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Unexpectedly, Sug sniggered. “John Henry liked my boobies and he never mentioned any lumps.”
Kitt closed her eyes. She didn’t want to hear about Sug and John Henry making out.
Sug leant forward. “Notice I said the doctor thinks. So, you see, I still could have cancer. The other lumps are small and he only biopsied one of them.”
“I’m sure the doctor knows what he’s doing. Stop thinking about it.”
“Easy for you to say. He ran some tests to make sure everything else in my system is okay. Those results aren’t in yet.”
“So you think Jonesy is right and I should stay?”
Sug shrugged. “I’ll bet Rob Harrison wishes you would.”
Just as I expected. Kitt grinned. Sug wanted to make up with her sister and play matchmaker.
Sug patted the newspaper Kitt was holding. “Did you read that story in yesterday’s Sun about the freeloader who bilked a woman out of the money left by her late husband then took off with another wealthy widow?”
“Well, that’s exactly why I don’t flaunt the money John Henry gave me to atone for divorcing me for that whore. I don’t want some old codger trying to milk me dry of my ex’s penance money. I’m hanging onto it so I can leave it to you one day.”
“You married John Henry?” Kitt sat stunned, her hand on her throat.
Sug nodded. “I was a fool but he did give me a couple of happy years before he left. And the large settlement helped mend my broken heart.”
“Settlement?” Kitt swallowed hard. Auntie had a lot of money? She could have afforded to go to her sister’s gala anniversary celebration but chose not to. Was that why Kitt’s mom had gotten so ticked off? Or did she know about all this? Kitt hadn’t a clue. As another thought occurred to her, she pressed a hand to her heart.
“Your bad boy did you wrong?”
Sug crossed her arms and rocked harder in her chair. “Stop echoing me, for lord’s sake. John didn’t just have that bad boy image. He was bad, and I was dumb enough to fall for him. But not stupid enough to turn down the penance he wanted to pay me when I found out he was having an affair.”
She threw up her hands. “Quit looking so stricken. I know what you’re thinking, but with Rob, it’s all a façade. He doesn’t want people to know he’s vulnerable. Years of hardship made him act tough but it’s a thin outer shell.
> “And if he’s anything like John…he’s hot in bed.” Sugar fanned herself with her hand. “I missed the sex even more than the man himself. He and I—“
“Please.” Kitt held up her hand. “Don’t elaborate.” She was having enough trouble digesting the news that her aunt had remarried after Uncle Ned died. She didn’t want to hear any sordid details of her sex life with John.
Kitt wasn’t sure what to think about Rob. Jonesy thought he was a gigolo. Was it possible she was right? That man could charm any woman out of her pants and he had money. But he did work. And Sug could be right…
“John Henry wasn’t after money like the guy in the newspaper article. He was loaded with it. So instead of bilking women, he let them milk him.” Sugar smiled smugly.
The newspaper. Kitt sat up straight. The story Auntie mentioned that started this whole discussion about bad boys should have rung a bell right away. It was almost the same as the case she was working. In light of all her aunt’s personal disclosures, it was no wonder Kitt had been distracted. However, a private detective shouldn’t let that happen. Was she too easily sidetracked for this job?
Rob and Auntie presented mysteries of their own. Kitt straightened her shoulders. “I didn’t see last night’s paper. Do you remember the names of the people?”
“Are you kidding? I can’t remember those of people I know, let alone ones I read about. If you really want to find out, the newspaper is in the trash can in the pantry. There might be coffee grounds on it, though.”
Kitt turned up her nose. She hated pawing through soggy throwaways. “It probably wasn’t anyone I know.” Ignoring her aunt’s questioning look, Kitt turned over the newspaper on her lap and there on the front page was a picture of a woman on the ground and a policeman bending over her.
She read the caption. “Woman found dead in Orlando area. Former lover is a person of interest.”
“Ohmigod. He killed her.” I hope it’s not Pamela.
“Who killed whom?” Sug took her reading glasses out of her dress pocket.
Kitt read the caption aloud for Sug. “It goes on to say the guy had a wealthy new girlfriend and might have wanted this one out of the way. She was trying to get him back and he’d filed a stalking complaint against her.” She held out the paper for Sug to see.
She squinted over her half-glasses. “The story I read on last night’s back page was about a couple in Los Angeles.” Sug tapped the picture. “But you see? It’s happening everywhere.”
That one wasn’t the Terewsky case if it was in California. And the woman who was killed in Orlando had already been identified and it wasn’t Pamela. But Auntie’s remark sent chills through Kitt. Would Pamela’s life be endangered if Jason learned she’d hired a detective to find him? Would Kitt’s be in jeopardy if Jason learned she was tracking him?
