California Schemin' by Kate George Read Free Book Online Page A

my
business.”
    “It’s your business in that they chose to
involve you. He’s not well loved by a certain faction, but I fail
to see what they could gain by killing his wife.”
    “Did the senator and his wife get along? They
weren’t in divorce proceedings or anything, were they?”
    Fogel laughed. “You think like a cop,” he
said. “Again, publicly, everything was as it should be. Privately,
I don’t know. We’ve got people looking into it. The thing about it
is, now that a senator is involved, the state police want to get
involved. It’s my jurisdiction, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to
hold on to this case.”
    “What will happen at my end if the case gets
transferred? Will anybody be looking out for me, or am I on my own
again?” I didn’t like the sound of this. The last thing I needed
was to end up involved in another murder investigation.
    “I’ll stay involved as much as I can, keep an
eye on what’s happening, but if I stick my nose too far into it,
they’ll politely ask me to mind my own business.”
    I sighed. On my own again. Not that I
couldn’t take care of myself; I could. I’d just rather not face a
killer on my own.
    “Would it be okay if I contacted my state
police and tell them what happened? I’d feel better if someone
local knew what was going on.”
    “Sure. Better still, give me the number, and
I’ll clue them in. Is there someone in particular I should
contact?”
    I gave him the name of the detective who
investigated my boss’s death and asked to talk to Beau. He called
Beau to the phone, and I could hear more shuffling around.
    “What’s going on over there?” I asked.
“Sounds very suspicious.”
    Beau laughed.
    “Poker game in Fogel’s kitchen. His wife
won’t let the guys smoke their cigars anywhere else. It’s not a
huge room, and there are about ten of us. Every time anybody has to
use the phone, open the fridge or go to the john, we all have to
shuffle around. You wouldn’t believe it. And the phone is attached
to the wall with a three foot cord. No leeway.”
    Jealousy crept over me. Here I was all alone,
not counting four dogs and a very pissed off cat, and there he was
in a room full of guys having a great time. The thought that they
were probably hot and sweaty and really stinky didn’t make me feel
any better. I’d rather have a sweaty man in my bed than a dead
snake.
    I left the windows open in my room and slept
in my mom’s childhood room. It was comfortable enough, but I’d been
looking forward to being back in my own bed. I lay in bed and
sulked, but travel fatigue caught up with me, and I was asleep
before I could really work myself up.
    The next morning I woke to Annabelle on the
pillow next to me. I thanked the powers that be that she hadn’t
brought a snake with her. We spent some time making up, me telling
her how beautiful she was until she rolled over and let me rub her
belly. I went downstairs, wolfed some toast and drove my Toyota All
Trac down the hill to the newspaper office.
    I parked in front of the laundry, took the
stairs two at a time and opened the door into the sun-filled
office. It was quiet and empty, too early for Meg or Deirdre to be
in yet. I booted up my computer and rifled through the messages
tucked under the keyboard. It was strange to be so happy to be at
work, but it was good. I looked out onto the green, empty at this
hour, with bare trees and brown grass. You’re back in your
element, MacGowan .
    I got up, turned on the CD player and plugged
in the coffee maker. I turned back to the computer and pulled out
my notes. I was typing them up when footsteps on the stairs
disturbed my concentration. I looked up from my computer when the
door opened.
    “MacGowan.” Lieutenant Miles Brooks came
through the door. “I understand you’ve got yourself mixed up in
another murder. What did I tell you about staying out of
trouble?”
    “Hey, Miles! Haven’t seen you in a while.” I
smiled at him. He had let me believe