Act V by Ansley Adams Page B

you’ve developed.” Brice was always
astounded at the variations of curses that Addy could compose. They
were both creative and interesting and never managed to include an
actual curse word. “Do you talk like that in front of your wife and
the girls?”
    “ I’m still alive, ain’t I?”
Paddix grabbed his badge and shoulder holster. “There’s such a
thing as self-preservation and I’m a lover, not a fighter.” He
shoved his hands in his pockets, took a huge gulp of cooling coffee
and turned serious. “This one’s bad, Brice. Night shift took the
call at around midnight. Police services have been there since one
a.m.”
    Brice followed his partner out the
door. “If night shift took the call, then why are we going? They’ve
got detectives on night shift too.”
    “ Yeah, but they thought we
might be interested. See, the detectives on night shift heard that
we got a visit from a particular leggy psychic, predicting this
particular murder.”
    “ You mean Claude
Danning?”
    “ I think that’s what I said. We gotta move
fast. The press is all over the place already.”
    “ Terrific.” Brice reached
into his pocket and jingled his keys. “I’ll drive.”
    *****
    When Glynnis opened her eyes
there was a blonde wearing way too much makeup on the television.
Glynnis glanced at the wall clock, still groggy from the semi-sleep
she managed in the chair. 7 a.m. The blonde reporter was standing
in front of an enormous home that had been cordoned off by yellow
tape. The expression of fake concern on her face was less than
touching. Glynnis rubbed her eyes and pushed Carl off her lap onto
the floor. She recognized the blonde reporter from other newscasts,
but she had never liked her before. Why start now? Still Glynnis
wanted to, no, she had to, know. She turned up the volume. “…a home invasion
resulting in the death of one of the occupants. We will continue to
broadcast more information about this tragedy as we discover it.
I’m Sandra Fitchwell reporting for Action News 4.”
    Glynnis switched off the set. “Now it
begins.”
    *****
    It was on the news already. The local
station had broadcast it with the smiling blonde bimbo whose
compassion for the victim had only been outdone by her desire to be
the face behind the huge ratings. How ironic, they were calling it
a tragedy, but they had yet to reveal how it was done or the name
of the victim. Just wait until they found out who the poor man was
and how he had died. Then they could truly and honestly call it a
tragedy, a tragedy in the truest sense.
    The funny part, the part that he hadn’t
even planned on, was that once the police figured out exactly what
was happening here, they’d have plenty of suspects. There were lots
of folk who didn’t care for Danning—including himself, but his
dislike for the man wasn’t generally known. He went into his
kitchen for a big glass of chocolate milk. This business made him
thirsty and he just couldn’t wait for the next news
report.
    *****
    Gabrielle, now Mrs. Kenneth Schultz,
leaned on one elbow and watched her husband while he slept. She
brushed a stray blonde curl from his eye and then bent to kiss his
nose.
    Kenny smiled, a drowsy, contented
smile, and then opened his eyes slowly. “Good morning, Mrs.
Schultz. Are you feeling okay today?”
    “ I feel great.”
    “ Hmm…I’d better check for
myself.” He reached for her backside. “Yup, you feel
great.”
    Gabby let out a squeal and snuggled
back down into the bed. “Would you like for me to order room
service?”
    He didn’t respond because no answer was
necessary. He reached for Gabby. Breakfast could wait.

Chapter 5
    Brice and Addison worked
their way through the crowd of reporters from television and
newspaper toward the house. Brice felt a manicured hand on his
upper arm and heard the silky voice of Sandra Fitchwell calling his
name. Busted.
    “ Detective Gearhart,
Detective Paddix, do you have a moment?” Her voice might have been
silk, but