Foal Play: A Mystery by Kathryn O'Sullivan Read Free Book Online Page B

saw.”
    Charlie’s shoulders dropped and his eyebrows furrowed. “Do I have to go to the station?”
    “Only for a little while. Then you can go home.”
    Charlie shook his head.
    “I bet the sheriff will let you turn on the lights in his car when you’re done,” Jimmy said.
    “Really?” he asked.
    “I’ll make sure he does,” Jimmy said. “How about it, big man?”
    Charlie eyed Colleen and Jimmy. She could feel her firefighters holding their breath, waiting. “Come on, Charlie. What do you say?” she said.
    Charlie paused then said simply, “Okay.”
    “Thataboy,” Jimmy said. “Let’s you and I go tell the sheriff.”
    Jimmy patted Charlie on the back and took him to Bill, who helped Charlie into his vehicle. Colleen searched the area for Bobby and spotted him sitting in his car, watching. She was relieved that Bill had decided to question Bobby later. Losing a family member and your home was traumatic. He didn’t need to be put through an interrogation, at least not tonight.
    For the second time that evening, Colleen was blinded by approaching headlights. This time she recognized the vehicle. It was the coroner’s. The SUV slowed and stopped in front of the house. Bill met the coroner as he exited his vehicle. After a brief exchange, they continued toward the house. Bobby hopped from his car and hurried after them.
    “Bobby,” Colleen called and sprinted to intercept him.
    “I want to see her,” Bobby said.
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “I didn’t know she was … why was she…” Bobby choked out before breaking down in tears.
    Colleen was sorry she had questioned Bobby’s earlier reaction. He was clearly grieving. They all were. She patted his back and found herself in a sudden bear hug. Bobby’s sobs increased in volume. She braced herself against his weight as he crumpled in her arms.
    “I know,” she said, awkwardly tapping his back. Colleen felt her eyes welling with tears. It wasn’t fair. Myrtle may have been a nuisance, but it was part of what gave her her spunk. She still had a lot of life in her. How dare someone do this to her.
    Colleen caught sight of the coroner’s team making their way from the house with Myrtle’s body. Bobby saw the body bag and broke down sobbing again. Bill’s eyes widened in surprise. Colleen signaled him that she had things under control and watched over Bobby’s shoulder as his mother’s body was quietly, somberly lifted into the coroner’s SUV and taken away.
    “Do you have someone you can stay with?” she asked Bobby after the vehicle had been gone a moment.
    “Yeah,” he said through sniffles, released her, and backed away. “Sorry.”
    “You have nothing to be sorry about.”
    He shrugged, shuffled back to his car, squeezed in, and drove off.
    Bill pulled out next with Charlie in the back seat. She gave them a short wave, then ordered her squad back to the station. The men removed the wheel stops, slipped out of their coats, and took their seats inside the engine. Colleen allowed the engine to leave ahead of her, gave the Crepe residence a final once-over, and drove out of the neighborhood.
    As Colleen made her way back to the firehouse, exhaustion set in. She loosened her ponytail and rolled down the window. Maybe the fresh air would revive her. She stole a glance at Sparky asleep on the front seat. The dog half opened his eyes and closed them again. Colleen wished she could head straight home to her soft, cool bed, but she needed to speak to the men about what had happened before they showered and hit the bunks.
    Despite the loss of life, she was pleased by how her team had performed. They had worked safely and efficiently. There was nothing more they could have done to save Myrtle. Most important, nobody got hurt. Since she had become chief, not a single man in her company had suffered a serious injury. It was a record she was proud of and wanted to keep. Every firefighter knew that putting his or her life in danger