Read Online At the Drop of a Hat by Jenn McKinlay - Free Book Online

would be hard to get anything started with him since he’s dead.”
    â€œWhat?” Viv cried. “Scarlett, I must have misheard you. What did you say?”
    â€œAnthony Russo is dead,” I repeated very loudly and very clearly.
    The line was silent for so long, I was sure we’d gotten cut off.
    â€œHello? Viv? Are you there?”
    â€œYes, I’m here. Explain.”
    So I did. I paced the hallway while I told her all about my arrival at Mr. Anthony Russo’s place of business, the discovery of his body, the arrival of Inspectors Franks and Simms and my current location at the Kensington Police Station.
    Viv waited until I was done and then asked, “Are you all right?”
    â€œI’m fine,” I lied. “But I’m very worried about Ariana.”
    â€œI’m going to call Harrison and send him over,” Viv said.
    â€œOh, don’t do that,” I cried.
    Harrison had been riding to my rescue since the day I arrived in London. I really couldn’t bear it to have him find me in yet another pickle. At least this one was definitely not of my own making, but still, it was getting embarrassing.
    â€œBut that’s why we have him,” Viv insisted. “To sort out these types of situations for us.”
    â€œNo,” I insisted. “I’m sure I’ll be long gone before he could even get here.” Big fat lie. Judging by what Ariana had said, things were even more complicated than I had supposed.
    â€œAll right,” Viv said. She sounded reluctant. “Keep me up to date on what’s happening.”
    â€œWill do,” I said.
    I spied a Klix vending machine at the end of the hallway wedged in between two bathrooms. I strolled over and considered my options. It offered everything from hot soup to tea, but the thought of a hot cup of coffee soothed in ways that no tea or soup ever could. I dug through the bottom of my purse looking for the needed pence.
    I had just chosen the Kenco smooth black with sugar when I heard the tread of heavy steps and raised voices coming toward me. I spun around and there he was. Damn it, Viv!
    Harrison, looking annoyingly handsome in his charcoal gray suit with a burgundy tie loosened at the throat of his crisp white dress shirt, was striding toward me with two other men. All three were talking animatedly but hadn’t seen me as yet, so I took the opportunity to turn back to the machine and pretend I hadn’t seen him. My accelerated heart rate made a liar out of me, but I ignored it. How in the heck had he gotten here this fast? And what was he going to say about this latest kerfuffle I found myself in?
    Putting off the explanation I knew I was going to have to make, I stared at the machine and waited for my cup to dispense. What was I supposed to say exactly? It was unreasonable that I should feel guilty, as if I’d had anything to do with Russo’s falling to his death. My timing had just been its usual spectacular self, causing me to be at the wrong place at the wrong time . . . again.
    When I turned from the vending machine, braced for the conversation to come, it was to find the hallway empty. I studied the empty space and took a sip from my thick paper cup. Okay, was I hallucinating Harrison? I mean, I knew our relationship was complicated, but if I was starting to imagine him there when he wasn’t, well, maybe it was time to reconsider my current vow of celibacy.
    A door was thrust open to my left and a familiar dark-haired, green-eyed man popped his head out.
    â€œGinger, there you are,” he said. “Come along then.”
    Okay, so I hadn’t hallucinated Harrison Wentworth’s appearance. That was reassuring. My relief was short lived as my annoyance at his arrival took over.
    â€œHarry, what are you doing here? Did Viv call you? She said she wouldn’t. I mean, it’s ridiculous. I really don’t need any help.”
    He watched me rant for a