Death By Derby 8 (Josiah Reynolds Mysteries) by Abigail Keam Read Free Book Online Page A

admit I did my best to walk as slowly as I could, chattering all the way, while droplets of sweat broke out on Goetz’ forehead.
    I just love yanking his chain.
    Aren’t I a stinker!
    Don’t answer that.

19
    “A re you sure it was Minor?”
    “I think I’d know the voice of my former son-in-law.”
    Asa and I were sitting in the lobby of the Gratz Park Inn, tucked away in downtown Lexington.
    “Shaneika filed a complaint against his boss for sending Minor here. She was told that Minor would be pulled from the case due to his connection with us,” revealed Asa.
    “Well, he’s still around and having private conversations with Goetz.”
    “With your new boyfriend?”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. We’re not a couple. We just do things together, you know, social things.”
    “That’s what people call dating.”
    “WE ARE NOT DATING!” I yelled. Embarrassed, I looked around to see if anyone was watching.
    Asa rested her teacup on her lap. “If you say so.”
    “Minor told Goetz that Charlie Hoskins was not in that gondola.”
    “There are witnesses who saw Charlie get into the gondola and the balloon lift into the air.”
    “Somewhere between Bowman Field and Churchill Downs, Charlie got out.”
    “Don’t you think someone would have witnessed that? A person doesn’t often see a huge balloon in their neighborhood. It’s an object that cries for attention,” said Asa.
    “I’m just telling you what Minor told Goetz.”
    “Let’s say that Charlie did get out of the balloon somehow. What would be the purpose of exploding it?”
    “So people would think that he was dead.”
    Asa shook her head. “It would only take a few hours for the police to determine that no one was in the gondola. I don’t see a real purpose there.”
    “Then what?”
    “To provide a distraction. To create confusion. The police have never confirmed that a body was found. What if Charlie wanted to distract certain people with the explosion to allow time for him to get away?”
    “On Derby Day when his horse is running? Why would he do that?”
    “Maybe he was desperate.”
    “He would have to be desperate to miss his own horse running in the most important race of the year.”
    “Something was more important than the Derby. We’ve just got to find out what.” Asa thought for a moment.
    “It has nothing to do with us, thank goodness.” I got up to leave.
    “Do you think I can come home tomorrow?”
    “Call me. Right now Kelly is still sleeping it off. I’m going to see his wife. Maybe I can fix this.”
    Asa rose too. “Perhaps I should see her.”
    “Oh, goodness no. That would be throwing gasoline on the fire.”
    “Can I see Kelly?”
    I stared at Asa. “Sometimes I think you don’t give a damn about anyone but yourself. No, you can’t see Kelly. You’ve done enough to destroy his life.”
    “That’s kind of harsh. I didn’t put a gun to his head, you know.”
    “If you love him, the kindest thing you can do is stay away. He made it clear in the hospital that it was over. He made his choice. Now help him keep it.”
    “Are you really mad at me, Mom?”
    “Yep.”
    “Do you still love me?” asked Asa with trepidation.
    “Silly goose. I’m just mad.” I kissed her forehead. “You are my shining star . . . my shining star I’d like to kick in the tuckus right now.”
    “Did you never make mistakes when you were young?”
    “When I was young! I make mistakes all the time still. It’s the process of being human. It’s because I am your mother that I can bitch about your mistakes. It’s one of life’s little pleasures.”
    “I see.” Asa put down her teacup. “Well, I have a dinner date so I have to dress.”
    “I can see that I’m being dismissed. Okay, I’ll go over to Kelly’s house and try to see his wife, if she will let me in the door.”
    “You’ll do fine, Mother,” sighed Asa.
    “I always do.” Since I liked having the last word, I bounced happily to my car.

20
    A sa watched