Bring Home the Murder by Theresa M.; Jarvela Read Free Book Online Page B

hand in dismissal. “But you know how some people around here like to talk.”
    Meggie rubbed the back of her neck. “I most certainly do.”
    Anyway,” Maud’s heavy-lidded eye squinted, and she pursed her lips. “I believe Fred and Amelia went missing about the same time as the Foxville bank robbery.” She tapped her forefinger on the counter. “Wait right here.”
    She turned around and walked back into the storeroom. A few minutes later she returned and set several newspapers in front of Meggie. “You should be able to find something in one of these. I always make it a point to save newsprint that reports important events in the area.”
    Meggie carried the newspapers to a corner table, pulled out a chair and sat down. She looked at her watch. There was little time before she needed to head back to the farm. She slid her chair up to the table and unfolded the first newspaper. The front page headline shouted, “Bank Robbery in Foxville.”
    The headline jogged her memory. She recalled hearing about the robbery at one time but the details of the crime escaped her. Before reading the article about the bank robbery, she scanned the newspaper for a missing persons report on Fred Jackson, but found none. She looked the paper over a second time but still had no luck in finding any mention of Fred Jackson.
    The second newspaper, dated a few days later, reported no missing persons but new information turned up on the Foxville bank robbery. A witness had stated she had seen a silver motorcycle leave the scene of the crime, but no arrests had been made.
    Meggie frowned, set the newspaper aside and picked up the last newspaper. Her eyes moved up one column and down another on the first page in search of any news about Fred, but she came up short.
    On the second page she hit pay dirt. A short paragraph at the bottom of the first column reported Fred Jackson missing. The authorities asked anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to please come forward. She found no mention of Amelia Schmidt.
    Meggie leaned back in her chair and drummed her fingers on the table top. Why would Fred Jackson just up and leave his house? Who was Amelia Schmidt and why did people think they ran off together? While someone had reported him missing, why had no one reported her missing?
    If she guessed right, there must have been gossip about Fred and Amelia before they disappeared. Small-town busybodies had a way of distorting and twisting facts. The rumors about the two of them undoubtedly fueled the gossipmongers. Before anyone could stifle the falsehoods, they were accused of having an affair.
    Meggie was all too aware how small town gossips worked. They had no boundaries and delighted in spreading lies to neighboring towns via friends, relatives, and even strangers.
    When Fred and Amelia disappeared around the same time, it cemented the belief in those narrow minds that the two were having an affair and had run off together. On the other hand, the rumors could be true. They may have proved the gossipmongers right and done just that.
    Meggie leaned her head against the palm of her hand and closed her eyes. There were too many unanswered questions. She knew her insatiable curiosity had landed her in trouble more than once. But if her questions were to be answered, she needed to find out more about Amelia. She folded the newspaper, set it on top of the others and slid her chair back.
    At the check-out counter she handed the newspapers to Maud. She thanked her and turned to go but halted when the librarian asked in a low voice, “Did you find what you were looking for?”
    Meggie lifted her shoulders. “The newspapers were helpful but I still have unanswered questions.”
    Maud crooked her finger and motioned Meggie closer. “It’s possible one of Fred’s hired hands bumped Fred off.”
    â€œAre you thinking of anyone in particular?”
    Maud nodded. “I don’t know the