HIGHWAY HOMICIDE by Bill WENHAM Read Free Book Online

noon, snow plows had been sent out from Newport and Burlington to clear the highways.
    Jack Tyler had made his way out to Lisa’s diner, bringing her into work. In exchange for a huge country breakfast, Jack had used his pickup with its snow blade , to clear her parking lot for her. Another couple of inches fell during the afternoon but it wasn’t enough to cause a problem. Once Jack had cleared the bulk of it, the diner’s highway traffic would pack the rest of it down pretty well.
    Now the storm was over and the highways had been plowed and were open, people started to pull into the diner constantly. Over the years it had gained the reputation of being the best place for miles around for a highway break. About noon, Carl pulled in to the parking lot as well.
    Several voices called out “Hi, Carl,” “Hi, Sheriff” or “Hi, Chief”, to him. He acknowledged their greetings with a wave, as he took a seat at the counter. This time, without asking, Lisa placed a mug of hot coffee and a bowl of her homemade soup down in front of him. It was his favorite, beef barley. Before he could say anything, she said, “On the house, Carl, payment for the ride home last night.”
    Carl reached over and grabbed her hand.
    “You know you, of all people, don’t have to pay me for anything, least of all a ride, Lisa.”
    “Okay, well, just say I’m taking pity on a poor, weary, bachelor Keystone Kop then,” she laughed but she’d heavily emphasized the word ‘bachelor’. “Anything new about...?” She didn’t finish the sentence but inclined her head towards the highway instead.
    “Nope and there won’t be either. Not from out there at least. Most of the crime scene stakes were drifted over, along with the tape. The Burlington boys couldn’t have someone just sit out there until the storm ended either. To make matters worse, no one told the plow driver. He didn’t notice anything because it was still snowing and now the whole lot is buried under six feet or more of ice and slush.”
    “Gee, I’m sorry, Carl,” Lisa said.
    Carl grinned at her.
    “You don’t need to be sorry, Lisa. You d idn’t do it. It just means we’ll just have to come at it from a whole different angle that’s all. Even if there is one. It’s frustrating because we have to act so quickly with these things when they happen.”
    Lisa thought it best not to mention that ‘these things’ had never happened in Carl’s jurisdiction before.
    Instead, she reached out and put her hand over his.
    “Don’t worry, Carl, that guy won’t get far, not with you on his tail. We’ve all got faith in you, haven’t we, folks.”
    Her words were followed by several ‘Yeahs’ and nods of agreement from the locals who’d greeted him when he came in.
    “I appreciate your confidence, but it would sure help a heap if I knew just where his tail was right now. But I’ve been all around without seeing a single sign of your Honda. I’m really sorry, Lisa.”
    “Don’t worry about my dumb car, Carl, I’ll manage okay. Just you look after yourself. That guy might be dangerous or armed even, or both maybe. Just be careful that’s all.”
    “Thanks, Lisa, and thanks too for the coffee and soup. You’d make someone a great wife one of these days, do you know that?”
    “You proposing, Carl, making idle conversation or just looking for more free stuff?”
    “Gee, Lisa honey, I’ll just have to think about that one for a while, won’t I? The wrong words right now could get me in a whole heap of trouble couldn’t they?” he said with a grin.
    Lisa smiled at him but said nothing. One of these days, Carl Berger, she thought, you might just get around to saying some of the right ones for a change.
    “By the way, Lisa, did you put those dishes aside for me like I asked you to?” Carl said and then added, “The print guy should be out from Burlington soon.”
    “They’re right there on the tray, Carl, just where I left them. But don’t forget I had to