Cover Story by Erika Chase Read Free Book Online Page A

Riverwell Press to see what the police had found out but she knew Mark would get angry. Of course, she could just cruise by and if his Jeep wasn’t in the parking lot just stop in and see if Officer Craig was there. She seemed to be more approachable since the police staff party last Christmas. And Lizzie really did want to know if there were any copies of Teensy’s book in the warehouse. She needed to get her hands on a copy and decide for herself if the reason for the attack and theft lay in the book.
    She kept telling herself all the way back along Beaufort Road that she had a right to be inquiring about the book. She was in charge of PR, after all, and they needed to get some books for the launch. That is, if they still went ahead with the plans. Would it be too dangerous? Maybe they should delay the launch until the case was solved.
    She pulled over to the shoulder as she neared the parking lot. She couldn’t see Mark’s Jeep but maybe he’d parked it around back. What to do? She’d put her PR hat on and walk right up to the front door, that’s what.
    She hadn’t counted on the officer who stopped her before she’d walked halfway across the parking lot. He looked vaguely familiar, probably from the party, but his name escaped her.
    â€œYou can’t go in there. I’m sorry, there’s a police investigation in progress,” he said, not sounding at all sorry.
    â€œIs Officer Craig around?”
    He looked startled. “Nope.”
    â€œI just need to talk to whoever is in charge, please”—she peered at his name tag—“Officer Vicker. My name is Lizzie Turner and I’m the one who found the body earlier.”
    Vicker’s gaze swung to the right behind her. She heard footsteps approaching across the gravel lot. From the look of satisfaction on Vicker’s face, Lizzie knew she was busted.
    â€œI thought I told you not to get involved,” Mark said, grabbing her left arm as he came up to her side.
    Lizzie tried to look contrite but figured it wasn’t working since Mark definitely appeared upset. She sighed.
Remember, Ms. PR.
“I just need to know if Teensy’s books are here. I was so flustered earlier, I never thought to ask. That was the reason I came out here, after all.”
    Mark folded his arms across his chest and stared at her a few seconds before answering. “Yes, there are quite a few boxes in the warehouse with Miz Coldicutt’s name on them. I assume those are the books, but they’re part of an investigation now, so I can’t let you have them.”
    â€œOh, come on, Mark. Molly needs them for the launch that’s coming up. The book club needs to get reading them. They’re not the murder weapons, after all. Can’t I take a few boxes with me?”
    â€œI know you’ll think this is being picky but the funny thing about the law is it can come back to bite you if procedures aren’t followed. Now, they’re present at the scene of a crime and so they have to be logged into the reports. I’ll need to see a receipt from Miz Mathews’s purchases and then I might be able to release the books to her.”
    â€œDon’t you think you’re being just a tad pigheaded about this?”
    â€œDo you recall my telling you about the new DA? And about how he’s being a stickler for every ‘t’ being crossed and ‘i’ being dotted?”
    Lizzie huffed. “Maybe we could invite him to the launch. That way he’ll have to give us the books.”
    Mark grimaced. “You must be desperate.”
    â€œI am.”
    Mark gave her arm a light squeeze. “I’ll see what I can do. But I do want you to leave now. Go home and write out your statement and I’ll come by to pick it up later. You know the drill.”
    â€œI’ll be at Molly’s.”
    Mark nodded and turned away to answer a question from one of his officers.
    Lizzie felt