"Post, Judith - Something Subtle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Post Judith)

"His family's, too," Josh said.

The detective walked to Norm's desk and glanced in the trash basket. "There's a couple of empty carry-in cartons, but that's about it. The man must not have even taken the time to eat."

"Oh, but he had to," Josh said.

Monroe shook his head. "See for yourself."

"But Norm's diabetic," Josh said. "He had to eat six small meals a day, or he might go into coma."

Monroe bent to rummage through the trash. "Did he need insulin?"

Chaz nodded. "He'd go into the restroom to give himself shots."

"I don't see any needles," Monroe said.

"You mean..." Blane turned on his heel and stalked out of the office. When he returned, his face was mottled red. "Norm increased his life insurance policy a few months before I fired Tarcher."

"For how much?" Jackie asked.

"Two million." Blane spat out the words.

"So what's it to you?" Monroe asked. "Your work compensation picks it up, right?"

"That's what we do," Blane snapped. "WE'RE the people who insure companies."

A grim smile tilted Monroe's lips.

"Norm's met the monthly premiums each time, but he barely started paying in."

Chaz grinned, too. "No one knew insurance better than Norm. He saw the handwriting on the wall, man. He set you up."

Blane's neck turned crimson. "He died in this office on purpose. That way, he gets double indemnity for accidental death."

"Enough to keep his family set for life. I knew he was good, but, man, this is great!" Chaz's voice brimmed with admiration.

Blane jerked to Norm's machine. "I don't care about your scene of crime team. You don't need any clues. We've all guessed what happened. I want those new accounts Norm got. They'll help balance his settlement."

But as Blane reached for the keyboard, he bumped Norm's chair slightly. Norm's body tipped, and the fingers that gripped the mouse turned soft. They pressed on the clickers, and the screen went blank.

"No, this can't happen to me!" Blane cried.

"What happened?" Jackie asked. "Norm's dead. How did he do that?"

Monroe explained. "Rigor mortis stiffens the body after about four hours. It moves from the small muscles to the big ones. After about thirty hours, it leaves the same way. Small muscles relax first."

"Like fingers," said Josh.

"You don't suppose...." Jackie stopped, considering.