"Harrington, Patricia - Stacie Mercer - A Murder Just Waiting To Happen" - читать интересную книгу автора (Harrington Patricia)

= A Murder Just Waiting to Happen
A Stacie Mercer mystery
by Patricia Harrington


Stacie Mercer spun her racing chair's wheels one last time and raised her fist in a victory salute as she crossed the finish line.

On the sidelines, her friend Melissa Cambridge waved and gave a thumbs up. When Stacie reached her, she exclaimed, "I did it. I won!"

"And you said you'd never race again."

Stacie said, "Well, racing down a ski slope on two legs is one thing." She held up her hands. "Spinning wheels with these is another." Underneath her racing gloves, her palms were leather tough.

Larry Jennings rolled over and gave Stacie a high five. His bleached hair still stood up in sweaty spikes from his earlier race. "I knew you could do it, kiddo."

"Thanks for the tips about the track," Stacie said, pleased to hear Larry's praise. It meant a lot to her. He'd been selected to be on this year's Pan Am wheelchair racing team.

"You're doing great...." Larry stopped and stared, grim-faced, over Stacie's shoulder.

She turned to see what had caught his attention and saw Hal Blair, the race's promoter, talking with a petite woman. Hal towered over her, and she had to lean back to look up at him. Stacie could tell from the way they glared at each other that an argument was in progress. The woman shook her head and turned to leave, but Hal grabbed her arm.

Larry was watching, too, with clenched fists. "First you took my money, then you took Nancy," he muttered.

Stacie and Melissa exchanged glances.

Larry glanced at them. "That's my ex-wife with Hal. They were married last year." He shook his head angrily. "If I wasn't in this chair, I'd beat him to a pulp! I gotta get out of here," he said, jerking his chair around.

After he left, Melissa asked, "What was that all about?"

Before Stacie could answer, Greg Hopkins, wearing a racing number on his back and a red do-rag on his shaved head, made his way through the crowd toward the race promoter and his wife. He wheeled his chair so close to Hal that he had to jump back or be run over. Greg jabbed a finger at him and his voice carried easily. "I want out of our deal, Hal. Now! No more stalling."

Stacie murmured, "What's with Greg? He's usually so mellow."

"He sure isn't now," Melissa replied.

Hal leaned over and began talking intently to Greg. This time, Melissa and Stacie couldn't hear what was being said--but judging by Greg's face, it wasn't anything he wanted to know. Stacie thought he looked stunned, and about as disbelieving as she had been when the doctor told her she wouldn't walk again.

When Hal straightened up, he glanced around and spotted Stacie and Melissa. He waved and headed over. Stacie noticed that he didn't say goodbye to Greg or Nancy, who stared after him with a mixture of fear and hate on their faces.

Hal stopped in front of Stacie and jerked his head in Greg's direction. "Sorry about the scene. Athletes! They just don't understand business." He added with a hearty smile, "Present company excepted, I'm sure."

Stacie introduced Hal to Melissa, who said, "I'm here for the weekend--to watch Stacie win."

"Two pretty young women. It's my lucky day."

Hal studied Stacie for a moment, his eyes flicking over her face, her hair, and then her body, making her feel like a prize heifer at a stock show.

"I've been meaning to talk with you," he said. "Word has it that you're a 'comer' in racing. I know a couple of companies that like to sponsor women athletes. You have good cheekbones, blonde hair. I bet you take a good picture, too.... You'd look great in ads."

Stacie glanced at Melissa, who raised her eyebrows.