Jeanne Glidewell - Lexie Starr 05 - Just Ducky by Jeanne Glidewell Read Free Book Online Page B

she was, I can’t see her being so afraid of anyone that she would be reluctant to leave an abusive husband in fear of retribution. Have you met her current husband?”
    “No, but that’s about to change. Quentin’s coming in to the station for questioning in about twenty minutes. Even in the event of a suicide, it’s not uncommon for family members to be interviewed. In a case like this, it’s almost mandatory. That reminds me, I need to get going or I’ll be late, and I don’t need the Chief on my case. I really just stopped by to check on your welfare, Lexie.”
    “Thanks, Wyatt, I appreciate your concern. Would you like a cup of coffee and a doughnut to go?” I asked. I’d never seen this goliath of a man turn down food, and this time was no different.
    “I think I’ll pass on the coffee, but I might take a long john with me. It might be a while before I can grab some lunch.”
    * * *
    The house phone rang a few minutes after Wyatt left to return to the police station. As I suspected, it was my daughter calling. She was also just checking in to inquire about how I was doing. I told her I was coping as best I could, considering what had happened earlier in the day.
    “The body’s in the cooler at the moment, but the autopsy is scheduled to begin in an hour or so,” Wendy told me. Sadness overtook me as I marveled at how one could be a lively, complex, and vibrant human being known as Bertha “Ducky” Duckworthy, one day, and referred to as simply “the body” the next.
    “Do me a favor and look for signs of defensive wounds on the body during the autopsy. I have very strong doubts about Ducky killing herself, and I know she would not have gone down without a fight.”
    “Why are you so certain she wouldn’t have committed suicide, as the detectives concluded in their initial investigation this morning?” Wendy asked me.
    I went on to tell her what I’d just told Wyatt and Stone. I listed off all the things Ducky had told me she wanted to do after she retired, repeating some of what I’d told everyone, including her, at the supper table the previous night. I described the excitement Ducky displayed while uncharacteristically chattering on about her plans. I described the tattoo she’d so proudly shown me. By the time I was through, I could tell Wendy was harboring some doubt about the validity of the librarian’s death being ruled as a suicide.
    “That is awfully strange,” Wendy said. “I suppose she could have been trying to throw you off with all her bucket list talk, but what would she have stood to gain by that? I will run it by Nate so he will also be on the lookout for any signs of a struggle on the body during the autopsy.”
    “Thanks. I’d appreciate it. And please don’t call her ‘the body.’ I find it unnerving, and somewhat offensive.”
    “Sorry, Mom. It’s a force of habit from working in the coroner’s lab every day. I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful.”
    “I know, honey. I’m just stressed out right now.”
    “As well you should be.”
    “Call me this evening with the results of the autopsy, okay? I’m very anxious to see what you discover,” I said.
    “Of course. Now go sit on your back porch with your ever-present cup of coffee, and try to relax and unwind a bit. I’ll give you a ring this evening.”
    After the call ended, I decided Wendy’s suggestion was a good one. I put on a sweatshirt and retreated to the back porch with a cup of steaming fresh-brewed java. Stone soon joined me with his own cup, and we sat quietly, saying very little as we were both engrossed in our own thoughts. I found myself unwinding somewhat, but knew I would never relax while the cause of Ducky’s demise was still up in the air. I considered scrounging up a load of laundry, just to keep myself occupied, until Wendy called with the autopsy results, but soon realized I was too bone-weary to remove myself from the lounge chair. Before long Stone was snoring in the other chair