Murder at the High School Reunion by Steve Demaree Read Free Book Online

it’s hard getting used to not being with
you each day.”
    “You had me worried there for a minute. I thought I
was going to have to draw my gun to keep you from kissing me.”
    “Not on your life, Red Ryder, and don’t try anything
with me, either.”
    “Don’t worry!”
     
    +++
     
    Frank Harris, the medical examiner, was heading to the
front door of the school when Lou and I arrived. I’d planned on Wiiing before I
left the house. I knew that those two frozen bodies wouldn’t mind if I did, but
I decided to work my exercise regimen in later. I tooted the horn at Frank, who
turned around, waved, and waited for Lou and me.
    “Lou, it looks like I’m seeing less and less of you,
but about the same amount of Cy.”
    I knew Frank meant weight when he said that, and not
how often he saw either of us, because if he saw one of us he saw the other. I
smiled. When a man is used to weighing three-hundred-three pounds, and has lost
down to two-ninety-eight, not even his own mother would notice the difference.
Some people have trouble telling that someone who has lost fifty pounds has
lost weight, provided that person is well overweight, which is what most of my
world think I am.
    “It’s good to see you, too, Frank. I assume you
haven’t had anything to do for a while, so this will give you something to do.”
    “Unlike you, Cy, who only have to work after someone
has been murdered, I’m called in for many kinds of death. However, it is good
to see you,” Frank uttered, as he reached out and patted me on the back.
    “Listen, Frank, can we postpone finding the bodies
until tomorrow?”
    “And why do you want to do that, Cy?”
    “Well, I got in that pot too, and my day is tomorrow.
Why don’t we keep them nice and cold until then?”
    “Well, there are three reasons why I don’t think
that’s a good idea. First of all, the custodian already found the bodies. He
might not take too kindly to keeping these bodies for another day. And what if
he talked? It would give the police department a black eye.”
    “I don’t know how you count, Frank. Was that one, two,
or all three reasons?”
    “Let’s call it two. The other reason is it wouldn’t be
fair to the person who won the pool.”
    “I won’t tell if you don’t tell, Frank.”
    “Now, Cy, you’re not telling me that you would cheat a
fellow officer, are you?”
    “No, Frank, but it’s harder to lose when you come
close. By the way, how much was the pot and who won?”
    “It came to $270.”
    “That much? Who won?”
    “I stopped by and picked up the money on the way out
here.”
    “And how many days have you had this guy hide the
bodies?”
    “Remember, Cy, he just got back from vacation this
morning.”
    Rather than waste the rest of the morning sweating in
the sweltering heat, Frank and I dispensed of pleasantries, and he and Lou
followed me into the school. We were met at the front door by an
average-looking, sandy-haired man dressed in khakis, with a white patch on his
shirt, with blue writing that said his name was Walter. I guessed that the man
was somewhere in his late forties.
    “I’m Lt. Dekker. This is Sgt. Murdock, and the medical
examiner Mr. Harris. Are you the man who found the bodies?”
    “I’m afraid so. I’ve been on vacation since the night
of the reunion, just got back to work today. Sometimes, when I’m here by
myself, I go a few days without openin’ the walk-in ’frigerator or freezer, but
it’s hot today. I kept workin’ up a sweat and forgot to fill up the ice trays
in that old, small ’frigerator. When I went over and unlocked the big freezer,
I opened it and found…well, follow me, you’ll see.”
    “Did you recognize the two people?”
    “To be honest with ya, I didn’t look at ’em real
close, but I doubt if they’re anyone I knowed. I went outside, checked all the
doors and winders to see if anyone had broken in, and didn’t find nothin’. I
just got back in afore you pulled in. Could it be that