A.W. Hartoin - Mercy Watts 04 - Drop Dead Red by A.W. Hartoin Page A

probably hadn’t bathed since it happened and she’d chewed her lower lip bloody. Her fingernails had traces of a top end manicure, but she bit them past the quick and the tips were red and swollen. It would take a pretty high level of commitment to do that to yourself. I couldn’t. Fingertips have a lot of nerves in them. Even if it weren’t for Ameche, I would help her. I’d never seen such a picture of need. I was in it for the long haul, so I pulled up a beanbag. Besides, how often do you get the chance to sit in a beanbag?  
    “I’m happy to help in any way I can. Since the police dropped the investigation, I’m not sure what you’re looking for.” I squished down and got instantly sleepy.  
      Clem took Donatella’s temperature with a temporal scanner rolled across her pale forehead. She didn’t seem to notice the touch of the metal ball or Clem’s frown after.  
    “I’m going to buzz Dr. Bergamo,” said Clem and she left.  
    Donatella spoke, her voice was whisper soft. “They’re suing me.”  
    “Your husband’s family?” I asked.  
    She scoffed. “Family. Those people aren’t family. They’re vultures. They’re the ones that recommended Tulio to Rob’s mom in the first place and they want to blame me for what happened. Rob hadn’t talked to any of them in years. Now they’re acting like they knew him, like they were close. Rob was my best friend in the world. He was my world. It’s disgusting.”  
    “They’re suing you for what? Wrongful death?” I asked.
    “That and custody of my children. None of them have even seen Abrielle or Colton in their whole lives. They’re saying that I’m unfit. Me. Their mother. They don’t believe the police. They have the man that did it. I don’t know him.” Donatella began hyperventilating and tears streamed down her cheeks. Dr. Lydia produced a paper bag and she had Donatella breath into it. The bag puffed out and collapsed with each breath and I took the time to absorb the information. This must be what Dad was worked up about. He wouldn’t care about strains of listeriosis.  
    Ameche came in, looking nearly as bad as his sister. He wasn’t a big guy, but he’d lost ten pounds at least. “Mom came back,” he told Donatella and then turned to me. “So I take it she told you.”  
    “She did, but you shouldn’t get too upset about it. The courts will see this for what it is, a money grab. The cops have cleared Donatella. This’ll barely get off the ground.”  
    Donatella rammed the bag into her lap. “But it will get off the ground. You know how people are. They’ll talk. There will be stain on my character. My kids will hear the rumors. Their father is dead and then they get to hear whispers about how maybe their mom did it. Do you know how much that will hurt them?”  
    I couldn’t imagine growing up the way Abrielle and Colton would. Murdered father. Accused mother. Even if the accusation was crap, it was still out there. A question that hadn’t been answered.  
    “I have some small idea,” I said. “So I assume you have a plan or I wouldn’t be here.”  
    “We want to hire you,” said Ameche. “We want to prove where the listeriosis came from, so we can show that my sister didn’t have a damn thing to do with it.”
    “I thought so. What about my dad? He’s the professional.”  
    Donatella twisted the bag into a tight rope. “I’d rather have you, if you don’t mind.”  
    “Why’s that?”  
    “Nothing against your dad. He was great to get involved at all, but you’re a young woman. I’m sure you need the money more than your dad. He was on 20/20 last week.” She held out her hand to Ameche. “I’ve followed your career. It’s impressive, even if you’re not technically a professional.”  
    “I’ve been lucky a lot.”
    “I’d like you to get lucky for me. Plus, you helped out, Joey. He’s moving up, thanks to you. My family owes you.”  
    I shook my head. “That was my