Evelyn David - Sullivan Investigations 02 - Murder Takes the Cake by Evelyn David Read Free Book Online Page B

cooperating with him. The sheriff didn’t like him anymore than he liked the sheriff.
    “ Even if Brian wanted to hire a detective, which I doubt, why choose you? Like you said, you’re not from around here.”
    “ Someone wanted me here.” Mac could tell the sheriff found that thought incomprehensible.
    “ Why? Looks to me like Brian died of natural causes.”
    “ JJ, my assistant, said there was a lot of blood. What’s natural about that?”
    “ Didn’t see any wounds and Brian had a bleeding ulcer. A bad one. Not to mention his bad heart.”
    “ Are you the medical examiner too?”
    The sheriff smiled, but it didn ‘t reach his eyes. “No, but I’ve seen a lot of bodies. The county doesn’t have a medical examiner. We’ve got a coroner. He’ll be here in another hour or so. When the call came in he was off fishing and I had to send a deputy into the mountains after him. Cell phone reception is spotty.”
    “ So we’ve got some time. What would it hurt to show me around while you’re waiting?”
    “ It’s a crime scene, Mr. Sullivan. I don’t let strangers into my crime scenes.”
    Mac refrained from pointing out that a reporter was wandering the crime scene as they spoke. If he couldn ‘t get in, maybe Bridget would see something useful. He took another tack with the sheriff. “What crime scene? According to you, it’s just the house of a sick old man who died alone in his bed.”
    Rachel, who ‘d stepped aside to talk with Edgar and JJ, returned. “Have you figured out why Mr. Crager hired you?”
    Mac shrugged. “I’m not sure he did. Someone wanted Sullivan Investigations involved. Maybe that guy who took a pitchfork to JJ’s tires. Anyway, I’m hoping your friend here will let me look through the house.”
    Rachel shifted her gaze towards her old friend, laying one hand on his arm. “Mr. Sullivan is a very good detective, Neil. He was a big help earlier this fall when my brother was falsely accused of embezzlement and murder.”
    “ I heard something about that, and I’m sorry for your troubles.” The sheriff patted her hand. “But I don’t like the idea of just anyone gawking at the body, it’s not respectful. Brian Crager was a friend of mine. Yours too. And I don’t believe for one moment that he hired Mr. Sullivan.”
    “ Then I imagine as his friends, you’ll both want to know the truth. Even if the guy died in his sleep, someone stole his identity. Something fishy is going on.” Mac knew the guy was considering it, if for no other reason than to please Rachel. “Let me look around the scene, maybe whoever set this up left me a message.”
    The sheriff laughed. “You mean like a message in a bottle. Or wait … Maybe a note taped to the body–an envelope with your name on it? Is that how D.C. detectives solve cases? Us country boys have to do it the hard way.”
    Mac had about had enough of the man ‘s sarcasm. It was probably past time to leave the Landon sheriff to his own devices; let him figure out what was going on. “Listen, you–”
    “ Neil, does your mother still live in that little house across from the Landon library?”
    “ Huh?”
    That was a sharp turn in the conversation. Mac was sure he was looking as confused as the sheriff.
    Rachel smiled. “I’ve missed chatting with her. I think maybe I should stop by on my way home; talk about old times. Think she’d be interested in knowing who wrecked her prized pink Cadillac that summer you were dating Joanne Fields? I’m not sure how much makeup she had to sell to win that car, but it was a lot. At least a couple of years of part-time work in addition to her regular job. I can’t imagine she ever got over it. Such a shame. It was a unique car.”
    Mac and the sheriff stared at each other and then Rachel.
    Rachel grinned. “I can probably think of a few more youthful indiscretions.”
    The sheriff chuckled. “My momma always liked you better than Joanne. Heck, she liked you better than me.” He