All Murders Final! by Sherry Harris Read Free Book Online Page B

lines instead. His dark brown hair was longer than a lot of military guys wore theirs, just barely within regulations.
    â€œIt’s okay. You don’t have to go all ‘ma’am’ on me,” Laura said.
    But really he did, not because of who Laura was, but because of her husband’s position and superior rank. I used to get the same treatment, but since CJ was out and we were divorced, I could just be Sarah.
    Laura glanced at her phone. “I have to run. Can you finish measuring the space and lock up, Sarah?”
    â€œSure.”
    She held up her coffee cup. “Thanks for the coffee. I’m sorry to desert you. I owe you one.”
    â€œNo you don’t,” I said to Laura’s back. I hated it when I did something for someone and they said “I owe you.” I did it because I wanted to, not so someone would owe me something.
    I turned to James. He was a bit older than most of his peers, because he had enlisted at twenty-seven, instead of right out of high school, like so many kids did. James and I got along well, and for a while last spring I’d thought he had a crush on me. When CJ had still been active duty and we’d lived on base, James had always swung by when CJ was deployed or TDY, off on temporary duty, to see if I needed anything. “How are you?” I asked.
    â€œI was worried about you. I heard you found Margaret More yesterday.”
    The base had memorandums of agreements with the local police departments of the surrounding towns, which meant they helped each other with crimes. But I guessed that bit of information didn’t come over official channels, since Ellington wouldn’t need base law enforcement for Margaret’s case.
    â€œHow did you hear?”
    James shrugged. “The old gossip mill. You know Fitch. It’s like a small town. Word gets around.”
    It didn’t look like James had anything else to say on that subject, and I didn’t want to push him. The pre-deployment James I might have, but this James just wasn’t as easygoing.
    â€œHave you heard if there’s an official cause of death?” he asked.
    â€œNot yet. You probably know as much about that as I do. Maybe more.”
    We stared at each other for a moment. It felt like something needed to be said, but since I didn’t know what, I snapped back to my purpose for being here. “I’ve got to measure the room so I can start making a map of how many tables I can cram in here for the garage sale.”
    â€œDo you want some help?” James asked. That was the pre-deployment James I knew and loved, the one who was warm and helpful.
    â€œSure. If you have time, it will go a lot faster.”
    I trotted over to where I’d dropped my purse, and pulled out my industrial-sized tape measure. With James holding one end of the tape measure, we finished up quickly. I added the dimensions to the notes on my phone.
    â€œJames to the rescue again,” I said when we finished.
    James didn’t smile at my quip. In fact, he didn’t smile as much as he used to. It made me sad.
    We locked the place up and exchanged an awkward hug. “Thanks for your help,” I told him.
    James waited until I was in my car and pulling out of the lot before he took off in his patrol car.
    * * *
    I walked into the lobby of the EPD and approached the window. Two trips in one morning. This time a man sat there. “I need to speak to someone,” I said.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œI’m not sure.” Maybe I should ask for Pellner. He was better than someone I didn’t know very well or one of the state police officers, if they were still around. I drummed my fingers against my leg.
    â€œWhat’s it concerning?”
    â€œMargaret More’s death.”
    â€œSarah?”
    I turned and CJ stood there. My heart did that push-pull thing it did every time I saw him. One part wanted me to fling myself into his arms, the ones that had