Chasing Tinsel (Miranda Vaughn Mysteries) by Ellie Ashe Read Free Book Online Page B

former head of the Soldano crime family.”
    I shook my head. “No, he’s just Murph. He’s a good guy…”  
    My voice dropped off as Agent Barker shook his head. “No, that he’s not. He’s a criminal. He’s wanted on multiple federal racketeering charges in New Jersey.”
    “Oh.” I studied Murph through the glass and tried to make sense of the news. He still looked like the same jolly, white-bearded, friendly Murph I’d invited to Christmas dinner. “Are you sure?”  
    “I’m very sure. I’ve been tracking Soldano for nearly a decade, ever since he got tipped off that he was named in an indictment and disappeared before we could arrest him,” the marshal said. “We got a tip from someone who recognized him from a most-wanted poster, and we’d been staking out the mall to confirm it. We were just about to take him when the Santas made their move on the jewelry store.”
    “Oh,” I said again. “What happened to the donation box? Did someone catch Kevin and Jaden?”  
    Agent Barker gave a soft laugh. “Yeah, they didn’t get out of the parking lot. Looks like they were working with the Santas. You know, setting up a diversion so security wouldn’t be able to respond immediately to the jewelry store.”  
    “But you recovered the donation box?” I asked.  
    He nodded. “The donations will get to the families.”  
    “Is Murph—I mean, Mr. Soldano, is he dangerous?” I asked.  
    Deputy Smith walked up to the window and stared straight ahead, studying Murph much as I had done. He shrugged. “He’s seventy-three years old now. Cut off from his power and his source of money. I think he ran out of funds a while ago. I doubt he thought he’d be on the run for ten years. But he was dangerous. He was very dangerous, at one time.”  
    A drop of cold water from the ice pack rolled down the middle of my back, and I shivered, not just from the chilly trail it traced across my skin.  
    “We’ll get an officer to drive you back to your car, Miss Vaughn,” Agent Barker said. “Thanks for your time. I hope you’re feeling better and can enjoy your holiday.”  
    The federal agents left and the police detective helped me into my coat and walked me out. I followed him down the hall, but we only got about thirty feet when a door opened and Agent Barker stepped out, holding up a hand to stop us. The marshal followed, leading Murph who had his hands cuffed behind him.  
    “Wait,” I said and Agent Barker paused. “Please, can I talk to him? Just for a moment?”  
    Deputy Smith shrugged. “I’m not letting him out of my sight, so if you want to talk, you’re going to have an audience.”  
    I nodded and stepped toward Murph, who gave me a warm smile. It was the same smile, and my brain was having a hard time reconciling his true identity with the man I’d come to know.  
    “Is it true, Murph?”  
    He met my eyes and his blue eyes twinkled, despite his sad smile. “Yeah, it’s true.”
    I felt my eyes grow moist and couldn’t figure out why. It sort of felt like learning Murph was dead. Or that he had never even existed.  
    “Oh, Miranda, sweetie,” Murph said. “Don’t worry. It’s all going to be okay. To tell the truth, this is a relief. It’s a lot of work to be on the run. I miss my kids. At least now I can see my family.”  
    I blinked back the tears and gave him a smile. “If it’s all the same to you, I’m just going to think of you as John Murphy.”  
    “I’d prefer that,” he said. “You have a Merry Christmas.”
    The marshal started to lead him away, but Murph turned his head back. “Oh, Miranda. I got something for you. It’s in my locker in the break room.”
    The federal agents turned to me in unison, eyes narrowing.
    “Why don’t I drive you back to the mall?” Agent Barker said, giving me a suspicious look as Murph was led off by the marshal.  
    “I have no idea what he got for me.” I hoped it wasn’t a horse head or something equally