Perilously Fun Fiction: A Bundle by Pauline Jones (best fiction novels of all time .TXT) 📕

guy’s ego was probably more fragile than Dresden.

Dante squeezed her hand, his eyes broadcasting his confidence that he was good with ladies her age, too.

“I probably ought to warn you,” she said. “There’s more than just the freezer stiff that you saw on the news.”

“Oh?” Was she warning him, perhaps even threatening him? Only if she didn’t know who she was dealing with. She couldn’t be that stupid. Not with those eyes. When dealing in word games and innuendo, it required good instincts to tell what was bluff and what wasn’t, but he wasn’t getting a clear read from her. She was too unexpected, too far outside the norm. He toyed with the idea of being blunt—but it was such fun to match wits with someone who actually had some. He’d give her a little more slack before he pulled her in. Add a little spice to the game.

“I found another body. Under the bougainvillea.”

He blinked and let loose her hand. “Another one?”

“I’m afraid so.” She gave a rueful shrug. “The police suspect my aunts. Because of Arsenic and Old Lace. You know the story?”

He nodded. “Did they do it?”

Luci looked thoughtful. “It’s hard to tell with my aunts.”

Dante’s eyes narrowed. Definitely a thinly veiled threat. Behind him Cain slid his hand back into his jacket.

“If that’s a problem for you,” Luci went on, “we can just forget everything.”

He smiled wickedly. “I don’t think so.” Cain and Abel smiled, too. “I’m really looking forward to meeting your aunts. Now more than ever.” He held out his arm. “Why don’t I buy you lunch and you can tell me all about them—and all about you?”

Her eyes were friendly but cool as she smiled and said, “I would love to, but I’m supposed to give a statement to the police. I don’t dare keep them waiting. Just make for more questions.”

Dante smiled. “So it would. At least let me run you home.”

Luci smiled back. “How kind.”

The sarcasm went right over his head, just like she’d expected. He was a clever thug, but not a bright one.

There were advantages this crime scene had over their last one.

This one hadn’t been cleaned and disinfected before their arrival—just raked a bit. They had a possible ID. And they’d been able to keep the old ladies away.

And then there were the disadvantages.

The smell. The ribald commentary from the forensics boys. The fact that Reggie had surfaced as a corpse instead of a suspect. All the important and influential people who were going to be unhappy about this.

“Captain did say he’d turn up.” Delaney looked as morose as he sounded. “You’re hot and pissed. These clowns can handle things here for half an hour. Let’s go get some lunch.”

Mickey had no argument with this plan, so he nodded and followed Delaney through the garage courtyard to the side street where they’d parked Delaney’s car. They arrived at the street the same time as a long black limo. A rear door opened and Luci slid out. Behind her Dante, aka Harvey Mertz, was framed in the opening.

“Until next time, sweet thing,” he purred, saluting her extended hand with a lascivious kiss. Then, with a mocking two-fingered salute to the slack-jawed detectives, he pulled the door closed so the limo could snake around the corner and out of sight.

“Hi, guys. Did you finish digging up the rest of Reggie?” Luci asked cheerfully. Instead of joining them she headed for the Nash parked at the side of the road with the door hanging open, as if it were waiting just for her.

“I’m going to kill her this time, Delaney. Don’t try to stop me.”

“Now, Mick. Think of the paperwork.”

“I don’t care. I want to know—”

“Why don’t we just ask her? It might work.” Delaney kept a firm grip on Mickey’s arm. They got there as Luci was reaching for the key in the ignition.

“Uh, Luci?” Delaney tapped her shoulder.

“Hi, guys,” she sounded abstracted. “I’ve been trying to see if my thingamajig works, but I got abducted. I hate it when that happens.”

“Abductions or failed thingamajigs?” Mickey asked, heavily sarcastic.

Her smile was fast and lethal. “Both.”

“Which thingamajig is giving you trouble?” Delaney asked hastily.

“The one that makes the engine do stuff.”

“Oh, the thingamajig. You know, Delaney—”

“Yeah, I know. Why don’t you try it, then we’d like to ask you a few questions. Okay?” Delaney’s smile was hopeful, his eyes considerably less so.

Luci’s lips twitched, despite her best control efforts.

“Yeah.” Mickey crossed his arms over his chest. “We don’t mind halting our murder investigation while you try out your thingamajig.”

Luci gave him a sunny smile. “Thanks. I’ve never worked on a Nash before. Not sure how good my intuition is with a strange car. Cross your fingers.”

Both men held up crossed fingers.

She turned the key, but instead of a smooth purr there was only a repeated clicking sound. She tried again.

“I was afraid of that. It didn’t really feel right. Oh, well. You know a good auto parts store?”

Delaney uncrossed his fingers and pulled the door open. “We’ll take you there after lunch.”

“Wow, my second invite—”

“Dante? You had lunch with that wise guy?” Mickey burst out. Arms akimbo, thumbs hooked in his belt, he glared at her.

“No, but it was a good guess.” She studied him thoughtfully before adding, “He doesn’t seem to like you either.”

“Ha!” Mickey almost choked on the word. “No surprise—”

“Let’s all calm down, okay?” Delaney asked , looking at Mickey.

“I’m always calm,” Luci pointed out.

“Look.” Mickey shoved aside Delaney’s restraining arm to loom over her. “I’ve had a really bad couple of days and I’m not in the mood for any of your crap. If you’re as smart as I think you are, you’d better not say anything until I get some food. Or I won’t be responsible for the consequences. Got that?”

Luci nodded, then immediately contradicted herself. “I need to powder my nose.”

Mickey inhaled, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, but there was no good answer to this unanswerable euphemism. He gave a curt