Deep-Fried Homicide (The Laurel Falls Mysteries Book 1) by Patricia Lee Macomber Read Free Book Online Page A

empty plates and Macy clearing a full table. The well-oiled machine was running at top speed and they still couldn’t clear customers fast enough to seat everyone waiting.
    It was going to be a long evening.
    “A t long last. Come to Papa!” Rick pulled the last meatloaf in all of existence out of the oven and placed it on the counter for carving. He placed a fat slab of meatloaf on each plate, then plopped a generous portion of mashed potatoes next to it and slathered on the gravy. As an afterthought, he added some green beans and then stood back to admire his work. “Come and get it, folks.”
    The other four rushed the kitchen window, grabbing plates as they slid onto the pass-through. Lined up in the usual order, they dug in, their faces sporting smiles of bliss and their eyes nearly rolling back in their heads.
    “So, this is what all the excitement is about,” Diane sighed. “I have to say, your meatloaf has not been over-hyped. This is amazing.”
    “I know, right?” Logan chuckled but never stopped shoveling food into his face.
    They ate until not a scrap remained, then swiped up the gravy with slices of fresh bread. Plates were pushed away, buttons unbuttoned. Exhaustion and fullness took over.
    “Man! You outdid yourself this time, buddy.” Logan slapped Rick on the back with one hand. The other reached for his glass of tea.
    Silenced rained down, crowded the room. They felt happy, comfortable, satisfied.
    “So, what’s the only sure way to identify somebody,” Rachel asked suddenly, to no one in particular and everyone in general.
    All eyes turned toward her. In Rick’s she saw a rebirth of the anger she had witnessed that morning. She cringed at the pain of it, but pressed on.
    “There has to be a way. I mean…”
    “DNA or fingerprints,” Rick said softly. “But only if the person is in CODIS already.”
    Rachel nodded thoughtfully and pulled a face. “I’ve heard you say it a hundred times. The gear shift knob and steering wheel are the two best places to pull prints from.”
    Rick turned to glare at her, his jaw set, his eyes staring daggers through her. “So, a little B & E for dessert?”
    Rachel swallowed hard but never let her eyes leave his. “Just lift a few prints and away we go.”
    Rick palmed his face and sighed. “No. Please, no.”
    “Rachel, you don’t have to do this,” Diane started, afraid for the first time. “Everything will become clear eventually. I can wait. You don’t have to put yourself at risk to…”
    “We won’t be at risk,” Rachel said.
    “Yea,” Rick added, grabbing his plate from the counter and storming off. “Because nobody ever got arrested for breaking into a car.”
    “Rachel, I…” Diane tried again to interrupt.
    “Ssh!” Rachel hissed. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and pull some prints off the door handle.”
    “But Rachel…”
    “Or maybe we’ll set the alarm off and the cops will come,” Rick answered.
    Rachel grabbed her own plate and Diane’s as well. She made for the kitchen as Macy and Logan performed various duck and cover pantomimes. “Or maybe we won’t. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
    “Rachel, please!” Diane’s face had become red, hot. Her eyes were wide.
    “ You’re willing to take? What about me?” Rick snapped. “I used to be a cop, you know.”
    Rick left the kitchen and Rachel padded in. “Believe you me, I haven’t forgotten.”
    The sound of plates dropping into the rack filled the work area and Rachel reappeared in the dining room.
    “Then maybe you could spare me that particular embarrassment and not get me arrested,” Rick growled.
    “Guys!” Diane yelled with all the force she had. “Guys, would it help if you had the keys?”
    Rick and Rachel stared at each other, then at Diane. Then they started to laugh.
    “You have the keys?” Rick chuckled.
    “I have a spare set, in case Mike ever loses his.” She dangled them in the air and gave them a little shake. “Bright red Honda