Lia Farrell - Mae December 02 - Two Dogs Lie Sleeping by Lia Farrell Read Free Book Online Page B

of the mutual admiration society in front of me?”
    “Later, boss man, I’m going home.” Dory stood up and left the room.
     
    Sheriff Bradley turned to his detective and said, “So we have a suspect—female, late thirties. And since July Powell was still in the room when the emergency medical techs arrived, she’s almost definitely not our shooter.” He gave Wayne Nichols a pointed look.
    “Well, we don’t know that the woman who left the Booth Showhouse by the front door was the killer either, but I’m inclined to agree with you about July. Her grief seems authentic. You said Mrs. Anderson saw a man leaving out the French doors on the side of the house. Too bad nobody thought to put a closed circuit camera back there. The perp just about has to be one of those two people—the woman who left by the front door or the man who went out the French doors.”
    “Right. I’m going to talk with Mrs. December. She’s definitely not a suspect and she knows everything that happens in this town.”
    “Hold on a minute, Sheriff. She’s in the December family. Are you sure she isn’t a suspect? Remember, you aren’t supposed to do any interviews.”
    “Suzanne’s a local reporter, not a suspect.”
    “I wouldn’t be so sure,” Wayne said. “Tom Ferris broke July’s heart. The woman is very protective of her daughters.”
    Ben shook his head. “No, it doesn’t add up. July is married now with three kids. She moved on long ago and got over her college boyfriend. And I know the Decembers don’t have guns. But you’re still right, damn it. My hands are tied.” Ben thought for a few minutes. “I guess I can do some research on the computer.”
    Wayne drummed the table with his fingers. “I’m going to interview Miranda Booth Stackhouse. Dory told me she was the chair of the Booth Showhouse Committee and is related to the victim. I’ll ask Dory to find out who the nursery designer was and talk with her. I suppose it’s too late to do any of that tonight. First thing tomorrow I’ll call and see if I can meet with Mrs. Stackhouse.”
    Ben nodded. “I’m going to concentrate on the background and figuring out what Tom Ferris was doing before he came back to town. We found his driver’s license, his volunteer fire fighter’s ID and some paystubs from a resort in Colorado. I’ll contact those organizations and find out what I can about his life there and any ideas they might have about why he came back now.”
    Wayne stood up and turned to leave.
    “Oh, hang on, Wayne . Did I tell you Fred Powell came home early from his conference? Since he’s July’s husband, you better be the one to talk to him.” Ben frowned, still irritated at Captain Paula’s prohibition. Wayne nodded. “I know what I’ll do,” Ben snapped his fingers, “I’ll ask Dory for the local scuttlebutt about the Ferris family.”
    After Wayne left, Ben dialed Dory’s number. He was somewhat apprehensive. Dory did not like to be bothered after she left the office.
    “Hello, Dory?”
    “Is this Ben Bradley?” She sounded annoyed.
    “Hi Dory. Sorry to bother you at home, but I need some background on the Ferris family. Could you find that for me?”
    “Overtime, Sheriff. Overtime. Remember that little promise you made to add more staff? Well, until that happens, anything I do for the office after hours I get double time for.”
    “Time and a half,” Ben said.
    “Fine.” Dory was exasperated. “I’ll call you back.”
    Ben heard the phone smack hard into its cradle.
    Dory called back an hour later.
    “This is what I found out,” Dory said, not bothering to identify herself. “The Booth and Rawlins families —”
    “I wanted information about the Ferris family,” Ben tried for an official tone.
    “Sheriff,” she laughed, sounding like a kid. “I know.” He had no time for her lightheartedness.
    “Dory, I’m working a murder here.” Sometimes Eudora Clarkson drove him slap out of his mind.
    Dory suddenly sobered,