening. “I’ve had it, do you know that? Had it with people telling me what to do. I’m tired of it, really, really tired of it!”
Milt spread his hands, nonplussed. “Okay. Sorry.”
“No.” The lines smoothed from her face. “Not you. Other people.”
He put his arms around her again. “Tell me what the trouble is.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Milt started to push further, then thought better of it. “Okay then, we won’t.”
As she leaned against him, his eyes fell on her computer across the room. It was on, apparently again to an email in-box. Milt pressed Tracey against his chest, squinting at the monitor. No way could he read it from that distance. As he lifted her chin and kissed her, he wondered who would be writing her. She relaxed as their lips lingered.
Tracey led him to a seat on the couch. “Want something to drink?”
“That would be great.”
She turned with all the grace she could assume and glided across the room, her short dress swishing against her legs.Milt’s eyes took in the sight, then rose to her computer. Tracey passed the monitor and snapped it off without slowing. She disappeared into the kitchen.
Milt puffed out air.
She returned with two glasses in hand and placed them on the coffee table. Then settled beside him on the couch.
“Been writing something?” He pointed his chin toward the computer.
“Just typing some emails to friends.Until Lynn showed up.” The name edged her voice.
He rubbed a strand of her hair in his fingers, hoping she would say more. She focused on her lap.
Apparently, she needed a bit more loosening up. “How about if I take you to dinner?”
“I can’t be seen with you.”
“Mm, true.Wouldn’t want anyone to know about us.”He let the word dangle, play with her head. “We could slip into a back booth at a restaurant away from here. Near Monterey, perhaps.”
Tracey bit her lip. Her longing was palpable. “No.We can’t take the chance.”
“Okay, I’ve got it. Let’s do dinner on the beach. We’ll stop by some take-out place and I’ll go in alone.We’ll take a blanket, watch the stars come out.” He laid fingers against her neck. “Just the two of us.”
Her thin cheeks flushed. “Sounds wonderful,” she whispered. “Just let me get something warmer on.”
“Okay. But don’t worry about that too much. I’ll keep you warm.”
She slipped from his grasp with a “Five minutes.” He made a sound in his throat loud enough for her to hear as she hurried down the short hall into her bedroom. She laughed. The door closed.
Milt tapped an impatient finger against the couch. Then a thought sped through his brain. The computer. Swiftly he crossed the room and stood before it. Punched on the monitor, glancing over his shoulder. A Flying Windows screen saver appeared. He smacked the mouse and up came Tracey’s in-box. One new arrival, unread. From Maria, email address Bananas4U@starmail.net. He hesitated, then clicked it.
A noise sounded from Tracey’s bedroom. Milt spun around, heart revving. Silence.Water ran through the apartment pipes. He licked his lips and turned back to the computer. Read the email.
And froze.
He read it again. Blinked. Read it a third time. Breath puffed from his mouth as he scrambled to make sense of it.What was this? It was crazy! Excitement and revulsion sucked up Milt’s veins. Think, think! But he had no time to think; he had to do something with this email—now.With a trembling glance at Tracey’s bedroom door, he punched some buttons and forwarded a copy of the email to himself. Then he clicked the reply button.His legs shook as he bent over the keys, fingers flying.
Maria,
I don’t want to hear any more from you. I’m dumping this email address right now. Don’t bother to write me here again; I won’t get it.When I’m good and ready, I’ll contact you.
Tracey
He jabbed the send button, trashed Maria’s email and his reply, then emptied the trash. Smacked off the monitor and lurched toward the couch.
He heard the bedroom door open. Milt gulped in air, forcing calm, his brain skittering to think, think, think. The implications of what he’d just seen numbed him from head to toe.
“I’m ready,”Tracey declared in a silky voice as she slid to his side and placed a hand on his chest. She drew back, feigning disapproval. “My, Mr.Waking, your heart is racing already.”
He swallowed. Smiled his charming smile. “Just anticipating, that’s all,” he managed. “Just anticipating.”