Crops and Robbers by Paige Shelton Read Free Book Online Page B

eyes. I wondered how he managed the camera without knocking the hat off. I couldn’t really see his face, and I didn’t like not having eye contact.
    “Becca Robins.”
    “Could you stand please, Ms. Robins? I need to get pictures of the blood on your clothes and on your hands,” Gus said as he sat a bag on the tailgate. “I’ll start with the pictures and then take some samples.”
    Robotically, I stood, posed, and then showed him my hands as he went to work, first photographing them and then using the same type of extra-long, plastic-contained cotton swabs that Sam had used on my mom to take samples.
    I couldn’t accept or believe that any of this was happening. I hoped for the dream scenario. In fact, considering that my parents had shown up in town after being gone for so long, the dream scenario might not be all that far off. Maybe none of this was real. I hoped to wake up soon.
    “Would you pinch my arm, Gus?” I said.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Just pinch it—enough to hurt a little but not take me down.”
    “I don’t think I should, but I think I understand why you want me to. I’m sorry to say that you’re not dreaming.”
    Gus scratched at his chin and looked at me from under the brim of his cap. “I’m sorry for all you’re going through, but if it’s any consolation, Officer Brion is having me do this more so we can rule you out than prove you did the deed. He wants to make sure all the t’s are crossed and i’s dotted, ya know?”
    “I suppose that’s good news, but what about my mom?”
    “The other lady—I mean, woman?”
    “Yes.”
    “Maybe the same thing,” he said unconvincingly.
    “Thanks.”
    “Hang in there,” Gus said as he snapped shut his evidence bag. “This too shall pass.” He cringed. “I’m afraid I’ve become jaded. Murder is serious business and I shouldn’t just shrug it off. Sorry about that.”
    I nodded.
    “I’m done here. Take care,” he said.
    I watched Gus walk back to his car. He tipped his cap at Sam and Officer Norton before he drove away.
    Monson was small enough to make you feel like you knew everyone but big enough to prove you didn’t. And since I worked at Bailey’s, I felt like I knew even more people than if I’d worked in a cubicle somewhere.
    Even though I was friends with Sam and I knew most of the other Monson police officers, I’d never met, or even seen, Gus. Since he was the one who searched for evidence in fingerprints and blood, maybe he kept a low profile.
    After he left, three more cars pulled into the driveway. Linda got out of her truck with a questioning look on her face and a pie in her hands. My dad got out of a Prius, and Allison, her husband, Tom, and their son, Mathis, got out of their 4Runner. They all stood still and together for a moment and surveyed the scene.
    None of us had called anyone, other than the police. Mom thought Sam was calling Dad. I could see he hadn’t yet.
    We had some explaining to do.

Five

    “She wanted to come see Hobbit and make dinner. You and Allison were working all day, and she thought it would be a great way to help out,” Dad said as he patted Mom’s hand. We had both cleaned up. Ian and I had even given Hobbit a quick bath. We were all blood free.
    The crime scene had been cleaned up, too. Joan’s body had been taken to the medical examiner’s office in Charleston, and Sam had brought in some people to thoroughly clean the barn. I was sure I’d do my own cleaning, but for now I was glad to have it taken care of.
    “I remember Jason dropping me off, and I remember Hobbit acting suspicious, and then happy to see me, but I don’t remember anything substantial after that. Officer Brion and the EMT inspected the goose egg on my head and they think I was hit with something, but the next thing I remember is waking up on the side of the barn, walking around it, and then seeing Becca inside it with the body.”
    Linda had left too. She’d asked if she could do anything for any of us and