Digging Up Death (A Mari Duggins Mystery) by Gina Conroy Read Free Book Online Page A

scent floated from the letters. I sneezed.
    “Gesundheit!” Fletcher held his gaze on me for a moment, then returned to packing.
    I examined the letters, turning them over in my hands. Ordinary, dingy, white envelopes, slit with a letter opener, in almost pristine condition. I looked at Fletcher then at the door. I knew I shouldn’t snoop into a man’s personal life, but what if they were the blackmail photos? I could give them to Lopez. But if Henderson was murdered, then this could be real evidence. Could I trust Lopez not to screw up this investigation?
    Once more, I glanced at Fletcher engrossed in his work. He cradled each artifact like it was his newborn son. A twinge of regret swelled as I shifted in my chair. I nibbled on the acrylic on my broken pinky nail and sank into the oversized leather chair, holding the letters below the desk. Slipping off the rubber band, I opened the first envelope.
    “Mari, your phone’s ringing.” Candy poked her head in the room.
    Startled, I jumped up, hiding the letters under my cardigan. “Oh, thanks.” I heard Steve Martin’s “King Tut, Funky Tut” play louder in the hall and I quickened my steps. My heart fluttered. Why was Jack calling? I reached for my Coach bag and grabbed my iPhone. The melody ceased. I was too late. I fell into my chair and dialed my voicemail when another call beeped in.
    “Hello.”
    “Mrs. Duggins. It’s Mr. Fielding.” Matt’s vice principal.
    My throat tightened, knowing he wasn’t calling because my brother made the honor roll.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    11:37 a.m.
    “IS MATT OKAY?” BREATHE. Just breathe.
    “Matt is fine, but we do have a problem. He assaulted a fellow student.” Mr. Fielding, Matt’s vice principal, sounded composed. Like he’d dealt with these altercations every day at his prestigious preparatory school. I knew otherwise. The highly acclaimed Winton Hall was the best college prep school in the area. Many prominent Austin families drove miles for the benefits of an A-plus education in a small town setting.
    “You must be mistaken.”
    “I assure you, I’m not. The boy has a broken nose. Witnesses corroborated your brother’s violent outburst.”
    “I know Matt’s been tardy and missed turning in some assignments, but he’s never been in trouble. How could this happen?”
    “I warned you earlier this year if he continued fraternizing with his old friends it would lead to trouble.”
    The short conversation in October flashed through my mind.
    “We have very high standards at Winton Hall and cannot tolerate his behavior, no matter how much you’ve pledged to this institution.”
    “Don’t worry, this won’t happen again.” I chewed my broken pinky nail.
    “You’re right about that. Matt’s on suspension until the police can sort this out.”
    Police? All my hopes for my brother crumbled like a sand castle against the incoming tide.
    “You’ll have to retrieve Matt right away and discuss the incident with the officer taking the report. We’ve never had to summon the police to campus in the history of this institution.”
    “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I ended the call, my mind reeling. I hoped moving Matt to a private school would improve his education and social standing, and help him forget his old friends. This was so unlike him; to use violence to solve his problems. My stomach tightened. Just like our father.
    I shoved the letters in my bag and headed to Henderson’s office.
    Candy stopped me at Jack’s door. “Mari, this came from the lab for Professor Henderson.” She handed me a manila envelope and wiped her nose. “I guess it’s for you since you have seniority. Must be important. Henderson was at his wits’ end searching for this report yesterday. Went through Peter’s office thinking it was delivered to him by mistake.”
    “I’ll hold onto it until we find a department head.”
    “I assumed you’d be applying for the position.”
    “It never crossed my mind.” I’d been