Lethal Lineage by Charlotte Hinger Read Free Book Online Page A

that call from your jail.”
    He frowned as though sensing some kind of a trap. Then he manned up and told me to get a move on. My sister, too.
    “One moment sheriff,” Josie said. “I have my cell phone with me. Let me see if I can make my call from here.” She pulled it from the side pocket attached to her purse.
    I looked at her hard to warn her not to waste her time, then I realized from the dull red gleam on her Blackberry, she’d activated the video function.
    “Darn,” she said. “My reception is no good here either.” She tucked the phone into the breast pocket slit on her pullover with the lens facing out.
    “Just don’t hurt me.” I turned back to Deal and stuck my wrists out once more. Maybe I would get the academy award. “Just don’t do anything to hurt us. We’ll come along quietly.”
    He blinked, sensing he was losing control of something he couldn’t put a name to. Mutely, Josie stuck her arms out too.
    Uncertain now, he hesitated before he got a grip on himself and snapped on the handcuffs.
    It was like shooting fish in a barrel. We headed for the door, Deal trailing unhappily behind.
    The jail was empty.
    “We get our calls now,” I snapped, knowing Josie was still recording. “You stopped us before, but it’s the law.”
    Like fish in a barrel. We would probably both go to hell.
    “Didn’t try to stop…” he protested, confused. “Just call, damn it.”
    “We’re entitled to privacy and I’ll use Josie’s phone.”
    ***
    Betty Central gasped with delight at the sheer importance of being charged with such a critical mission. “I’ll get Troy right in here and go out to the farm myself.”
    “OK. And let Sam know we couldn’t find information about Mary Farnsworth’s family or her personal life. He’ll have to send someone to her house and that’s in Bidwell County. Next, Josie’s going to call you. Separately. She’s standing right here. She’ll tell you how to reach Harold Sider. But before she does, hang up. I’m going to send you a video. Take it with you to show Sam and Keith and make sure you send it on to Harold. Then post it on YouTube.”
    Josie gave her Harold’s work phone, home phone, cell phone and email address. Then we both obediently marched off to our cells.

Chapter Nine
    Sam and Keith burst through the front door together. They shouted, raged. But Deal had passed the Rubicon. He could not turn us loose until the following morning even though by this time he’d undoubtedly figured out he’d made a serious mistake. Sheriffs can’t simply change their mind once a criminal has been booked.
    I hoped Keith would shut up, but of course, he didn’t. When he started cussing Deal in earnest, Sam intervened. “Outside, Fiene.”
    When they came back inside Keith was silent.
    “You’ve made a bad mistake here, Deal,” Sam said. “And Keith’s going to be outside all night long. I guess I don’t have to tell you nothing had better happen to those two women.”
    “You can’t talk to me like I’m some kind of a goddamn pervert, Abbott.”
    “Just telling you. Keith is going to be sitting outside the door.”
    “I can arrest him for loitering.”
    “Why don’t you. That’s a great idea.”
    “Oh go to hell. All of you. Wish I’d never heard of any of you. I have a notion to just turn those crazy women loose.”
    We could hear every word. I turned to Josie. “He can’t. He’s gone too far. He has to follow due process.”
    “Can’t leave them alone either,” Sam said. “What if they’re suicidal?”
    “Don’t have no one else to call,” Deal mumbled. “What if something else comes up?”
    “Little late to think about that.”
    “Won’t get no sleep with a homicidal maniac outside my office with a shotgun.”
    “Oh you’ll sleep all right,” Sam said. “That’s when I’d be worried if I were you. Keith is an excellent marksman. Not that you have to be with a shotgun.”
    “He can’t do this. Can’t threaten an officer of